Talented Rays prospects flex muscles in AFL

Tampa Bay's Boldt, Fox combine to go 4-for-6 with five walks

October 16th, 2018

The depth of the Rays' farm system was on display during Monday's Arizona Fall League game between the Salt River Rafters and the Peoria Javelinas, with five Rays participating for Peoria.
Lucius Fox, the Rays' No. 9 prospect, batted leadoff and went 2-for-3 with three walks and two stolen bases in a 13-4 victory for the Javelinas over the Rafters.
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While Fox's speed was on full display, he's hoping to improve his power after hitting just three home runs in Class A Advanced Charlotte and Double-A Montgomery last season.
"I want to hit for more power, more doubles and home runs. I like where I'm at with stolen bases and putting the ball in play, so hopefully I can get into some balls and hit more homers and doubles," Fox said. "On the defensive side, just make the routine play. Every shortstop in the Major Leagues makes the routine plays so that's one side I'm working on."
Right fielder Ryan Boldt, the Rays No. 25 prospect, drove in one of the Javelinas' 13 runs, hitting an RBI single in the fifth inning to cap off an eight-run inning for Peoria.

"I was getting a lot of off-speed pitches, lot of changeups, and I just tried to keep my hands back as much as I could," Boldt said. "It took 35 hops, but it made it through the infield and scored a run so that's all that matters."
Boldt finished the day 2-for-3 with two walks, and he's batting .364 during the Fall League.
"I haven't really played in competitive games for a while so just trying to get my timing back at the plate, get my feet under me and try to stay healthy and improve my game," Boldt said.
Matt Krook, acquired by the Rays with Fox from the Giants, made his first Fall League start, allowing four earned runs in 2 2/3 innings and punching out five Rafters.
Dalton Moats, a 2016 15th-round draft selection by Tampa Bay, relieved Krook and threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
Outfielder Joe McCarthy, the Rays No. 17 prospect, started in left field and went 0-for-4 while recording an RBI groundout in the fifth inning.
The talent in the Rays' organization has Boldt and Fox excited for the future.
"We got a great group of guys that are coming up with me, below me, above me, everybody," Boldt said. "It's fun to compete with them."
"We have a great organization in Tampa. This year, we won 90 games and we called up a lot of rookies so seeing the Rays trusting and going with the youth movement is incredible," Fox said. "It motivates more and more to improve on my game so that I can have the opportunity to help the team win and hopefully make a playoff run and bring a World Series in the near future."