Rocco Baldelli, OF, Tampa Bay Devil Rays

April 7, 2006 @ 14:29:34

By Ryan Erb
Edited by KFFL Staff

Six years ago the Tampa Bay Devil Rays made outfielder Rocco Baldelli the sixth overall selection in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. Baldelli was on course to attend Wake Forest University on a full scholarship, but the allure of beginning his pro career landed him in the Devil Rays' farm system instead of at Wake Forest.

In 2002, after just his second full season in the minors, Baldelli was named the Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America and SportsTicker. This marked the end of Baldelli's minor league stint, as he went on to lead all AL rookies with 184 hits in 2003. With his potential finally being displayed on the major league level, Baldelli hit .280 from the plate in 136 games for the Devil Rays in 2004. Baldelli added 16 home runs and 17 stolen bases, displaying his blend of speed and power, yet hit the disabled list with a strained right quadriceps injury for two weeks near the end of the season.

THE INJURY

But now fantasy owners, despite Baldelli's obvious talents, have concern after he missed all of 2005 and enters the 2006 campaign recovering from Tommy John surgery. He missed the first half of 2005 rehabbing from surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, then lightning struck Baldelli again when he found out he needed Tommy John surgery during his rehab assignment.

With two major surgeries behind him, Baldelli enters 2006 on the disabled list and the Devil Rays do not expect to activate him until their home opener April 10. This, of course, is a best-case scenario as Baldelli may be handled with "kid gloves" and kept off the Rays' roster even longer.

What do fantasy owners do with a player that has not played a big-league game since 2004 and has 20/20 potential? More importantly, how does a non-pitcher respond to hitting after undergoing Tommy John surgery?

FANTASY IMPACT

Fortunately for Baldelli, his elbow surgery will more than likely only hinder him in the outfield and less at the plate. He has averaged a .285 batting average, 14 home runs, 76 RBI, 84 runs and 22 stolen bases per season in his only two full seasons. These are the type of five-category numbers that real-life managers and fantasy owners drool over.

The preliminary report is the Devil Rays plan to give Baldelli some time with Triple-A Durham before calling him up. Upon his arrival with the parent ball club, Baldelli will likely play designated hitter for the Devil Rays before returning to his customary position in the outfield.

Fantasy owners should temper their expectations of Baldelli and his impending production soon after his activation. However, do not hesitate to move him from your DL slot after a couple of games because he will be fully capable of amassing five-tool statistics.

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Ryan Erb
Ryan has been a KFFL contributor since 2006.

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