Chuck LaMar, the Rays' general manager, is confident the club's top draft picks can help build a winning tradition at Tropicana Field. (Steve Nesius/AP)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The entire 2002 Devil Rays draft gives an indication that the team, which has yet to crack .500 in its first four years, continues to build for the long haul.

Of their 50 picks, 29 were high school players, full of promise and ready to learn and improve, but mostly they are more than just a couple years away from making a major impact.

“That’s probably due to what was on the board and what we like best,’’ said Rays scouting director Dan Jennings. “(Good high school players) was pretty much what was out there.’’

The fact that the Rays have picked in the top three in their seven years of drafting means they have a number of former prep stars who should be making their way to the Majors in the next few years.

“You just have to capitalize on (being at the top of the draft),’’ general manager Chuck Lamar said. “This organization has to win big in scouting and player development. If we can continue to get our hands on B. J. Uptons, Carl Crawfords, Josh Hamiltons and Rocco Baldellis, if healthy, these young men are going to play at the Major League level and have an impact. We've got to capitalize on those high picks and so far so good."

		JUNE 4-5 | NEW YORK CITY Draft order | Rules | FAQ FULL COVERAGE: • Bullington goes first • Drafttracker • Complete Draft coverage Round-by-round audio Round 1 Rounds 2-5 Rounds 6-10 Rounds 11-15 Rounds 16-20 Rounds 21-22 Rounds 23-27 Rounds 28-32 Rounds 33-37 Rounds 38-42 Rounds 43-50

“I think in any year, whether it's determined to be a strong or weak pitching draft, half of your draftees are going to be pitchers," Jennings said.

Overall, the Rays took obvious talent (No. 1 pick Upton), a gamble here (No. 13 Matt Harrington), a couple of Rays siblings (No. 8 Joseph Gomes and No. 43 Justin Standridge) and an organizational son (No. 43 Daron Roberts).

This is the third time Harrington, a pitcher, has been drafted and the Rays hope they can get him signed so he can realize his potential. Gomes is the brother of last year’s No. 18 pick, Jonny Gomes, and Standridge is the brother of Triple-A starter and former No. 1 pick, Jason Standridge. In Roberts, they picked the son of Rays’ national cross checker Dave Roberts, who was an overall No. 1 pick in 1972 by the Padres.

“In Gomes, we get a guy with the same big bat as his brother,’’ Jennings said. “Standridge has a very similar build to his brother and throws 88-90. And Roberts (a junior college catcher) is good guy to have and watch for the future.’’

	DEVIL RAYS 2002 DRAFT PICKS
	2	MELVIN E UPTON	SS	GREENBRIER CHRISTIAN ACAD
	43	JASON O PRIDIE	CF	PRESCOTT HS
	74	ELIJAH D DUKES	CF	HILLSBOROUGH HS
	104	WESLEY W BANKSTON	OF	PLANO EAST SR HS
	134	MARK J ROMANCZUK	LHP	ST MARKS HS
	164	CESAR RAMOS	LHP	EL RANCHO HS
	194	JEFFREY S AUTREY	RHP	U NORTH CAROLINA
	224	JOSEPH G GOMES	LF	SANTA CLARA U
	254	CHRISTOPHER A LEROUX	C	ST JOSEPH SS
	284	JASON A HAMMEL	RHP	TREASURE VALLEY CC
	314	ADAM C MORENO	RHP	FRESNO HS
	344	BLAIR K IRVIN	CF	PATTERSON HS
	374	MATTHEW J HARRINGTON	RHP	NO SCHOOL
	404	NICHOLAS A DEBARR	RHP	LASSEN COL
	434	MICHAEL A PELFREY	RHP	WICHITA HEIGHTS HS
	464	MIKE PROCHASKA	LHP	NORTH CAROLINA ST U
	494	ERNEST L WOODRUFF	C	GULF COAST CC
	524	ROMELIO S LOPEZ	RHP	CONROE HS
	554	COLE SMITH	RHP	ROCKWALL HS
	584	JARRED M FARRELL	RHP	HAHNVILLE HS
	614	CHRISTOPHER G GARCIA	RHP	XAVERIAN HS
	644	TRAVIS A INGLE	RHP	CALIFORNIA ST U
	674	JACOBY M ELLSBURY	CF	MADRAS HS
	704	ADAM C NIKOLIC	OF	CALIFORNIA ST U
	734	BRIAN BULGER	RHP	GEORGIA COLLEGE
	764	JARRAD J LAVERGNE	LHP	WESTGATE HS
	794	BRANDON M MANN	LHP	MT RAINIER HS
	824	ADAM J OLERIO	RHP	NORTH KINGSTON HS
	854	MICHAEL J MCGOWAN	RHP	NAVARRO JC
	884	MICHAEL R GEDDES	RHP	JENISON HS
	914	ISIAH D GARNER	LHP	UNIV. OF ARKANSAS PLINE B
	944	RODNEY C KEENER	LHP	MINDEN HS
	974	COLTYN C SIMMONS	C	DURANGO HS
	1004	JOHN-AUSTIN EMMONS	OF	WHARTON COUNTY JC
	1034	LUKE COSMOS	RHP	MCATEER HIGH SCHOOL
	1064	DIONISIO G MUYCO	C	RICHLAND HS
	1094	SHANE SHELLEY	SS	BELLE CHASSE HIGH SCHOOL
	1124	MATTHEW COBB	LHP	SHELTON ST CC
	1154	BRANDON C ROUSSEVE	SS	HOLY CROSS HS
	1184	JUSTIN J HOPES	RHP	JEANERETTE HS
	1214	DARON C ROBERTS	C	CONSUMNES RIVER CC
	1244	BRANDON H FEDERICI	LHP	RIVERVIEW HIGH SCHOOL
	1274	STEVEN SKINNER	2B	SANTA ROSA JC
	1302	ROLANDO QUINONEZ	C	NO SCHOOL
	1330	JUSTIN W STANDRIDGE	RHP	CLAY CHALKVILLE HS
	1357	REJINO N GONZALEZ	LHP	CC SOUTHERN NEVADA
	1383	ADAM M DALBY	C	DAINGERFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
	1409	JASON URQUIDEZ	RHP	CENTRAL ARIZONA COL
	1435	MICHAEL S SANDERS	RHP	U ALABAMA
	1459	BRYAN BANKS	RHP	ST PETERSBURG CC

Paul C. Smith covers the Devil Rays for MLB.com and can be reached at paul.smith@mlb.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.