Cumberland native and Tampa Bay DH Rocco Baldelli takes a swing during the sixth inning of last night’s game at Fenway Park.

The Providence Journal / Kris Craig

BOSTON — Rocco Baldelli was standing near the visitors’ dugout at Fenway Park when someone walked up to him and welcomed him back. It caused Baldelli to break into a smile.

“Thanks, it’s nice to be seen,” he said. “It’s nice to be back here. It’s been a while.”

They were words spoken sincerely. The Cumberland native has been through a lot since he last played at Fenway. His career, even his overall health, has been in jeopardy.

It is a heart-warming story that he is in uniform again. What makes it all the more impressive is that he is not only playing, but playing well.

The Hendricken grad last night played in his 17th game (10th start) since being activated after an extended battle with a mitochondrial disorder, a condition that slows muscle recovery and causes fatigue. The Tampa Bay outfielder began the night hitting .326 with three home runs and nine RBI. He has had one streak in which he reached base nine times in 10 appearances.

He won a game for the Rays with a walk-off double and he helped win another with a late two-run, pinch-hit home run. Manager Joe Maddon thinks so much of Baldelli that he had him batting clean-up last night when the Rays opened their series with the Red Sox, although he had trouble with Jon Lester, who struck him out three times.

“This is the first time I’ve ever played in this stadium when the games actually matter towards the end of the year,” Baldelli said. “I think it’s going to be a different experience than I’ve had since I’ve been back playing.”

He is happy to have the chance. His career was put very much in jeopardy with the rare disease.

“It was a tough thing to deal with,” he said, noting that it is far from over and remains an issue.

“For right now and the rest of the season, I’m just going to try not to worry about it or talk about it that much,” he said.

He had played in only 127 of a possible 602 games over the last four years because of a variety of problems. The mitochondrial disorder is the worst. He is not certain what caused his condition to improve enough to allow him to return. Doctors have given him a number of medicines and supplements.

“I don’t know exactly what it is,” he said. “At one point at the end of last year and toward spring training, I was having a real tough time physically. … We continue working with the doctors and everyone. It might have been that something kicked in that maybe takes a while to actually start working or it might have been one of the new supplements or medications that I tried. I’m not really sure.”

Doctors have given him a regimen and it is one, he says, “that I follow religiously.” The Rays have set up a program, working with Baldelli and the medical people, to limit his movement. Thus far, he has been used primarily as the DH against lefties, with some time in right field, with days of rest mixed in.

“We’ve tried to create this program for him. To this point, it’s worked,” Maddon said.

“(He) will be used sparingly. A lot of it is based on how the left-handers that we’re facing are spaced out. If he hits against a lefty and they bring in a righty, I let him finish the game.”

“I feel pretty good right now,” Baldelli said. “I think I know my role, what it’s going to be now and what it’s going to be the rest of the way.”

Tampa has had injury problems and badly needed help against southpaws. Baldelli has been huge in that aspect, Maddon said. The manager quickly added, though, that it is more than his numbers.

“He’s such a good teammate and team member,” Maddon said. “All the complimentary effects are there. … He’s had nothing but good at-bats. It’s very exciting to have him back.”

Baldelli’s locker in Fenway is adjacent to fellow Rhode Island Dan Wheeler, who has had an excellent year in relief for the Rays.

“It’s awesome. I’m so happy for him,” said Wheeler, a former Pilgrim star, of Baldelli. “With everything that he’s been through, he’s been a huge lift for us. It’s great to have him.”

pkenyon@projo.com