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| Height: 6-4
Weight: 200
Throws: R
Bats: R Born: Sep 25, 1981, Woonsocket, RI Contract: Signed through 2008. |
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| Profile | Player News | Articles | Split Stats | Game Log | Eligibility | Player Comparison |
| 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
| Player Notes |
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September 6, 2008 Rocco Baldelli had a pinch-hit 9th-inning home run off of Blue Jays closer B.J. Ryan on Saturday. It was his third home run since August 22nd. He finished the game 2-for-3. Our View:It's good to see the talented yet oft-injured Baldelli swinging the bat well. Since returning in August he is hitting .357 but remains a fourth outfielder for the Rays. |
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August 24, 2008 Rocco Baldelli went 2-for-5 and his his first home run of the season in the Rays 6-5 loss to the White Sox. Our View:Baldelli has loads of talent, but he will see irregular playing time as the team tries to keep him healthy, which is a blow to his fantasy status. |
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August 22, 2008 Rocco Baldelli will spend the rest of the season in a platoon situation, playing only when left-handed pitchers are throwing, according to RaysBaseball.com. Our View:Baldelli is hitting .250, but in just 16 at-bats this year. Playing in a platoon will hurt his fantasy value, but he is certainly an intriguing player for owners to consider. |
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August 10, 2008 Rocco Baldelli played in a game for the first time this season, and went 1-for-4 while batting cleanup in the Rays 11-3 win over the Mariners. Our View:Baldelli was taken out of the game for a defensive replacement, and it is unknown how much regular playing time he'll get, but he has loads of talent and placing him on your fantasy roster if you need a spark could pay significant dividends. |
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August 10, 2008 Rocco Baldelli has been activated from the 60-day DL, according to the Tampa Tribune. Carl Crawford has been placed on the 15-day DL as the corresponding move. Our View:He started Sunday's game in right field, with Eric Hinske roaming left. Baldelli should see plenty of action while Crawford is out, and is worth a look in AL-only leagues if you could use help, namely in the power department. |
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August 3, 2008 Rocco Baldelli returned to the Rays on Sunday, though he has not been activated. Reports indicate he looked healthy and told reporters "everything went real well" during his recently completed rehab assignment at Double-A Montgomery, according to MLB.com. Our View:Baldelli, 26, hit .297 with three home runs and eight RBIs in 13 games at Montgomery after completing a similar stint at Class A Vero Beach, where he hit .216, while trying to overcome the effects of having a mitochondrial disorder. Baldelli announced his malady during Spring Training and he began the season on the 60-day disabled list. The disorder is an abnormality that has kept him in a constant stage of fatigue. Rays manager Joe Maddon did not have the chance to talk to Baldelli before talking to reporters on Sunday morning and said their conversation concerning the next move could take place Sunday after the game or perhaps Monday. |
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August 1, 2008 Rocco Baldelli will play seven innings on Friday night before being checked by the team's medical staff to determine what the next step in his recovery process will be, according to the Tampa Tribune. Could he actually be activated this weekend? “I can’t say it’s impossible, but I have not discussed that specifically with Andrew [Friedman] for tomorrow,” said manager Joe Maddon. Our View:Baldelli, whenever he is activated, figures to be a part-time player, so don't go counting on him to return to his former levels of production until he proves himself healthy and capable of playing on a regular basis. |
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July 30, 2008 Rocco Baldelli, who has made rapid progress is his recovery from mitochondrial disorder, could be activated from the DL as soon as this weekend, according to the St. Petersburg Times. Manager Joe Maddon said, "We are taking a good look at him and he's been responding very well. Hitting the ball well, running better, playing on defense. Seems to be the recovery is a little bit quicker. So we'll see." Our View:Baldelli would add more power to the Rays' lineup, and could be worth a look to fantasy owners in deeper AL-only leagues looking for help in that department. |
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July 14, 2008 Rocco Baldelli is headed to Double-A Montgomery to continue his minor league rehab assignment, the Tampa Tribune confirms. The outfielder played the last two days for High-A Vero Beach. Prior to that, Baldelli missed some time due to a sore right groin. Our View:Baldelli still carries an indefinite timetable, and fantasy owners shouldn't be counting on him. |
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July 5, 2008 Rocco Baldelli played catch and took batting practice with the Rays on Friday, but there is no timetable for his return to a rehab assignment, the Tampa Tribune reports. He is dealing with a sore groin. Our View:It'll be a great story if Baldelli is able to help the Rays over the second half of this season, but fantasy owners shouldn't be counting on it. |
