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Pena's Finger Healing, But Return May Be In A Week

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 23, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - An X-ray Sunday of 1B Carlos Pena's fractured left index finger revealed that the bone has begun to heal, but there still is no fixed return date for the 30-year-old slugger.

Pena, who has progressed to hitting in a cage and playing catch with a baseball, is scheduled to participate in the team's pregame workout Tuesday at Dolphin Stadium.

"That should go very well," Pena said. "And then, after that, we'll set our plan to come back. If it were up to me, I'd be playing right now. But I guess there's a pattern I need to follow and a program I need to follow before I actually go out there."

While Pena hopes to return in time to play in the Rays' three-game series at Pittsburgh this weekend, there's a chance he won't be ready until the series against the Red Sox, June 30-July 2, at Tropicana Field.

He injured the finger on June 3 at Fenway Park, when he was hit by a Justin Masterson pitch in the first inning against the Red Sox. Pena homered and doubled in that game, but X-rays the next day revealed the fracture.

PRICE PROMOTED: LHP David Price, Tampa Bay's No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft, lasted all of six starts at Single-A Vero Beach.

The former Vanderbilt All-American was promoted to Double-A Montgomery after improving to 4-0 with a victory Saturday.

Price missed the first month of the season as he recovered from a left forearm strain. After throwing five shutout innings in his professional debut (with rehabbing RHP Pedro Martinez on the mound for the St. Lucie Mets), Price went on to compile a 1.82 ERA with 37 strikeouts and seven walks in 34 2/3 innings.

His first scheduled start for the Montgomery Biscuits is Thursday. Also promoted to Montgomery from Vero was OF J.T. Hall.

RUGGIANO DEMOTED: The Rays announced after Sunday's game that OF Justin Ruggiano had been optioned to Triple-A Durham. The team is expected to recall IF Ben Zobrist before traveling to Miami today for the Tuesday start of a three-game series against the Marlins.

With SS Jason Bartlett's wife about to give birth, he is expected to miss a day or two. Zobrist gives the team infield depth.

BALDELLI STAYS WITH VERO: OF Rocco Baldelli (60-day DL, mitochondrial disorder) will continue to rehabilitate with Single-A Vero Beach this week. He was scheduled to DH on Sunday, has today off and will DH on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, he is scheduled to make a pinch-hit appearance. He will DH again on Thursday before the next stage of his recovery is determined.

NOTEWORTHY: Rays RHP Edwin Jackson dropped the appeal of the five-game suspension stemming from a brawl with Boston on June 5. He is eligible to return Saturday. ... Rays 3B Evan Longoria hit his 12th home run Sunday, tying him with Bubba Trammell (1998) for fourth-most by a Rays rookie. Jonny Gomes (2005) holds the record with 21. Damon Hollins (2005) and Delmon Young (2007) had 13 homers as Rays rookies. ... Thursday's 12:10 p.m. game at Florida will be televised by FSN Florida. ... Rays DH Cliff Floyd said he will take his glove to South Florida in case he is needed to play the field this week against the Marlins or against the Pirates in Pittsburgh, but Maddon said the chances are remote that Floyd would see action beyond pinch-hitting. ... Astros 2B Kaz Matsui left in the sixth inning after straining his right hamstring running to first base on a groundout. He was replaced by Mark Loretta. ... Southwest Florida-based WXCW, Channel 6 will be added to the Rays Television Network on June 29. The station's viewing area includes Fort Myers, Naples and Port Charlotte.

Carter Gaddis

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