ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - Reliever John Rocker is ready to launch his comeback. <br>
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The Tampa Bay Devil Rays assigned the left-hander to Double-A Orlando on Thursday. The former Atlanta, Cleveland and Texas closer signed a minor league contract on April 10 and spent the last three weeks in extended spring training. <br>
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Rocker, 28, has spent parts of five seasons in the major leagues, including three with the Braves, where he had 38 saves in 1999. He has 88 career saves with a 3.40 ERA in 278 games. <br>
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Rocker hopes to regain the form he had before his career plummeted after the pitcher made insensitive remarks about minorities, gays and others in a 1999 Sports Illustrated article. <br>
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He was released by the Rangers in October after spending most of last season on the disabled list with bursitis in his left shoulder.
