Rays, with late pick, took different approach

Because of last year's success, the Rays are picking where they've never picked before in the annual draft -- 30th.

That caused some changes in the way Tampa Bay scouted this spring. The Rays basically cut bait on a few top stars, knowing they wouldn't be available when they pick.

Zack Wheeler, from East Paulding (Ga.) High, was one example, area scout Milt Hill said. (I talked to Hill for the Sunday package on scouts. I wrote about the scouting life, the ones who got away and the holiday feel to draft day.)

Hill (right) had Tampa Bay's crosscheckers and scouting director R.J. Harrison go see Wheeler early in the spring. Hill, who is in charge of Georgia, Alabama and north Florida for the Rays, never returned.

"Basically, R.J. said, 'You don't have to go see him anymore,'" Hill said. "This is the first draft where it's been like that. There have also been years where we've picked No. 1 and we ask if he's the No. 1 player in the draft. If he's not, we don't pick again until 78 or 46, so that guy won't be available then, either."