The Rays really need 25-year old righty swinging B.J. Upton to step up in 2010. He played in 144 games for the Rays last season in which he was 135 of 560 (.241 avg, .686 OPS) with 79 runs scored, 11 homers, 55 RBIs and 42 stolen bases. Upton is a career .266 hitter with a .762 OPS in 513 major league games so he definitely has the potential to rebound in 2010. Upton made 4 errors in 144 games in CF for the Rays last season while showing above average range. He also had 6 assists while in CF last season as he has a strong throwing arm which he isn’t shy about showing off. Upton is one of the most gifted players on the Rays and they need him to play like one. If he starts getting bench for being lazy like he did a couple of times last season Joe Maddon will not be too happy with him.

34-year old righty swinging Gabe Kapler can give B.J. Upton a day off here and there. He played in 12 error-free games in CF last season while showing out of this world range. He also had 1 assist while in CF as like Upton, he has a very strong throwing arm.

28-year old switch hitting Ben Zobrist could also play a couple of games in CF this season. He played in 7 error-free games in CF for the Rays last season while showing good range.

26-year old switch hitting Fernando Perez could also have a good shot of getting some P.T. in CF this season. Most of last season was a washout for Perez after he broke one of his wrists that spring. Perez played in 18 games for the Rays last season in which he was 7 of 34 (.206 avg, .412 OPS) with 4 runs scored and 2 RBIs. He also played in 17 games in Rookie+A+AAA-ball last season in which he was 12 of 49 (.245 avg, .657 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 2 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. Perez played in 8 error-free games in CF for the Rays last season while showing out of this world range.

23-year old righty swinging Desmond Jennings is the Rays’ top prospect heading into this season according to Baseball America. Jennings played in 132 games in AA+AAA ball last season in which he was 158 of 497 (.318 avg, .888 OPS) with 92 runs scored, 11 homers, 62 RBIs and 52 stolen bases. If any of the Rays’ outfielders get hurt or traded Jennings will be called up to start.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CF IN 2010: B