Rocco Baldelli is Back

Projo | Projo Blogs | Rocco Baldelli is Back

Rocco Baldelli is back on the playing field.

The former Hendricken star agreed with the Tampa Bay Rays on a minor-league contract on Monday, and he was assigned to the Class-A Charlotte Stone Crabs of the Florida State League.

Baldelli was in the lineup on Monday night, as a designated hitter in the sixth spot in the batting order, when the Stone Crabs hosted the Daytona Cubs. Baldelli struck out in all four plate appearances before being lifted for a pinch hitter in the 10th inning.

The Cumberland native and former Hendricken star rejoined the Rays as a special instructor during spring training. He had been taking batting practice and participating in drills before most Tampa Bay home games.

During an interview with The Journal in March, Baldelli said that he was only temporarily interrupting his playing career while he rehabbed a shoulder injury.

“I’m 28,” he said. “I don’t feel like I’m old. I still feel like I can swing the bat just fine, just as I have my entire career.”

The shoulder injury was the latest setback in the career of Baldelli, who burst onto the scene with Tampa Bay in 2003, hitting .289 with 11 homers, 78 RBI, 89 runs scored and 27 stolen bases. He finished third in the voting for American League Rookie of the Year, then had a similarly successful 2004 season, even earning comparisons to Joe DiMaggio.

But Baldelli missed all of 2005 with knee and elbow injuries. After playing well in 2006, he appeared in only 35 games in 2007 because of persistent hamstring injuries. In 2008 doctors found that his muscle problems and fatigue were linked to a mitochondrial disorder; the diagnosis was later changed to channelopathy.

Baldelli returned to the Rays in 2008, when the team reached the World Series. He played for the Red Sox in 2009, hitting .253 with seven homers and 23 RBI in 62 games.

“What’s happened with him physically doesn’t allow you to use him every day,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “But picking the right spots with this guy could be intriguing. He’s got enormous power as a hitter. He doesn’t run as well as he used to, but defensively you could use him in the outfield.”

“We’re excited for Rocco to continue his playing career,” Rays vice president for baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. “He still possesses the natural physical ability to help us down the stretch, but it will take some time to get him back into optimal playing shape for us to make the most informed decision possible.”

Maddon figures Baldelli could be ready in late August.

“I think that’s reasonable. That would be about 5 1/2 to six weeks,” the manager said. “By then, you would have a good indication of his abilities. And Rocco will be honest with us in regards to what he can do. If he thought he could be of use to us, he would tell us that.”

The Rays, who are leading the American League wild-card standings and continue to contend with the Yankees for the division title, have an obvious weakness on their bench. Their fourth outfielder is currently former Red Sox Gabe Kapler, who is batting just .223 with only five extra-base hits in 103 at-bats.