Jaxx sold to Sounds minority owner

The West Tenn Diamond Jaxx have been sold to a group that includes Reese Smith, a minority owner of the Class AAA Nashville Sounds. The deal needs approval of the Southern League, Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball.

The Sounds' plans for a new stadium in Nashville have hit major snags (the city canceled the financing deal this spring) and the Diamond Jaxx have been looking to leave Jackson, Tenn., so maybe a move to Nashville is on the horizon?

Pena, Young win Comeback Player awards

Tampa Bay's Carlos Pena and Washington's Dmitri Young, a former Alabama Christian star, were named Comeback Players of the Year today.

Pena, who made the Devil Rays out of spring training only after an injury to another player, won the AL award. Pena hit .282 and set Rays records with 46 home runs and 121 RBIs this year. He was a non-roster invitee to spring training and wasn't going to make the team until Greg Norton suffered a knee injury in the final exhibition game.

Young had a .320 average, 13 homers and 74 RBIs to win the NL award. The 33-year-old played on Alabama Christian's varsity as a seventh- and eighth-grader. He hit .564 in 1986 and .400 in 1987.

Rays won't renew Evers' contract

The Devil Rays have one coaching position to fill and may have another.

Tampa Bay announced today that bench coach Bill Evers' contract won't be renewed, while no decision has been made on pitching coach Jim Hickey. Third-base coach Tom Foley, hitting coach Steve Henderson, first-base coach George Hendrick and bullpen coach Bobby Ramos are expected to return.

Evers, 53, was hired by the Rays on Oct. 16, 1995, and has been in a Tampa Bay uniform longer than anyone else. He was the manager at Class AAA Durham from 1998-2005 and has been in pro ball as a player, coach or manager since 1976.

Devil Rays pitching coach arrested

Tampa Bay pitching coach Jim Hickey was arrested this morning and charged with DUI, hit and run and resisting arrest without violence.

It came a few hours after the Rays returned from their season finale at Toronto and ended a 66-96 season in which their pitching staff compiled an AL-worst 5.53 ERA and 21 blown saves.

Hickey refused to get out of his car and was removed by St. Petersburg police officers. He was booked into the Pinellas County jail at 3:29 a.m. and made bail at 7:58 a.m.

Jennings named SALLY League's top prospect

Tampa Bay's Desmond Jennings has been named the Class A South Atlantic League's top prospect by Baseball America.

The center fielder hit .315 with 45 steals and 75 runs scored this season for the league champion Columbus Catfish. He missed the last month with a knee injury.

Pitcher Jeremy Hellickson ranked eighth and outfielder Ryan Royster ninth.

Jennings is from Pinson Valley and is a former Alabama football signee. He played in the AHSAA Class 5A championship series two years ago at Paterson Field and Riverwalk Stadium.