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Riggans Eager To Get Back Behind The Dish

Tribune File Photo (2008)

What appeared to be a simple bruise incurred while blocking a ball in the dirt became an infection with the potential to do serious damage to his leg.

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By MARC LANCASTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 7, 2009

Updated: 03/07/2009 10:34 pm

PORT CHARLOTTE - The Rays and their fans remember Tampa Bay's series at Fenway Park last September as games that might have saved the season.

Dan Johnson's miracle home run and Carlos Pena's drive over the Green Monster in the top of the 14th inning - those are the images that endure from that critical September series that saw the Rays take charge in the division race.

Inside the cramped training room wedged into a corner of the visitors' clubhouse at Fenway, though, another drama was playing out. Mostly unnoticed in the hubbub surrounding the showdown series, Rays catcher Shawn Riggans' season came to an abrupt and frightening end.

What appeared to be a simple bruise incurred while blocking a ball in the dirt on a Sunday afternoon in Toronto had by Tuesday in Boston become an infection with the potential to do serious damage to his leg - or worse.

The Rays' medical staff immediately noted the turn Riggans had taken, failing to respond to oral antibiotics they hoped would do the trick after the initial signs of an infection emerged, and decided to put him on a plane home to Tampa on Wednesday morning, Sept. 10. He underwent surgery to clean out the infection that had developed around the bursa sac in his right knee that afternoon.

"It could have really turned ugly," Riggans said. "It could have been a life-threatening situation had I not gotten there when I did."

A delay of even 24 additional hours could easily have led to permanent tissue damage, and as it was Riggans had to spend four days cheering on his teammates from a hospital bed. Quick medical action kept the worst-case scenario from coming into play, but the freak injury cost him plenty.

Coming as it did with only 2 1/2weeks remaining in the regular season, Riggans was unable to regain his strength in time to serve as the backup to Dioner Navarro in the postseason. And for an organizational stalwart like Riggans, a lifelong underdog who finally spent a full season in the majors last season after Tampa Bay picked him in the 24th round of the draft eight years earlier, that was quite a blow.

"I don't want to say it was a letdown because that would take away from everything that was going on," Riggans said. "But I wish I could have just been there, whether I would have played or not, just so I could feel like I was doing something to help us go in the right direction."

His frustration is understandable. Take away that injury and 2008 might have been the year everything finally broke the right way.

He has had trouble staying healthy throughout his professional career, topping 90 games played only once. But last year he made an Opening Day roster for the first time and became firmly entrenched in his role.

Though he started only 38 games, Riggans was behind the plate for two of the Rays' signature pitching performances - Andy Sonnanstine's three-hit shutout of the White Sox in April and Matt Garza's two-hit shutout at Texas in August, both complete games. He also came up with some timely RBIs, including a pinch-hit, bases-clearing double in his first at-bat of the season April 4 at Yankee Stadium.

Off the field, Riggans can be relied upon to keep his teammates loose. He is, in the words of his close friend Navarro, "a little bit crazy," which may be putting it mildly. But over the course of the daily grind of a baseball season, it helps to have a guy like that around.

"He's such an integral part of this team - of course in his role, but also personality-wise," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "He really mixes well in our clubhouse; the guys love being around him."

It's nice to be wanted, and the Rays' decision not to bring in a veteran over the winter to challenge Riggans for the backup role is indicative of their faith in him. It won't last indefinitely, though, and Riggans understands that. He believes he is competing for his position "every day," and he would be doing himself a disservice if he didn't take that approach.

He knows how quickly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity can disappear. It has already happened once.

"I was with them there in heart, I really was," Riggans said. "It was unbelievable to watch, even watching it from the hospital bed. It was almost like watching a dream unfold in front of my face. That was neat in that aspect, but I'm ready to get back there and try to make a mark."

Reporter Marc Lancaster can be reached at (813) 259-7227.

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