Tampa Bay Rays trade former top prospect Adrian Rondon

There was a time when Adrian Rondon was a top prospect for the Tampa Bay Rays. If he is to recapture that luster, it will be with the Los Angeles Angels.

When the Tampa Bay Rays signed Adrian Rondon to an approximately $3 million signing bonus, it was considered a coup for the Rays. Rondon had been considered one of the top prospects in the Dominican Republic, and the third ranked international prospect in his signing class. An infielder with a solid hit tool and decent defense, Rondon was expected to have a productive major league career.

Instead, he has floundered as a professional, failing to rise above A-ball after four years in the minors. That prospect luster is gone. If Rondon is ever going to tap into his potential, it will be with a new team, as the Los Angeles Angels acquired Rondon for the ever popular Cash Considerations.

This is the second time that the Angels have acquired a former top international prospect as their value dropped. They had signed Kevin Maitan, the top international prospect in the 2016 class, after the Braves lost his rights as part of their punishment for manipulating the international market. And, like Maitan, Rondon has become an intriguing post-hype player.

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Despite the expectations that he would hit, Rondon has not produced whatsoever with the bat. over his four years in the minors, he owns a lifetime .206/.271/.321 batting line in 1176 plate appearances. He has hit 20 homers and 53 doubles, but Rondon simply has not hit enough to remain a top prospect.

Although it was expected that Rondon would remain at short, that has not been the case. He shifted to third over the past two seasons, albeit with mixed results. His defense last season was particularly awful, as Rondon had a combined .864 fielding percentage in 90 games at third, making 29 errors in only 214 chances.

There is still time to recapture his former potential. Even after those four years, Rondon will only turn 21 this season. Perhaps a change of scenery, and a change in organizations, will be what he needs to become the type of player that the Rays had envisioned.

Adrian Rondon could still tap into his potential and show why he was such a highly thought of commodity on the international market. If he does, it will not be with the Tampa Bay Rays, as he was sent to the Los Angeles Angels for cash considerations.