Rays take Theo Gillen, best high school hitter, in first round

ST. PETERSBURG — The Rays went with the best available high-school bat in the Major League Baseball amateur draft Sunday night, picking Theo Gillen out of Westlake High School in Austin, Texas with the 18th overall pick.

Gillen played shortstop in high school, but the Rays drafted him as a potential center fielder because of his elite bat-to-ball skills and the potential for consistent power from the left-hand side.

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• Kristie Ackert is a sports reporter who writes about professional sports in Tampa Bay. Reach her at kackert@tampabay.com.

• Rays take Theo Gillen, best high school hitter, in first round21 minutes ago• Rays

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