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Tampa Bay Devil Rays Spring Training 2006 Report

Slowly the wheels are building on the Devil Rays tour bus heading towards a post-season, with a few question marks.

The home grown talent initiative has paid dividends in some of the best talent on any farm system heading towards the major league club. Rocco Baldelli, largely injured last season, was the pioneer. Joey Gathright followed.

This would be the logical year for both Delmon Young (See: Devil Ray - Follow-up to this report) and BJ Upton to make their major league transitions, if they're ever going to do it.

There is weakness in the D-Rays infield. Upton (MLN FAB50 Baseball 2005 No. 3; 2004 No. 1), who had the ranked tools to be one of the top developmental players in the country, batted .303 last year with 18 home runs. He deserves an airing at best, before he gets frustrated and stale. BJ has the tools to help turn around the club offensively. Why he may end up back in Durham will owe largely to more work needed on his D.

In the Outfield, Young is itching for a starting spot in Tampa Bay, but his attitude may keep him down on the farm a bit longer. Those who wonder why the number one draft pick from 2003 will start at Durham should look both at his run-in with the Southern League official that drew him a three game suspension and clever little remarks that he's made about how he can't wait until he can get traded to see that humility and calm may not be among his God-given talents.

Catcher Shawn Riggans, who batted .310 for the Biscuits last season, may pass up Kevin Cash on the depth chart. Cash had an anemic .161 in 13 games with Tampa after batting .293 for the Durham Bulls in 42.

Hurlers Jason Hammel and Jamie Shields, both playing in AA ball last year, show promise, but will probably advance only to Durham this season.