the order of things

Desmond Jennings, who went 3-for-5 with two home runs in his return to the leadoff spot for Tampa Bay, is back in the 6-hole today. The former Itawamba Community College two-sport star had been displaced from the top spot for 13 games before Tuesday, when the Rays faced Boston left-hander Jon Lester. The right-handed hitting Jennings helped the Rays to an 8-3 win, which improved their record to 35-29 and pulled them within 4 games of the first-place Red Sox in American League East. Boston is throwing right-hander Alfredo Aceves today, so Rays skipper Joe Maddon has lefty Matt Joyce leading off again. But one assumes, after Tuesday’s showing, that Jennings will get some more opps at the top, where his combination of speed and power can be a major weapon. Jennings hasn’t had a huge year to date — .254, eight homers, 26 RBIs, 40 runs, eight steals — but he’s on track to better his 2012 numbers in most categories. Keep an eye on him. P.S. See where four draftees from Mississippi already have signed: first-rounder Tim Anderson of East Central CC with the Chicago White Sox; Northwest CC lefty Cody Reed with Kansas City; Pearl River CC left-hander Brandon Fry with San Diego; and Belhaven University (and Southwest CC) product Kyle Wheeler, a catcher, with Oakland.