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July 1, 2008 Rocco Baldelli will spend the rest of the week working out with the Rays, according to the Tampa Tribune. Baldelli will work on some things while getting some time to let his sore groin heal. Our View:Baldelli will basically spend the time around the clubhouse while doing some light baseball work. The upshot of this is that he will put his minor league rehab on hold at 20 days, leaving him 10 days once he returns before a decision needs to be made about his status. |
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June 30, 2008 Rocco Baldelli wrapped up his rehab stint with Single-A Vero Beach on Sunday afternoon, going 1-for-4, including an RBI single, this according to the team website. Baldelli fared well enough for Vero Beach -- going 6-for-29 with two stolen bases - but it is unclear what the Rays' next move will be. Our View:Baldelli said he would likely head to Tropicana Field today and talk with the club, although he was unsure about any specific plans. |
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June 30, 2008 Rocco Baldelli, who is suffering from mitochondrial disorder, is not expected to be activated from the DL anytime soon, according to the Tampa Tribune. Manager Joe Maddon said, "He's still not there yet. We're cautiously optimistic that he's going to be able to get back at some point. We have no idea what that means yet." Our View:Baldelli is yet to make an appearance with the Rays this season. He would offer solid speed and power potential to a fantasy roster, but has been cursed with poor durability, and is too risky to consider stashing away for your playoff push. |
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June 24, 2008 Rocco Baldelli is scheduled to DH tomorrow afternoon at Clearwater, a bit of a revision of the original plans laid by the Rays, according to the Tampa Tribune. Our View:Baldelli was supposed to start tonight and pinch-hit tomorrow, but the Rays flip-flopped his assignments because Clearwater will be starting a lefty in tomorrow's noon game and they’d like to see Baldelli get the at-bats against him. |
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June 21, 2008 Rocco Baldelli reported no problems following a three-game rehab stint with Single-A Vero Beach, according to the AP. Baldelli, who been sidelined since May 2007 with a mitochondrial disorder, will likely return there for more games after team officials evaluate his progress. Our View:It's tough to predict when Rocco will be able to return, given the unusual nature of his ailment. We'll just say that you should be thrilled if he comes back and gives fantasy owners any sort of production this season. |
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June 18, 2008 Rocco Baldelli (mitochondrial disorder) went 2-for-3 with a pair of solo homers in his second rehab start for Class A Vero Beach. Our View:A pair of home runs. This means we will have to start getting excited about the return of the oft-injured - soon to be reserve -- of the Rays. |
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June 14, 2008 Rocco Baldelli will join High-A Vero Beach on Monday and serve as their DH, the St. Petersburg Times reports. He will be re-evaluated after three games. Baldelli is dealing with a mitochondrial disorder that causes muscle fatigue. Our View:It'll just be good to see Baldelli playing, even if he's only hitting. Rocco still has to work his way up to fielding and playing on a regular basis, so fantasy owners shouldn't jump ahead of the curve here. |
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June 13, 2008 The AP reports that center fielder Rocco Baldelli will meet with Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon and executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman during the current homestand and discuss his rehab schedule. Baldelli, who is currently on the 60-day DL, resumed playing last month as a designated hitter for the Rays' extended spring training team. He told the AP that he hopes to join one of the Rays' minor league teams shortly, and expects to play again in the majors later this year. "I fully plan on being back. That's the way I feel right now," Baldelli said. Our View:Baldelli has been sidelined since May 2007 because of lingering hamstring problems and what doctors have told him and the Rays is a mitochondrial disorder that causes extreme fatigue. |
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June 11, 2008 Tampa Bay outfielder Rocco Baldelli , out of action since May of 2007 with a mitochondrial disorder, is expected to meet with team officials in the coming days to discuss a potential move to join one of their minor-league affiliates, according to the Associated Press. Our View:Baldelli was placed on the 60-day disabled list during spring training and had resumed playing as a designated hitter in extended spring training. With extended spring training closing, the Rays must decide what to do with Baldelli, feeling he is close to a return but wanting to exercise caution in rushing him back. |
