Projo Sox Blog

Journal photo / Mary Murphy

Rhode Island native Rocco Baldelli, left, a Rays outfielder, had his 10-year-old brother Dante, right, on the field with a friend of Dante's before the start of Game 3 of the ALCS between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays.

BY DANIEL BARBARISI
Journal Sports Writer

BOSTON -- Rocco Baldelli wasn't the only member of his family on the field at Fenway today. His little brother Dante, 10, stood wide-eyed just outside the cage while the elder Baldelli and the rest of the Rays took batting practice.

It was the Cumberland resident's first time on the field at Fenway -- a peanut allergy keeps him away from most games -- and he couldn't stop smiling as his brother hit shots into the outfield.

"I get to come up, but now I've come on the field for the first time," Dante said.

Dante doesn't see his older brother that often, but when he does, he picks up baseball tips, particularly advice on his throwing.

"I have a bad habit -- sometimes I throw sidearm," Dante said.

Dante plays third base and center field, and also pitches and catches, for his local little league team, the Reds.

"I'm pretty good," he says, with the confidence good baseball genetics can give.

Occasionally, he heads down to Tampa to visit Rocco, where he sees what could be in store if he can ever land a major league deal.

"I visit him sometimes in Tampa. He has a big condo, it's huge. Big place," Dante said.

Rocco has struggled in recent years with a mitochondrial disorder that leaves him tired and susceptible to injury, and has derailed the career of the former first-round pick. Baldelli's teammates have said that the right fielder's return to the lineup this season has been an inspiration to them. His family is excited as well, but watches nervously, Dante said.

"We are -- we just hope he doesn't get hurt. We just hope he stays well," Dante said.

 Tags  Rocco Baldelli

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