The Tribune

by RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Tampa Bay Rays lauded Lucius Fox and several of his minor league counterparts for their standout performances over the course of the season.

Fox was recognised as the organisation's Baserunner of the Year. His 30 stolen bases ranked second among Rays minor leaguers. He was successful on 30 of his 43 attempts (69.7 per cent).

The Rays also awarded its Minor League Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Defensive Player the Year, Relief Pitcher of the Year and MVPs for each of their nine affiliates. The winners were honoured during an awards ceremony prior to the regular season finale against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field in Tampa.

Fox finished the year ranked as the No.11 prospect in the franchise's pipeline.

He was assigned to the Charlotte Stone Crabs at the Single A-Advanced level in July.

In 30 games with the club, he hit .235 with a .608 OPS, .350 OBP, one home run, three stolen bases, 12 RBI and 19 runs scored.

After a last-place finish for the team in first half, Fox was one of the catalysts for the Stone Crabs as they turned things around and tied the franchise record for most wins in the second half of the season with 38.

The 20-year-old shortstop spent the previous 77 games with the Bowling Green Hot Rods of the Midwest League at the Single A-Full level. For the Hot Rods, Fox hit a career-best .278 and ranked third in the Midwest League with 27 stolen bases. He also ranked second on the team with 45 runs scored, collected 27 RBI and totalled a .362 OBP and a .722 OPS with two runs.

Fox was also featured in the annual showcase of Major League Baseball's top minor league prospects during the midseason All-Star classic. Fox drove in one RBI, but his Futures World team fell one run short in their rally and a 7-6 loss to Team USA at the 2017 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game.