Hellickson Promoted to Triple-A

The Tampa Bay Rays just announced that prized prospect Jeremy Hellickson has been promoted to Triple-A Durham. The 22-year-old hometown hero will take the mound against the Norfolk Tides (Orioles) on Friday. Hellickson dealt with a shoulder sprain that kept him out of action for about two months earlier in the year, but he still mastered Double-A. After putting up a 3.94 ERA for Montgomery in 2008, the righthander went 3-1, 2.38 for the Biscuits in 56 innings this year. He also significantly raised his strikeout rate in his second go-around of the Southern League, while lowering his home runs and hits allowed. He's had an outstanding minor league career and has one of the brightest futures of any Rays farmhand, so it's a well-deserved promotion.

I'm not sure how this move affects Hellickson's MLB timetable, but, obviously, it's a step in the right direction. While the Rays are very conservative in pushing their prospects, it is conceivable that Hellickson could receive a September callup now that he's just one step away. His Bulls teammates include several interesting prospects: RHP Wade Davis, SS Reid Brignac, OF Matt Joyce, C John Jaso, and 1B Rhyne Hughes. Hellickson carves up batters with a low-90s fastball, good curveball, and a changeup. He commands all of his pitches well and has been compared to Greg Maddux, so he should be toward the top of the pecking order for a big league promotion, along with Davis. The only negatives with Hellickson are his size (about 6-0) and propensity for the long ball. Interestingly, 2/5 of the Durham rotation is now comprised of CIML Metro grads, with Hellickson (Hoover) and LHP Jason Cromer (Lincoln).

I'm anxious to see how Hellickson does at the highest level of the minors. With his track record of success and making adjustments, he should fit right in.

Jeremy Hellickson

*Photo courtesy of www.milb.com