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Roger Mooney

Roger Mooney covers the Tampa Bay Rays for The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and News Channel 8. He has covered the Rays since their first season in 1998, including 11 years for the Bradenton Herald. Roger has also covered Florida, South Florida and Florida State football, the Bucs and the Lightning.

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Baldelli one step closer to returning

Posted Jul 19, 2010 by Tribune Sports

Updated Jul 19, 2010 at 03:46 PM

By TONY FABRIZIO

BALTIMORE - In a move that’s been anticipated for awhile, the Rays signed outfielder Rocco Baldelli to a minor league contract today. He was assigned to Class A Charlotte and will DH tonight.

Baldelli, 28, was hired by the Rays as a special instructor during spring training. He spent the 2009 season playing for the Boston Red Sox, for whom he hit .253 with seven home runs and 23 RBIs in 62 games. Drafted No. 6 overall by the Rays in 2000, Baldelli played for the club through 2008, although his tenure was interrupted by injuries and Mitochondrial Disease.

A right-handed hitter, Baldelli has as a career batting average of .279 with 59 home runs, 257 RBI, 98 doubles and 59 stolen bases.

“We’re excited for Rocco to continue his playing career,” Rays executive vide prsident 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.”

Although a shoulder injury kept him from pusuing a playing contract last winter, Baldelli has been taking early batting practice much of the year and recently began making long tosses in the outfield. That increased speculation that the Rays could bring him back as a pinch-hitter/designated hitter who could occasionally help in the outfield when rosters expand on Sept. 1.

Because he hasn’t played since last season, Baldelli will likely need extended work in the minor leagues before he would be ready.