Tampa Bay starter Matt Garza, left, talks to manager Joe Maddon, right, after pitching four-hit ball against the Red Sox.

AP / Charles Krupa

FORT MYERS, Fla. — When the Tampa Bay Rays arrived at the City of Palms Park yesterday morning for their Grapefruit League tilt against the Red Sox, there was still talk about Rocco Baldelli.

The Rhode Island native and center fielder for Rays told the public Wednesday that he has metabolic and/or mitochondrial abnormalities, which cause severe fatigue and muscle cramping, and had decided it was time to step away from baseball to concentrate on his health.

Red Sox and Rays players alike were shocked and saddened by Baldelli’s revelation. Everyone wanted to wish him well in hopes he can regain his health and return to professional baseball.

“It’s very disheartening,” said Rays manager Joe Maddon. “Rocco is a wonderful young man besides being a great baseball player. It’s difficult, almost cruel, because he’s this young man with all this ability to play this game and for some reason isn’t being able to do so.”

Baldelli has said he isn’t thinking about retiring and is grateful for the support he’s been getting from everyone in the Tampa organization, as well as friends and family.

“We’re not giving up on it and we continue to support Rocco,” said Maddon. “He’s going to continue to try to find whatever it is to get him back out here. It’s difficult, because he’s a wonderful young man and very talented.”

In the Red Sox clubhouse, ailing shortstop Julio Lugo, a former teammate of Baldelli’s in Tampa, said the news was crippling.

“I read it in the newspaper and my heart dropped,” he said.

When Lugo signed in Boston as a free agent before the 2007 season, Baldelli spoke highly of him, saying he was a great teammate and the fans would like him. Yesterday, Lugo was genuinely concerned for Baldelli’s health and wished him Godspeed.

“I feel sorry for him,” said Lugo. “He’s a young guy and a good human being. He’s a hard-working guy, and this is frustrating. … Sometimes you’ve got to thank God for everything that happens. You don’t know what God is saving for you. It’s tough to see a guy like that going through these things and not being able to do what he loves.”

jmcdonal@projo.com