Former Red Sox OF, RI Native Baldelli Retires
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (CBS\AP) - Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Rocco Baldelli has retired and accepted a position as a special assistant with the team.
The 29-year-old spent six of seven major league seasons with the Rays. In 519 career games with Tampa Bay and Boston, he hit .278 with 60 homers and 262 RBIs.
Baldelli played in just 10 games last season, but was part of Rays' postseason roster. He was removed after going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts against Cliff Lee in Game 1 of the Rays' division series against Texas.
Baldelli missed all or parts of four seasons because of a variety of injuries. In 2008, he was diagnosed as having mitochondrial disorder, a condition that causes muscle fatigue.
When he was removed Tampa Bay's the playoff roster in October, the Rays cited "left leg fatigue."
Baldelli will be involved in scouting and player development in his new job as special assistant to baseball operations.
Baldelli was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island and was later named "The Woonsocket Rocket" because of his speed on the basepaths. He made his major league debut on March 31, 2003 against the Red Sox. He went 1-for-4, with a double off Pedro Martinez.
He joined the Red Sox in 2009 and played in 62 games, batting .253 with seven home runs and 23 RBIs.
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