“Big Game” was back in the place where he earned his nickname.
James Shields, who still leads the franchise in wins, strikeouts, innings pitched, complete games, and shutouts, returned to Tropicana Field to deliver the first pitch of the 2023 season.
James Shields throwing out the first pitch at Tropicana Field. #Rays pic.twitter.com/yLMclDHHAb
— Steve Carney (@stevecarney) March 30, 2023
The 41-year-old hurler was taken by the then-Devil Rays in the 16th round of the 2000 draft, and made his big-league debut with Tampa Bay on May 31, 2006. He was traded to the Kansas City Royals after the 2012 season in exchange for outfielder Wil Myers, pitchers Jake Odorizzi and Mike Montgomery, and minor-league infielder Patrick Leonard. He would go on to lead the Royals to the 2014 American League pennant.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
