Wes

Bankston

Bankston, who hit .289/.390/.513 in 127 games for Single-A Charleston last season, could be Tampa Bay’s first baseman of the future.

Bankston missed six weeks due to a strained oblique. He was a DH yet, but the experiment of using him at third could resume soon. He still projects as a first baseman in the majors.

The 20-year-old Bankston, in his second year in the Sally League, is batting .287/.391/.517 in 422 AB. He’s one of the few prospects the Rays haven’t been aggressive in promoting.

Bankston has two homers and seven doubles in 60 at-bats. The 21-year-old is a candidate to become the Rays’ first baseman in 2007 or 2008.

Bankston, who returned from offseason wrist surgery earlier this month, is batting .412/.545/.735 in 10 games.

Bankston hit .387/.513/.629 in 17 games for Single-A Visalia after recovering from offseason wrist surgery. The 21-year-old could be Tampa Bay’s first baseman of the future.

Bankston hit .387/.513/.629 in 17 games for Single-A Visalia and is now at .301/.378/.538 in 48 games for Montgomery. He might be the Rays’ first baseman by the end of 2006.

A nice pickup. Bankston hit just .238/.282/.418 in Triple-A this year, but he still has major league power and he’s posted quality OBPs in the past. The Royals won’t call him up this year, and they’ll probably have him open next year in Triple-A. Still, he might be a factor before the end of 2008.

Bankston, one of the game’s top first base prospects before the bizarre decision to try him at third in 2006, hit just .238/.282/.418 as a 23-year-old in Triple-A this year. Maybe a change of scenery will do him some good. Some team in need of young power (the Twins, the Giants) should take a chance on him.

Two rough years have taken a heavy toll on Bankston’s status as a prospect, but he showed the ability to hit for average and power until a misguided position switch and injuries resulted in a lost 2006. He’ll be well worth having stashed away in Triple-A.