by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (5/21/2013) Rays leadoff hitter Desmond Jennings went yard for the fifth time this season Tuesday in Toronto. Jennings took Ramon Ortiz deep in the third inning for a solo shot.
Jennings went 1 for 4 in the game and is batting .241. He's hit in seven straight games and has six RBI over that span with three runs scored.
Desmond Jennings solid in defeat
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (5/15/2013) Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings led off and had a solid offensive game on Wednesday during a 9-2 loss to the Red Sox.
Jennings tripled and stole his sixth base of the season as he finished 2 for 5 with an RBI and run scored. He's batting .243.
The speedy center fielder already has six stolen bases and two triples to go with four homers and 11 RBI. He's scored 28 runs and that has him in the top 10 in the American League.
Desmond Jennings' mini-streak over
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (5/14/2013) Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings was back in action Tuesday in a win over the Red Sox, following a three-game absence due to a groin injury.
Jennings didn't contribute much in a 5-3 win, going 0 for 4 from the leadoff spot with a strikeout to drop his average to .237.
The 0-for-4 game ended a seven-game hitting streak for Jennings in which he increased his average from .218 to .244.
Desmond Jennings back in lineup
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (5/14/2013) Rays outfielder Desmond Jenningsreturned to the starting lineup Tuesday against Boston following a three-game absence with a groin injury, the Tampa Tribune reports. Jennings took his usual spot atop the batting order as he prepared for his first game since last Thursday.
Desmond Jennings aims for Tuesday return
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (5/12/2013) Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings missed a third straight start Sunday against the Padres because of a groin injury. Jennings said he's starting to feel better and the hope is he will return to the lineup Tuesday against the Red Sox following Monday's off-day, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Jennings is on a seven-game hitting streak and has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games. He's batting .277 (13 for 47) with one triple, two doubles, two home runs, six RBI, six walks and 10 runs in his last 11 games.
Rays not worried about Desmond Jennings
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (5/11/2013) Rays manager Joe Maddon insisted the injury that kept outfielder Desmond Jennings sidelined for the second game in a row Saturday is not a serious ailment and he could return for Sunday's series finale against the Padres. Jennings said he aggravated his groin while diving back to first base Thursday against Toronto.
"He's fine. I'm just really taking it easy with him right now," Maddon told MLB.com. "I think he might be fine by [Sunday]. I like the idea of giving him a rest right now. I think with a little respite right now, this guy is going to be even better when we bring him on back. We'll just see."
Desmond Jennings sits Saturday
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (5/11/2013) Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings could not return to the starting lineup Saturday against San Diego. Jennings has a groin injury and is day to day.
Manager Joe Maddon indicated Friday that Jennings would miss Saturday's game after he sat out Friday against the Padres, the Tampa Tribune reported.
Desmond Jennings out with groin injury
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (5/10/2013) Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings was out of the lineup Friday against San Diego with a minor groin injury, manager Joe Maddon said. It's the first game Jennings has missed this season. Matt Joyce took his place atop the batting order for Tampa Bay.
Desmond Jennings hits fourth HR
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (5/4/2013) Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings hit his fourth home run on Friday in a 7-4 win at Colorado. Jennings went 1 for 4 with a walk batting leadoff.
Jennings' two-run homer came in the fifth inning off starter Jeff Francis.
Jennings has been able to produce despite a .219 batting average. He has gone 4 for 21 (.190) over his last five games, but with two homers and four RBI.
Desmond Jennings given the day off
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (4/26/2013) Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings, who started his first 22 games, received a day off Friday. Matt Joyce will take his spot at leadoff while Sam Fuld will start at center field for the Rays.
Jennings has gone 4 for 25 and has struck out 11 times in his last seven games. The 26-year-old has not had a multi-hit game since April 18. He is hitting .226 with two home runs and four RBI in 84 at-bats.
Desmond Jennings embracing leadoff role
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/21/2013) Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings has embraced his role as leadoff batter for Tampa Bay, MLB.com reports Sunday. While Jennings loves to hit homers, he understands run scoring is what he's in the lineup for.
"As a leadoff man, you've got to score runs. Your job is to get on, set the table and score runs," Jennings said. "That's what I'm trying to do, score as many runs as I can."
Entering Sunday, Jennings had been on base 23 times and scored 14 runs, meaning he's crossing the plate 60.9 percent of the time he's reached base. That said, his .242 batting average remains low.
"Desmond has a chance to be a very classic leadoff hitter as he gains more experience in baseball. He's a really good base-stealer because he knows when to go, and he normally does not get thrown out," Maddon said. "When he is performing right or well, he's going to accept his walks. He's going to drive himself in with some homers. He's going to do that. But when he gets on base via the walk as well, he's going to be dangerous."
Desmond Jennings becoming a leadoff hitter
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/20/2013) Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings entered Saturday's game against the A's tied for fourth in the American League with 14 runs scored.
