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Published Wed, Sep 08, 2010 02:00 AM
Modified Wed, Sep 08, 2010 08:43 AM

Rays have bullish feeder system

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- Staff Writer
Tags: baseball | sports

When the Tampa Bay Rays made it as far as the World Series two years ago, players from their Triple-A affiliate Durham Bulls provided many sparks along the way.

This year, the Bulls' contribution to the Rays is even more substantial, as the team has been built mostly through the draft, rather than free agency and through trades.

Most of the Rays have worn a Bulls uniform at some point in their career. The Rays currently are in a tight pennant race with the New York Yankees in the American League East Division.

Former Bulls have roster spots in every area on the field. The Rays' entire outfield and a pair of catchers all played for Durham at one point in their careers.

The Rays, on pace for a third straight winning season after 10 straight losing years, are poised for a playoff run after missing the 2009 postseason.

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Former Bulls with the Rays

Pitchers

Randy Choate, LHP (reliever)

Age: 35. Games with the Bulls: 21 (2009)

How acquired: through free agency on Jan. 6, 2009.

Key Bulls stat: 3.72 ERA in 21 relief appearances.

Rays stats this season: 4.26 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 38 innings.

Wade Davis, RHP (starter)

Age: 24. Games with the Bulls: 37 (2008, 2009)

How acquired: Selected by Rays in third round of 2004 draft.

Key Bulls Stat: 55 strikeouts in 53 innings in 2008.

Rays stats this season: 11-9 record and 4.39 ERA through 24 starts.

Jeff Niemann, RHP (starter)

Age: 27. Games with the Bulls: 49 (2007, 2008)

How acquired: Taken by Rays with fourth pick in 2004 draft.

Key Bulls stat: Threw complete-game shutout in 2008.

Rays stats this season: 10-6 and 4.28 ERA through 25 starts, including one shutout.

David Price, LHP (starter)

Age: 25. Games with the Bulls: 12 (2008, 2009)

How acquired: Taken by Rays with first pick overall of 2007 draft.

Key Bulls stat: 35 strikeouts in 341/3 innings in 2009.

Rays stats this season: 16-6, 2.92 ERA and 161 strikeouts in 1722/3 innings through 26 starts, including one shutout and two complete games.

James Shields, RHP (starter)

Age: 28. Games with the Bulls: 11 (2005, 2006).

How acquired: Selected by Rays in 16th round of 2000 draft.

Key Bulls stat: 64 strikeouts in 611/3 innings in 2006.

Rays stats this season: 13-12 with 4.92 ERA with 164 strikeouts in 1752/3 innings through 28 starts and one relief appearance.

Andy Sonnanstine, RHP (reliever)

Age: 27. Games with the Bulls: 20 (2007, 2009)

How acquired: Selected by Rays in 13th round of 2004 draft.

Key Bulls stat: Had 2.66 ERA and won 6 of 11 starts in 2007.

Rays stats this season: 4.64 ERA in 39 appearances.

Dan Wheeler, RHP (reliever)

Age: 32. Games with the Bulls: 58 (1999, 2000, 2001).

How acquired: Selected by Rays in the 34th round of 1996 draft.

Key Bulls stat: 2 complete games and one shutout in 1999.

Rays stats this season: 3.46 ERA with 3 saves and 43 strikeouts in 412/3 innings over 52 appearances.

Catchers

John Jaso (starter)

Age: 26. Games with the Bulls: 138 (2008, 2009, 2010)

How acquired: Selected by Rays in 12th round of 2003 draft.

Key Bulls stat: Posted a .987 fielding percentage in 98 games last season.

Rays stats this season: .281 batting average with 15 doubles and 5 homers in 278 at-bats.

Infielders

Reid Brignac

Age: 24. Games with the Bulls: 193 (2008, 2009)

How acquired: Selected by Rays in second round of 2004 draft.

Key Bulls stat: 28 doubles in 96 games in 2009.

Rays stats this season: .263 batting average through 266 at-bats.

Dan Johnson

Age: 31. Games with the Bulls: 211 (2008, 2010)

How acquired: Through free agency on Jan. 11, 2010

Key Bulls stat: 30 home runs in 98 games this season.

Rays stats this season: .186 batting average through 59 at-bats.

Evan Longoria

Age: 24. Games with the Bulls: 38 (2007, 2008).

How acquired: Selected by the Rays third overall in the 2006 draft.

Key Bulls stat: Played in seven games in 2008 before getting called up to Tampa.

Rays stats this season: .294 batting average with 20 homers and team-high 92 RBIs through 521 at-bats.

Outfielders

Carl Crawford

Age: 29. Games with the Bulls: 85 (2002)

How acquired: Selected by Rays in second round of 1999 draft.

Key Bulls stat: .297 batting average in 2002.

Rays stats this season: .302 batting average with 15 homers and 73 RBIs through 504 at-bats.

B.J. Upton

Age: 26. Games with the Bulls: 316 (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)

How acquired: Selected by the Rays with the second overall pick of the 2002 draft.

Key Bulls stat: 303 batting average in 2005.

Rays stats this season: .235 batting average with 33 doubles and 48 RBIs through 452 at-bats.

Ben Zobrist

Age: 29. Games with the Bulls: 89 (2006, 2007, 2008)

How acquired: Traded from Houston Astros for Aubrey Huff in July 2006.

Key Bulls stat: .366 batting average in 20 games in 2008.

Rays stats this season: .245 batting average with 60 RBIs through 453 at-bats.

Designated hitters

Matt Joyce

Age: 26. Games with the Bulls: 136 (2009, 2010)

How acquired: Traded from Detroit Tigers for Edwin Jackson in December, 2008.

Key Bulls stat: 53 of 114 hits were for extra bases in 2009.

Rays stats this season: .237 batting average through 156 at-bats.

Just added

Jeremy Hellickson, RHP

Age: 23. Games with Bulls: 30 (2009, 2010).

How acquired: Selected by Rays in the fourth round in the 2005 draft.

Key Bulls stat: 12-3, 2.45 ERA in 2010, with 123 strikeouts in 117 2/3 innings.

Rays stats this season: 3-0, 2.57 ERA with 26 strikeouts through 28 innings.

Desmond Jennings, OF

Age: 23. Games with Bulls: 141 (2009, 2010).

How acquired: Selected by Rays in 10th round in the 2006 draft.

Key Bulls stat: Had .325 batting average in 32 games to help Bulls win championship in 2009.

Rocco Baldelli, OF

Age: 28. Games with Bulls: 48 (2002, 2006, 2007, 2010)

How acquired: Taken with sixth pick overall by Rays in the 2000 draft.

Key Bulls stat: .272 batting average in 11 games this season.

Dioner Navarro, C

Age: 26. Games with Bulls: 43 (2010).

How acquired: Traded by Los Angeles Dodgers as part of multiple-player deal in 2006.

Key Bulls stat: .284 batting average in 141 at-bats this season.

Mike Ekstrom, RHP

Age: 27. Games with Bulls: 39 (2010).

How acquired: Claimed off waivers in February.

Key Bulls stat: 2.79 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 58 innings in 39 appearances.

Rehabbed with Bulls

Willy Aybar, DH

Joquin Benoit, RHP

Sean Rodriguez, INF

Kelly Shoppach, C

Jason Bartlett, INF

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