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May 31, 2008 Tampa Bay outfielder Rocco Baldelli went hitless through five at-bats in his second extended spring training game today, working as the designated hitter, and the team believes he could be nearing his return to the major league club, according to the Associated Press. Our View:Baldelli has been out of action since May of last season due to a mitochondrial disorder that causes extreme fatigue. Placed on the 60-day disabled list during spring training, Baldelli has a .282 batting average with 48 homers and 221 RBIs in 419 career games. His 26 assists during the 2003-04 seasons were the third most in the majors. However, various injuries have limited him to just 127 games since the start of the 2005 season. Extended spring training ends in 10 days and Baldelli is expected to be there until the end. |
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May 29, 2008 Rocco Baldelli returned to the field on Thursday going 1-for-5 in extended spring training in his first step toward reclaiming a once promising career, according to the St. Petersberg Times. Our View:Baldelli isn't likely to see a major league field anytime soon, but given the dire nature of his prognosis mere months ago, its a great day to hear that he is back on the field regardless of the results. |
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May 28, 2008 Rocco Baldelli may be getting close to getting some at-bats in extended spring games, according to the AP. Baldelli, who is on the 60-day DL with a mitochondrial disorder, took batting practice before Tuesday's game. Our View:Baldelli says he will play at some point this year, but we're tempering our expectations and suggest you do the same. |
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May 27, 2008 Tampa Bay outfielder Rocco Baldelli took batting practice with the Rays today and appears to be nearing a return to the lineup, according to MLB.com. Our View:Baldelli is currently on the 60-day disabled list with a mitochondrial disorder, a abnormality that keeps the veteran outfielder in a constant state of fatigue. Baldelli asserts he will be back this season, but the Rays remain cautious in their expectations. He has not played since last May, though manager Joe Maddon has expressed great interest in getting Baldelli into the lineup as a reserve, filling in spots and working in situations as needed. For now, there is no definitive timeline for Baldelli's return, but things are looking good. |
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May 13, 2008 Rocco Baldelli took batting practice on Tuesday and was able to take 50 swings in the cage, according to the Tampa Bay Tribune. Baldelli, out with a “mitochondrial disorder,” appears to be on the way to regaining his health. “I did a lot of tests when I had the last muscle biopsy done,” said Baldelli. “They found some things out, but it’s not worth me discussing because they have to do confirmation tests on all the tests they’ve already done. They’re running all the secondary tests now, so that’s what I’m waiting on.” Our View:There is no timetable for Baldelli to return to the field, but he still fully intends to resume his career at some point. At this point expecting anything out of him this season seems like a stretch. We are just glad to hear that he is on the road to health once again. |
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April 1, 2008 The Rays have declined Rocco Baldelli's $6 million option for 2009, according to the AP. Baldelli's status for the 2008 season is notably in question due to his mitochondrial disorder. |
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March 12, 2008 Not only will Rocco Baldelli begin the year on the disabled list, but it's possible his career could be in jeopardy because of some type of metabolic and/or mitochondrial abnormalities that leave him extremely fatigued after a short workout. The outfielder fought back tears several times when discussing details of the condition Wednesday. "As far as my baseball career I'm not here to stand in front of you telling you I'm retiring," Baldelli said in the St. Petersburg Times. "We're still going pursue any avenue that we can to try to figure out what is going on and have a better understanding of what is going on." Baldelli added that he will remain on the disabled list "indefinitely until we find out something else that could possibly improve my situation." Obviously it's tough to know what exact to make of Baldelli's situation until we know more. You should stay away from him in mixed leagues. |
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March 12, 2008 Rocco Baldelli will begin the season on the disabled list, this according to Yahoo Sports. The Rays' designated hitter and part-time outfielder is suffering from fatigue. The 26-year-old outfielder told the local media that his condition leaves him extremely fatigued after short workouts. Baldelli, who has missed game time to a large number of ailments (appearing in just 127 of 486 games the past three seasons) has played in two games this spring, going 0-for-4 as a designated hitter. Baldelli will be sidelined indefinitely and should be nowhere near a mixed league fantasy roster. |
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March 10, 2008 Rocco Baldelli will more than likely enjoy some game action in the next couple of days, this according to the Tampa Tribune. Baldelli will be tested on Tuesday with the hope of returning to the field soon thereafter. “I think the point’s coming pretty soon where we’re going to need to get him out on the field and get a clear sense of what we can expect in April and beyond, but we’re not there yet,” said Andrew Friedman. You can hope against hope with Baldelli, but he still seems like nothing more than a shot in the dark at this point. |
