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ST. PETERSBURG -- Damon Hollins has been named the
American League's Rookie of the Month for May.
Hollins, 30, joined the team on May 2 when Travis
Lee was put on the 15-day disabled list, and all he
has done since is hit while playing hard-nosed
baseball.
Hollins hit safely in 10 of his first 11 games with
the Devil Rays after being recalled. He led all
Major League rookies with six home runs, 15 RBIs, 19
runs scored and 48 total bases during May.
In 27 games, he led all AL rookies in batting with a
.325 average (26-for-80) and five stolen bases.
Hollins also recorded six multi-hit games during his
first month as a Devil Ray. On May 11th against
Chicago, Hollins swiped second base three times.
The win by Hollins marks the third time a Devil Ray
has captured the Rookie of the Month award; Rocco
Baldelli captured the honor twice during the 2003
season.
Hollins' performance in May prompted more than one
organization to wonder how someone of Hollins'
talents could have spent 13 years in professional
baseball and played just 15 Major League games --
with the Braves and Dodgers -- prior to this
season's callup.
"Nah," Hollins said, when asked about ever
considering giving up. "I mean, I'm human. Sometimes
you play mind games with yourself as far as giving
up. But I've got too much in me to give up.
"Baseball's been my life for a while. In the
offseason, I'm just as excited about coming to
Spring Training as everybody else. I'm optimistic
and everything. You never know what's going to
happen. I'm a firm believer. I know from being
around and watching the other guys, that it's all
timing."
Rays manager Lou Piniella has been pleased with
Hollins and he likes his story.
"Just goes to show you what you can do with a little
perseverance and not giving up," Piniella said.
"He's done a nice job here. He really has. I've been
pleased with his play.
"We brought him up, and surprisingly, he's hit the
ball well. He's gotten some big hits for us. We're
pleased. And he plays hard. I like a hard-nosed
kid."
Other AL rookies who made an impact in May were
Texas starter Chris Young (3-0, 1.42 ERA); Minnesota
reliever Jesse Crain (4-0, 1.69 ERA); and White Sox
second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (.275, four homers,
15 RBIs).
Hollins will receive a specially designed trophy for
the award.
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