Five bold predictions for the Tampa Bay Rays 2019 season

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ST PETERSBURG, FL – SEPTEMBER 30: Willy Adames #1 of the Tampa Bay Rays walks up to bat in the seventh inning against the Toronto Blue Jays on September 30, 2018 at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)

Willy Adames will become a legitimate star in 2019

The Tampa Bay Rays called up Willy Adames for 85 games a year ago. In that span, the top prospect slashed for lines of .278/..348/.406 with 34 RBI’s, ten home runs, 43 runs scored, and six stolen bases. He also drew 31 walks during that time across 323 plate appearances (288 at bats).

To go along with his production at the plate, Adames made plenty of dazzling plays in the field.

On top of being a great ball player, primed for a breakout, Willy Adames is not exactly a “keep your head down” ballplayer, and that is a great thing when wanting stardom. Adames stands out.

He has the flashes plays, and the flashy accessories, and the swagger, and the right mentality.

He is not scared to let you know he is fired up, or he just made a great play.

He reminds me of Javy Baez for the Cubs. They both play with passion, they both play with a swagger, and fire and both have a chip placed firmly on their shoulder, or so it seems.

In a day in age where not many players in baseball make headlines in the national media who is more focused on football and basketball year around, it will be hard to ignore this jaw dropping 23 year old shortstop.

I’ll give you a two-for-one, Willy Adames will be better than Javy Baez.

The Rays won 90 games a year ago, and no one expects them to take a step back, That should put Willy Adames on a bigger stage, a national stage, a playoff stage?

So far this spring, Adames has already launched a pair of home runs, six RBI’s, and a .321 On base percentage.

He looks stronger, and just better. Adames is primed for a break out with the Tampa Bay Rays and I can not wait to see him play 162.

My official take is, everyone will know Willy Adames’ name who pays attention to baseball by the end of the year. It will no longer be the faceless Rays and “how did they win 90?!” or only Blake Snell at the forefront.

Confidence rating: 9.5/10 you cannot predict injury, and that is all that is holding me back from a juicy good ten rating.