The 26-year-old has also drawn seven walks and struck out 12 times in 62 at-bats. Manager Joe Maddon told the Tampa Tribune that Desmond Jennings is growing into his role as a leadoff hitter.
"Desmond has a chance to be a very classic leadoff hitter as he gains more experience," Maddon said. "He’s a really good base stealer and the big thing with him is that when he doesn’t expand his strike zone and accepts his walks, that’s when he becomes very dangerous."
Desmond Jennings goes yard again
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (4/19/2013) Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings launched his second home run in three games during Thursday's series finale against the Orioles.
Jennings touched starter Miguel Gonzalez in the first inning for a solo home run -- his fourth of the season. He scored another run on a sacrifice fly in the second, reached on an infield single in the sixth and singled in the ninth. He finished 3 for 4 with a run scored and two RBI in a 10-6 defeat.
Jennings has reached base in seven of the last eight games. He is hitting .286 with two homers over that span.
Desmond Jennings keeps streak alive with HR
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/17/2013) Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings led off Tuesday's game against the Orioles with a home run to left field. It ended up being his only hit in five at-bats, but it extended his hitting streak to six games.
Jennings is batting .269 (7 for 26) with one home run, one RBI, four doubles and five runs during the hitting streak. He opened the season with a .208 average (5 for 24) in his first seven games.
Desmond Jennings nets fourth stolen base
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/15/2013) Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings recorded his fourth stolen base and first in seven games Monday at Boston. It turned out to be a pivotal play as Jennings stole second base in the top of the ninth inning and scored on Ben Zobrist's RBI single, tying the game at two.
Jennings finished 1 for 4 with one run and two strikeouts. He's batting .244 (11 for 45) with six doubles and 10 runs in 12 games.
Desmond Jennings swipes two bags in win
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (4/6/2013) Rays left fielder Desmond Jennings stole two bases in Saturday's 6-0 win over the Indians, giving him three steals this season. He also collected a single, two walks and one run in the game.
Jennings isn't typically one to draw many base on balls, with just three of his 132 games last season featuring multiple walks. However, he benefited from the wildness of Cleveland starter Trevor Bauer, who distributed seven walks in all.
Desmond Jennings a tough out in leadoff spot
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/2/2013) Rays center fielder Desmond Jennings may have been the toughest out for Baltimore pitching in Tuesday's opening day loss to the Orioles. Jennings led off for the Rays and ended up scoring two of their four runs in the 7-4 loss.
Jennings, who stole his first base of the season, went 2 for 4 with a double off starter Jason Hammel. He also drove in a run as he contributed on three of the four runs the Rays scored. He also took a team-high-tying 19 pitches in the game.
The 26-year-old speedster is taking over center from B.J. Upton for the Rays and is off to a solid start. He hit .344 over the spring with seven steals and 14 runs scored over just 22 games. Jennings is looking to improve after hitting .246 last year with 13 homers and 47 RBI. He did steal 31 bases last year.
Desmond Jennings showcasing speed
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (3/21/2013) Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings swiped his sixth stolen base of the spring Thursday against the Blue Jays. Although he finished 0 for 3, Jennings is batting .314 (11 for 35) with two doubles, two RBI, eight walks and 11 runs in 15 spring games.
Jennings shakes off ankle injury
(3/11/2013) Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings returned to action in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins after suffering an ankle injury over the weekend. He went 1 for 2 with a walk and a run scored in the 6-4 loss. Jennings has gone 7 for 17 (.412) with one RBI and five stolen bases through nine spring games.
Jennings' ankle a non-issue
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (3/10/2013) Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings told reporters Sunday his left ankle is fine after he rolled it rounding the bases Saturday against the Phillies. Jennings said he left Saturday's game for precautionary reasons, but he would have continued to play had it been the regular season. “I’m good to go,” Jennings said, per The Tampa Tribune. Jennings added he expects to play Monday against the Twins.
Rays remove Jennings early
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (3/9/2013) Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings was pulled from Saturday's Grapefruit League contest against Philadelphia with a minor ankle issue, the Tampa Bay Times reports. Jennings apparently suffered the injury while rounding first base and is expected to return to the lineup early next week, manager Joe Maddon said. He finished 1 for 2 while serving as the team's leadoff hitter before the early departure. "Desmond's fine," Maddon said. "He could have continued to play. I saw him at second, he kind of hit the bag a little bit funny, so I did not want to take any chances."
Jennings comfortable in CF
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (2/20/2013) MLB.com reports Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings is ready to take over in center field after B.J. Upton left the team via free agency. "I feel like center field is my natural position," Jennings said. "It's what I played throughout the minor leagues. It will be a little bit different from last year, but that's what I like. I feel like I get better reads out in center." Rays pitcher Matt Moore is one player happy to see Jennings' speed in center field. "Desmond runs fearless out there," Moore said. "He's run into a couple of walls for us. I remember one time he dove straight into the wall and caught one. So he's by far my favorite outfielder, because he's running out there without any regard. [All of the pitchers] are looking forward to him being out there in center field."
