Breaking Rays News: 2010 First Rounder Josh Sale Next To Go Down For Meth

If the suspensions last week weren’t enough, now another high-profile Rays prospect at the Low-A Bowling Green level has gone down for meth use: 2010 first round pick Josh Sale. Sale had put together a nice season for Bowling Green after a horrific pro debut in 2011, posting a .264/.391/.464 line with 10 doubles, 4 triples, 10 homers, 44 RBI, and an outstanding 62-51 strikeout to walk ratio in 74 games and 264 plate appearances.

What has happened in Bowling Green? Now four players have gone down for meth use and you have to assume that something is going on. Ryan Brett and Sale were both known for their character. Did the older players lure them off the path? Did everyone just make a stupid decision? With the Hot Rods having clinched a playoff spot for a while, are these players got slacking off in the most idiotic way possible? More details are going to have to be uncovered here.

In any event, Sale is a huge loss for the Hot Rods and they’re going to need another call-up from the Rays’ Short Season affiliates to keep them afloat. The GCL Rays’ season just ended (more on that in a few minutes) and Yoel Araujo finished the season on a roll, so could Araujo be an option for at least part-time work the rest of the season? I would say doubtful and I would expect this call-up to be centerfielder Joey Rickard from the Short Season-A Hudson Valley Renegades and if not him then right fielder William Argo from the Advanced Rookie Princeton Rays. Rickard has a .295/.389/.403 line with 10 stolen bases in 39 games for Hudson Valley while Argo is at .298/.402/.409 with 17 steals at Princeton. Congrats to whoever gets promoted, but the fact that this is happening is absolutely ridiculous.