Price Sent To Minors, But Team Is Impressed

ST. PETERSBURG - He pitched only two innings in Grapefruit League games, but LHP David Price made quite an impression on the Rays during his first major-league camp.

Following another scoreless frame Tuesday against the Twins at Fort Myers, Price was sent to the minors along with RHP Jae Kuk Ryu and OF Justin Ruggiano. The 22-year-old lefty was downcast after the news was delivered at Progress Energy Park, but Rays manager Joe Maddon gushed praise for last year's top draft pick.

"It's just time to get him out and get him ready," Maddon said. "We just asked him to continue what he's been doing, because he's been exemplary from Day One here."

Price pitched a perfect ninth against the Twins on Tuesday, three days after striking out the side in his spring debut against the Yankees. He said he didn't feel as comfortable the second time around, but that the competitive juices were flowing.

"Every time I go out there, there's adrenaline," Price said in Fort Myers. "No matter what. I could be facing a slow-pitch softball girls team. I'd go out there and try to break every bat."

Maddon was most impressed with Price's location and confidence in his pitches. The coaching staff has lauded Price for throwing quality strikes down in the strike zone, and one particular pitch Tuesday told Maddon all he needed to know.

"He threw a 2-1 breaking-ball strike today, just a nasty little 2-1 slider, right there, strike two," Maddon said. "Now, when you're on the other side and you see guys doing that, I mean, that gets in your head a little bit. You just can't sit on this guy's fastball. That was impressive."

The Rays didn't tell Price where he would begin his first professional season, but high Single-A Vero Beach seems a likely choice. Price said he "definitely" was looking forward to getting an opportunity to pitch more regularly in minor-league camp and he's ready to go.

"It's not even a transition, really," he said, "it's just moving to a different place to play."

Ruggiano and Ryu should end up in Durham, and there's a good chance both will be back with the Rays this season.

Ryu's demotion wasn't a surprise; he needs to build up innings to start in Durham. Ruggiano lost out on a chance to compete with veterans John Rodriguez and Jon Weber for a potential backup outfield spot because the Rays want him playing every day.

ROUND TWO: Rays IF Elliot Johnson is not expected to play in today's sold-out game against the Yankees at Progress Energy Park, the first meeting between the teams since Johnson collided with C Francisco Cervelli on Saturday. Cervelli suffered a fractured wrist and Johnson drew the public ire of Yankees manager Joe Girardi.

Johnson has expressed remorse for Cervelli's injury, but the incident has overshadowed what has become an interesting spring training on the field for the 24-year-old. He continued his hot streak Tuesday in a 7-1 victory against the Twins, going 3-for-5 with a home run, a stolen base and three runs scored.

He said the fallout of the collision with Cervelli has not been on his mind.

"I'm not here thinking about that nonsense," Johnson said. "I try not to worry about all that stuff."

In eight Grapefruit League games, Johnson is batting .500 (9-for-18). He leads the team in hits and runs scored (10) and is tied with Carl Crawford for the lead in stolen bases with three.

TOUGH BREAK: No one has been asked to do more during spring training than Ben Zobrist, who already had seen game action at seven different positions when he suffered a hairline fracture to the tip of his left thumb in Sunday's game.

Despite all the time he has put in attempting to become a viable option in the outfield while also playing all four infield positions, Zobrist said Tuesday morning there was "no reason" to get frustrated about potentially being sideline for the next month. First of all, he said, he doesn't plan to be out that long.

"I'm ready Opening Day. I'm ready. That's the way I'm thinking," Zobrist said. "I'm fully ready - not just like I feel like I can play at 80 or 90 percent. I'm 100 percent Opening Day."

He plans to do everything he can during his absence to continue his education in the nuances of outfield play, whether that means asking others about positioning or putting a glove on his right hand and trying to make catches that way.

CANNIZARO'S CHANCE: Zobrist's injury likely will open the door for Andy Cannizaro to make the Opening Day roster as a backup infielder.

The 29-year-old knows injuries can create opportunity and take it away; he missed the first three months of last season after hurting his back in spring training. He plans to be ready if needed to back up Jason Bartlett at the outset.

"I'd do anything to be on this team, to be in the big leagues with these guys," Cannizaro said. "I'd play wherever they wanted to put me. I just want to make sure that I continue to go about my business and stay healthy and be that option."

NOTABLE: Former Rays OF Delmon Young went 0-for-3 in his first game against his old team, then visited the Rays' clubhouse briefly following the game. ... 3B Evan Longoria, pinch-hitting for OF Jonny Gomes in the eighth, hit his first spring home run, off Twins RHP Juan Rincon. ... C Dioner Navarro, batting right-handed against Minnesota's Glen Perkins, also hit his first homer of the spring.

Marc Lancaster, Carter Gaddis