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Brignac Jumps Right Into Fire

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 5, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - ST. PETERSBURG - Reid Brignac's mother, father and brother flew to the Tampa Bay area from Louisiana on Friday. Plans for a Cajun-style Independence Day cookout understandably were put on hold.

They came to see Brignac, 22, make his major-league debut this weekend for the Rays against the Royals. They didn't have to wait long; the 2004 second-round draft pick found his name in the starting lineup less than eight hours after his flight from Durham, N.C., landed at Tampa International Airport.

"This is his first trip to the majors," said Rays manager Joe Maddon, "so I wanted to get him out there, break any concerns that he has, put him into the fire right now and move on from there."

Brignac and IF Ben Zobrist were promoted from Triple-A Durham on Thursday after starting SS Jason Bartlett was placed on the 15-day DL with a right knee sprain. RHP Mitch Talbot was optioned to Durham, as well.

While Brignac has made his minor-league reputation as a steady left-handed hitter during his first 41/2 years as a professional, Maddon said the low number of errors (seven) Brignac committed in 78 games for the Bulls was the primary factor in his promotion.

Brignac (pronounced brin-yak) had his defensive ability tested right away. After Kansas City's David DeJesus led off the first with a single, Mark Grudzielanek hit a line drive off RHP Edwin Jackson that ricocheted to 2B Akinori Iwamura.

Brignac took Iwamura's flip from an awkward angle and made the turn for a double play.

"It felt real good to get something done early in the game," Brignac said. "It's just reaction. Aki gave me a good feed. That ball kind of came up on him late. I just caught it and spun and threw."

Brignac also made a quick turn on another double-play throw from 1B Carlos Pena in the fourth.

Maddon said Brignac and Zobrist both will receive playing time at short in Bartlett's absence.

INJURY NEWS: RHP Al Reyes (15-day DL, right shoulder tendinitis) is scheduled to throw a simulated game today at Tropicana Field.

"Every time he goes out in the bullpen, he feels better," Maddon said. "The recovery's better, he's not as sore. And he's starting to gain more confidence in the arm strength."

Maddon said Bartlett's knee sprain, which occurred in the seventh inning Wednesday as he stole third base during Tampa Bay's victory against the Red Sox, shouldn't keep him out of the lineup beyond July 18, the Rays' first game after he's eligible to return after the All-Star break.

OF Rocco Baldelli continued to nurse a groin injury, playing catch and taking batting practice with the major-league team before Friday's game. No plan has been announced for a resumption of his minor-league rehabilitation.

ROCK ON: As the Rays made their way from the dugout to the home clubhouse after their victory Friday, they were greeted at the door by comedian Chris Rock. The players filed by and exchanged fist bumps with Rock, who wore a blue Rays cap and had a Rays jersey slung over his shoulder.

"That was cool," Jackson said. "He was there saying, 'We did it, we did it!' "

Rock has been in Tampa this week for shows at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Maddon, Rays executive VP Andrew Friedman, president Matt Silverman and several other team officials and their significant others took in Rock's show Thursday.

NOTEWORTHY: Tampa Bay improved to 3-8 on Independence Day. ... LF Carl Crawford recorded the 299th stolen base of his career in the first inning. He needs one more to become the ninth player since 1900 to reach 300 before his 27th birthday. ... 3B Evan Longoria went 3-for-5. He has batted .438 (21-for-48) in his past 11 games to improve his batting average to .281. ... The Rays are on pace to win 101 games.

Carter Gaddis

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