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Price Eager To Stay In Majors

By TONY FABRIZIO

afabrizio@tampatrib.com

Published: March 22, 2009

PORT CHARLOTTE - The Rays have been leaning toward Jason Hammel or Jeff Niemann as their fifth starter and sending heralded 23-year-old David Price back to Triple-A Durham for awhile.

Price has no interest in cooperating.

"I love it," Rays manager Joe Maddon said Sunday after the hard-throwing 6-foot-6 lefty started against a Yankees team missing much of its $209 million payroll and pitched four shutout innings.

"Evan Longoria was the same way last year. That's the right way to be. We want all our young guys to be that way," Maddon said.

Third-baseman Longoria started last season with Durham after battling for a spot with the Rays through the spring. He was called up 11 games into the season and went on to play in the All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium.

Price, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2007 draft, went 12-1 with a 2.30 ERA in 19 minor-league starts last year. He made his major-league debut Sept. 14 at Yankee Stadium and was on the mound when the Rays captured the AL pennant.

But he has pitched only three times this spring, as the Rays have sought to contain his innings and bring him along slowly. Through two relief appearances and one start (81/3 innings), he has allowed one run, six hits and six walks while striking out 10.

He wants to start the season at the major-league level, and he's eager to show he belongs.

"If I'm getting innings, I would love to get them in the big leagues," Price said. "If I'm going to work on stuff, I'd love to work on it up there and get real reactions to hitters."

Price faced 15 batters Sunday and yielded three hits while walking two and striking out four in a 5-0 Rays victory.

Reporter Tony Fabrizio can be reached at (813) 259-7994.

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Price Eager To Stay In Majors