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March 9, 2008 Rocco Baldelli has not played since March 4, and he wasn't active for the Rays game on Sunday. Joe Maddon said he will not be in the lineup on Monday against the Indians, according to MLB.com. In light of those comments, Baldelli was asked if he felt any pressure. "I don't feel any pressure," Baldelli said. "I'll do what I feel I can. I guess you could say it's precautionary." Baldelli said he can't categorize the problem that's preventing him from coming back full bore after missing most of the 2007 season with hamstring problems -- but if it wasn't obvious before this spring -- it is now - the one time top prospect compared to the Yankees Joe DiMaggio - has legs made of glass. |
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March 8, 2008 Rocco Baldelli still isn't taking part in games due to his sore leg muscles, according to the St. Petersburg Times. "The reason I'm taking these days off is to give my muscles a chance to recover," he said. "I'm thinking getting these extra days will do nothing but help me." Baldelli added that despite extensive tests by multiple specialists, he doesn't know exactly what the problem is. Considering his lengthy injury history and last year's hamstring injury that ended his season in May, this clearly is concerning. |
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March 6, 2008 Rocco Baldelli may or may not play on Friday, even his manager appears uncertain, according to a report on MLB.com. "We'll make that determination tomorrow morning. He just wasn't up to speed and I have to make sure with Ronnie," manager Joe Maddon said. "I've just got to make sure with him. I'm not really sure he can play tomorrow, based on his recovery the last time out." The team is really, really being careful with the fragile Badelli. Despite an extremely high skill level, we hesitate to advise anyone to count on anything from good old Rocco since the cat just can't seem to stay healthy long enough to get into any kind of groove. He makes a great speculative late round play, but that's about it at this point. |
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March 5, 2008 Rocco Baldelli remains stuck at DH. The Rays are eager to test his health with a stint in the outfield, but they are not ready. “The conversations up to this point, I’m just not comfortable getting him out there [in the outfield],” manager Joe Maddon tells the Tampa Tribune. “We would like to do it, but it just does not seem it’s appropriate right now.” Baldelli is not in lineup on Wednesday and will DH on Thursday or Friday. |
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February 27, 2008 Rocco Baldelli took it easy on Wednesday as he went 0-for-2 as the DH for the Rays, this according to the St. Pettersberg Times. "Everything was fine - nice and smooth." Baldelli possesses 20/20 skill, but he can never seem to stay on the field for any length of time. He is certainly worth selecting in all leagues, but don't pull the trigger based solely on talent because a guy has to be on the field to be worth anything. |
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February 21, 2008 Rocco Baldelli is still being pampered by the Rays coaching staff. He is not at full speed and won't be pushed until the team nears the end of Spring Training, reports the Tampa Tribune. Tampa Bay will do everything they can to keep the talented center fielder healthy. Don't expect Baldelli to play the season without a stint on the disabled list and hope it's nothing more than a 15-day stay. |
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February 20, 2008 Rocco Baldelli and the Rays worked out a loose plan on Monday for how to handle the injury-prone player, according to the St. Petersburg Times. "We're trying to figure what is the best way to keep him as fresh as possible," manager Joe Maddon said. The Rays plan to take things slowly with Baldelli in camp and platoon him at DH and the outfield during spring games. The talent is there, but it won't matter unless he can stay on the field for a change. |
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February 15, 2008 The Rays' medical staff and coaches will sit down with the oft-injured Rocco Baldelli on Monday and try to lay out a plan for how they'll use the outfielder this spring, according to the Tampa Tribune. "We're going to take it very slowly," manager Joe Maddon said. The team likely will have Baldelli focus mostly on his hitting and limit his time in the outfield, as he figures to see most of his playing time at DH early in the year. |
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February 13, 2008 Oft-injured outfielder Rocco Baldelli expects to be at full strength when camp opens. However, Baldelli will be paying close attention to how he feels every time he takes the field. "Managing my body's going to be very important for me this year, maybe taking it easy a little bit when I can," he said in the Tampa Tribune. "I think I just have to be smart and I have to put my body first and I'm going to and I plan on being out there the full year." |
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February 3, 2008 Rocco Baldelli has been hitting, shagging and running "almost all out" with other Rays teammates who arrived early for camp, according to the St. Petersburg Times. He hasn't had any problems with the ailing hamstrings that limited him to 35 games last season, but you can expect him to be extremely cautious this spring and aim soley at being ready for the start of the regular season. When healthy, he has great upside, but he's usually battling some form of injury. |