Rocco Baldelli signed a Minor League contract on Monday with Tampa Bay, the team that drafted and developed him. The former first-round draftee has been assigned to the Class A Charlotte Stone Crabs of the Florida State League. Baldelli, 28, had been employed by Tampa Bay in a roving instructor role for the first few months of this season. Now healthy, the outfielder hopes to resume his playing career and make it back to the big leagues. Rays manager Joe Maddon has watched the way Baldelli has been swinging the bat while contemplating his comeback, and said there's significant upside to the effort. "If you watch him work out, it's incredible," Maddon said. "This guy's still got great bat speed -- he's very strong. Of course, the problem with him physically manifests itself in a way you can't use him often, but rested, picking the right spots with this guy, he can be very intriguing. He's got enormous power as a hitter. Of course, he doesn't run like he used to. But even defensively, if he's got that strength level up, he can give you a good bolt in the outfield."