The Rays full season minor league rosters were also announced yesterday, with a few interesting moves in terms of where players were sent. Richie Shaffer and Drew Vettleson are starting the season with the Charlotte Stone Crabs, while Cameron Seitzer is skipping Charlotte altogether, and has been assigned to the Montgomery Biscuits, and will be joined there by Enny Romero. Meanwhile, Taylor Guerreiri will begin the year with the Bowling Green Hot Rods.

Finally, although the Rays do not begin their season for another day, there was baseball last night involving a former member of the Rays. Yes, Carlos Pena made his Astros debut last night in an 8-2 victory over the Rangers. Pena, in the lineup as the Astros designated hitter, struck out three times in the game, continuing his strikeout heavy approach that he had on display last year. However, he also managed to get a single to left center, showing that his approach in September of last year when he started taking the ball the other way may not have been a fluke. If he can continue that approach, he may be able to put together a bounce back year.

2007: Carlos Pena

Carlos Pena set seven franchise records during his career best season in 2007. Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

In the best season of his career to date, Carlos Pena had a magical season with the Devil Rays in 2007. While hitting .282, Pena set seven franchise records, including RBIs, 121, homeruns, 46, and slugging percentage, .627. Although Pena excelled during the season, he originally signed with the organization during the offseason and attended spring training as a non-roster invitee. After being reassigned to minor league camp, Pena was called back up towards the end of spring training after first baseman Greg Norton suffered a knee injury. The D-Rays found themselves in a lucky situation, as Pena’s defense at first base was as impressive as his bat. Pena had the most assists at first base, 130, in the American League for the season. Pena finished the season on a high note, hitting an AL-best 13 homers in September. To top off his record-setting season, Pena garnered several awards along with team MVP, including AL Comeback of the Year, a Silver Slugger Award, and was a contender for the AL MVP vote. Carlos Pena has always been a fan favorite, and his numbers make it easy to see why Rays fans developed a fondness for the first baseman early on.

2008: Jason Bartlett

Jason Bartlett was a contributor to the Rays’ 2008 spectacular season, when they went from worst to first and made a World Series appearance. Credit: bostondirtdogs.boston.com

The Rays acquired Jason Bartlett from the Minnesota Twins following the 2007 season in the trade that sent Delmon Young to Minnesota in exchange for Bartlett and pitcher Matt Garza. While Bartlett hit .286, his 75 runs, 43 RBI, and 1 home run were not very impressive. But Bartlett became a crucial member of the Rays’ 2008 squad as many of their key players served terms on the disabled list. While the Rays were ranked first in the division leading up to the All-Star break, they fell from the top spot during the week Bartlett was injured. His absence had one of the greatest effects on the team than when players like Carlos Pena, Carl Crawford, and rookie Evan Longoria spent longer periods of time on the DL during the season. Fans took notice of Bartlett’s solid defense at shortstop, especially his spectacular double plays with second baseman Akinori Iwamura, but also his encouraging spirit directed towards teammates. Bartlett was not the only Rays player to have a memorable 2008 season, as it was the first time the Rays made it to the postseason. In their worst-to-first Cinderella season, America took notice of Bartlett when he stole a base in Game 1 of the World Series and Taco Bell gave away free tacos nationwide to celebrate. As Bartlett bolstered a much-improved Rays roster in 2008, earning the team MVP award capped off Bartlett’s new start with the franchise that was entering a new phase of winning seasons and playoff contentions.

2009: Ben Zobrist

2009 was Ben Zobrist’s coming out party, as his hitting improved and he became an everyday starter for the Rays. Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Following the Rays’ breakout season in 2008, Ben Zobrist was suddenly on everyone’s radar. Known for his ability to play all seven utility positions, the switch hitter was used primarily by the Rays as a backup and defensive replacement prior to 2009. But in 2009, everything changed. With a .297 average and 27 homers, including three grand slams, Zobrist posted an impressive .948 OPS. During the season, 91 was a magical number for Zobrist, as he drove in 91 RBIs, scored 91 runs, and drew 91 walks. Zobrist led hitters in the majors with an 8.3 WAR, putting him in the spotlight. And Zobrist did that while continuing to play over the place, starting 91 games at second base, while playing an additional 70 games in the outfield. Zobrist also earned a trip to that year’s All-Star game. And although the Rays did not make it back to the postseason in 2009, Zobrist helped Tampa Bay reach their second winning season in franchise history with an 84-78 record. Zobrist continues to be one of the backbones of the Rays’ lineup and still plays both the infield and outfield to provide flexibility for manager Joe Maddon, giving fans an endless list of reasons to root for Zorilla.

With his shoulder feeling better, Luke Scott says he’ll have a better year in 2013. Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

There’s no place like home sweet home. Especially if you’re looking for a second chance. The Rays re-signed designated hitter Luke Scott this week to a one-year $2.75 million deal. Scott is looking to improve his game in 2013 after hitting only .229 in 96 games with the Rays in 2012. After undergoing shoulder surgery in 2011 while playing for the Baltimore Orioles, Scott continued to struggle in 2012, missing 45 games while being on the disabled list.

While Scott is confident that he is healthy and his offseason training is preparing him for improvements in 2013, not everyone is convinced that the 34 year old will show significant progress as much as Scott claims he can. His best season was in Baltimore in 2010, as he batted .284 with 127 hits in 131 games. He has potential to repeat those numbers in 2013 if his shoulder remains healthy. But, the DeLand, Florida, native is a fan favorite, charming everyone with his facial hair that looks like Wolverine’s mutton chops. Whether or not his bat is as explosive as he hopes, Rays fans will welcome the familiar face back to the nightly lineup.

Unfortunately, another fan favorite, Carlos Pena, signed with the Houston Astros this offseason after a less than perfect comeback in Tampa Bay. Rays fans welcomed Pena back with open arms when the Rays announced they were signing him to a one-year contract for 2012. Pena previously played with Tampa Bay from 2007-2010. When Pena delivered in the Rays’ 2012 season opener against the New York Yankees with a grand slam in the bottom of the first inning and a single in the ninth, fans thought Pena’ offensive dominance was back. Everyone hoped the combination of Pena and Longoria would give the Rays’ a deadly lineup. Although Pena played in 160 games last season and delivered his usual defensive prowess behind first base, he hit only .197 with a career high 182 strikeouts.

Pena gets another chance to redeem himself while embarking with the Astros in their first season in the American League. Hopefully the fresh start for he and his new team will boost Pena’s career again as Rays fans wish him the best of luck. With Scott back in Tampa Bay as well, only time will tell if his offseason training will pay off in 2013. While we wait to find out, fans are at least happy to see a familiar face in a lineup filled with a few new faces as well.