DEVIL RAYS CALL UP MCGRIFF
Veteran gets another chance at 500 HRs
Associated Press
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Fred McGriff will get another chance to reach 500 home runs.
Hoping to add some offensive pop, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays called up McGriff from Triple-A Durham on Friday.
The 40-year-old first baseman-designated hitter has 491 career homers, and is trying to become the 20th player in major league history to make it to the milestone.
McGriff is a Tampa Bay native who played for the Devil Rays from their inception in 1998 until being traded to the Chicago Cubs in 2001.
He signed a minor league contract with Tampa Bay in the offseason and was invited to spring training. He was reassigned to minor league camp when the season began.
After working out on his own, McGriff joined Durham on May 20 and hit .238 with a home run and four RBIs in seven games.
McGriff is the Devil Rays' career leader in most offensive categories, including batting average (.295), home runs (95) and RBIs (352).
The five-time All-Star was slowed by injuries last year that limited him to 86 games, 13 home runs and 40 RBI for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He went on the disabled list for the first time and hit a career-low .249.
McGriff is a lifetime .285 hitter over 19 major league seasons with the Blue Jays, Padres, Braves, Rays, Cubs and Dodgers.
To make room for McGriff, outfielder Jonny Gomes was optioned to Durham.
The Devil Rays open a weekend series at home against the New York Yankees on Friday night.
