Shields quickly showcased why scouts thought he could have been a potential first round pick as he performed well. This led to Shields plummeting down draft charts and allowing Tampa Bay to take him in the 16th round.
However, leading up to the draft and during the time scouts tour the country making their final preparations, Shields was laid up with a back injury. Prior to being drafted out of high school, scouts figured Shields as one of the best prep arms in the country and thought he could even be taken in the first couple of rounds. The fact that James Shields managed to make his way onto the Hall of Fame ballot is an amazing accomplishment considering how his career as a professional baseball player was nearly caput before it had a chance to take off. The most notable among the Rays contingent is James Shields, who is appearing for the first time on the ballot alongside him are Jose Bautista and Manny Ramirez, both of whom had very short stints with Tampa Bay and then Bobby Abreu, who had the shortest tenure of them all. The 2024 Baseball Hall of Fame ballot has been announced, and among the 26 former players listed there are a few who played for the Rays.
