MLB Opening Day 2011: B.J. Upton Among the Last Players of the Devil Rays Era

Since 2008, the Tampa Bay Rays have been a different team. Prior to that season, majority owner Stuart Sternberg changed the team's name, uniforms and colors. The team's performance changed as well. 2008 marked the first time the franchise had a winning season, made the playoffs, won the AL East and advanced to the World Series.

The team has not had a losing season since the name change. Most of the players on the current Rays roster don't know what it was like to play for the franchise in its losing days.

In fact, there are only five remaining players on the Tampa Bay Rays roster that were part of the Devil Rays era.

J.P. Howell

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ST. PETERSBURG, FL - FEBRUARY 27: J.P. Howell #39 poses during Tampa Bay Devil Rays Photo Day on February 27, 2006 at the Raymond A. Naimoli Baseball Complex in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

J.P. Howell has been a member of the Rays since being traded from the Kansas City Royals in 2006. He made his Devil Rays debut on August 1, 2006. He started 18 games in his first two seasons before moving to the bullpen in 2008. In 2009, he recorded 17 saves out of 25 opportunities.

Andy Sonnanstine

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ST. PETERSBURG, FL - FEBRUARY 27: Andy Sonnanstine #68 poses during Tampa Bay Devil Rays Photo Day on February 27, 2006 at the Raymond A. Naimoli Baseball Complex in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Andy Sonnanstine made his MLB debut with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on June 5, 2007. He started 72 games in his first three seasons. Last season, he was moved to the bullpen and appeared in 41 games with only four starts.

Ben Zobrist

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ST. PETERSBURG, FL - FEBRUARY 27: Ben Zobrist #18 poses during Tampa Bay Devil Rays Photo Day on February 27, 2006 at the Raymond A. Naimoli Baseball Complex in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Ben Zobrist has been a member of the Rays since being traded from the Houston Astros in 2006. He made his major league debut as a member of the Devil Rays on August 1, 2006. He played in 145 games for the Rays in his first three seasons on the team. In 2009, he had a career-high 27 home runs and 91 RBI.

James Shields

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ST. PETERSBURG, FL - FEBRUARY 23: James Shields #50 poses during Tampa Bay Devil Rays photo day February 23, 2006 at the Raymond A. Naimoli Baseball Complex in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

James Shields was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2000. He made his major league debut on March 31, 2006. He has started 151 games in his career with the Rays and has thrown five complete games.

Shields was the Rays' opening day pitcher from 2008 through 2010. He is the only pitcher to pitch on opening day in a season the Rays qualified for postseason play.

B.J. Upton

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ST. PETERSBURG, FL - FEBRUARY 23: B.J. Upton #9 poses during Tampa Bay Devil Rays photo day February 23, 2006 at the Raymond A. Naimoli Baseball Complex in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

B.J. Upton was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2002. He made his major league debut as a member of the Devil Rays on August 2, 2004. In 2007, Upton was the team's starting second baseman prior to injuring his quadriceps.

Since his return from that injury, he has been the team's starting center fielder. He had a career-high 24 home runs and 82 RBI in 2007.