Dukes eager to play near home

© St. Petersburg Times
published August 22, 2002

BALTIMORE -- After signing a deal worth about $500,000 with the Rays on Wednesday, Hillsborough High outfielder Elijah Dukes was excited about the possibilities of playing for his hometown team.

"I really like it," Dukes said from Tampa. "I get to be close to home, close to a lot of people I grew up with. And hopefully I can get people to come out and start watching the games."

If Dukes, 6 feet 3 and 215 pounds, gets to the majors, the Rays think the third-round pick will put on a show.

"Elijah Dukes is an athlete with speed and power," director of player personnel Cam Bonifay said. "I think those type of players we've drafted in the past have turned out to be real fine players. We feel if a young man like this is able to come to the big-league level, he'll come with the ability to have an effect on the outcome of a game with his power to hit home runs and his speed on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. That's the type of player we're looking for."

Dukes, 18, comes with a checkered past, including two arrests for battery as a young teen and several on- and off-field incidents as he attended four high schools in four years. The Rays say that they are aware and that he has made progress.

Dukes said he has put his problems behind him.

"I've been moving forward," Dukes said. "I did bad and I deserved to be punished. I don't want to do nothing else bad. I want to start fresh. I'm a professional ballplayer and I'm coming to play."

Dukes will start working out with the Double-A Orlando team today, then report to instructional league in September. The Rays had hoped to sign him in time to play minor-league ball this season, but negotiations dragged as Dukes considered an offer to play football at North Carolina State.

"It was kind of tough," Dukes said. "It was kind of hard to give away another sport I really love, but this is the best decision for me to have a chance to play a sport for a long time."

The Rays have some protection if he has second thoughts. Dukes is prohibited from playing football while under contract, and his bonus payments will be spread over five years.

UPTON UPDATE: Bonifay said there was nothing new on talks with first-round pick B.J. Upton. The Rays are trying to sign him by Monday, when he could start classes at Florida State, though junior college is an option. The Rays are believed to have offered a bonus of around $4.5-million, but there are unresolved issues on the total amount, term and amount of upfront money.

NO COMMENT: Several owners have spoken out this week on the labor situation, but Rays managing general partner Vince Naimoli said he won't be making any comments because there still is a gag order, and the threat of a $1-million fine, in place.

SERIES TALK: The Rays have gone 15 consecutive series without winning one, the longest streak since the 1999 Cubs. The 1996 Tigers went 16 straight. ... The season series with Baltimore is tied at 9 with only tonight's finale remaining.

PITCHING IN: In his first appearance since losing the closer's role, Esteban Yan had a solid outing, retiring all four batters he faced, including a strikeout of Gary Matthews with the bases loaded to end the seventh. It was the first time all season Yan pitched before the eighth.

SORE SUBJECTS: Pitcher Ryan Rupe is expected to be ready for spring training after Wednesday's knee surgery. Dr. Koco Eaton trimmed cartilage under Rupe's right kneecap to relieve the discomfort that limited him to one start since mid June.

Infielder Andy Sheets, who bruised his left leg in a collision Sunday, is making progress but may not be ready to play until Tuesday in Anaheim.

MISCELLANY: The Rays have scored one or no runs 24 times in 126 games, nearly 20 percent of the time. ... Aubrey Huff is among the American League August leaders in average (.353), homers (7) and RBIs (18). ... Princeton outfielder Wes Bankston hit his 18th homer on Tuesday, breaking Jared Sandberg's 1997 team record. ... The Rays set a team record for homers against an opponent with 21 against Baltimore. ... Tanyon Sturtze is scheduled to rejoin the team today. He has been with family in Massachusetts following the death of an aunt.