Rocco Baldelli, the ex-Hendricken High star who suffers from metabolic mitochondrial disorder, celebrates with fans after last night’s game.

The Providence Journal / Glenn Osmundson

BOSTON — As his son circled the bases in a moment that would make any father cry with pride, Dan Baldelli had only one worry.

“I just wanted him to make it around the bases,” Baldelli said of his son, Rocco of the Tampa Bay Rays. “Just hit all four of them. I’m never sure he’s OK to get there.”

Baldelli’s fatherly concerns are warranted. While Rocco Baldelli looked the part of a baseball star when he ripped a fastball from the Paul Byrd into the Sports Authority sign high over the wall in left field in the eighth inning of a playoff game against the Red Sox, his father saw other things. Like the moments when his son slowly jogged out to his position in right field. Or when he slipped a bit coming in on a fly ball.

“We both remember the tough times so I’m always looking for signs,” said Dan Baldelli, who lives in Cumberland.

Last night was an opportunity to put the tough times behind the Baldelli family. They all remember last spring training when the 27-year-old was diagnosed with a metabolic mitochondrial disorder that causes severe fatigue and muscle cramping. There were days when the three-sport All-Stater at Bishop Hendricken could barely get out of bed, forget about run, throw or hit home runs.

“He was scared. I was scared. We cried a lot,” said Dan Baldelli. “We were scared of the unknown.”

Dan Baldelli said the fact that doctors had no definitive prognosis only frustrated the family more.

“No one could tell him where he’d be in six months. He was living it day-by-day,” he said.

The disorder has been eased by a cocktail of medications, but Rocco still tires easily. The Tampa Bay organization patiently waited for him to get stronger throughout this season.

“The word is patience,” said Rays’ manager Joe Maddon. “We knew what the positive result could be if he could work it out. So we were patient.”

After 14 games rehabbing in the minor leagues, Baldelli returned to the Rays on Aug. 10. He’s been a role player ever since, starting against left-handed pitchers and playing some right field and designated hitter. He saw his first action in this American League Championship Series last night with Boston’s Jon Lester on the mound.

Baldelli struck out in his first at-bat and then hit a weak grounder to second. When he came up to hit against reliever Byrd in the eighth inning, the Rays were well in command with a 5-1 lead. After he bombed a 2-1 fastball over the Green Monster for a three-run homer, Baldelli exhaled and looked for his family in the stands as he rounded the bases.

“I never found the family section so I couldn’t point at them or anything,” he said. “I still have no idea where they were sitting. I looked the entire game and all I saw was Red Sox fans.”

Baldelli said he didn’t think of his medical problems as he circled the bases, but the magnitude of his special moment clearly hit him after the game.

“I think everything combined makes it one of the more special moments of my baseball career. Even my family’s career of watching me play,” said Baldelli. “This is probably as good as it gets for them and all my friends. From everything I’ve gone through health-wise, to the story line with the team playing as well as we have, to being at Fenway, you put it all together and it’s a very nice moment for me and my family.”

When he was growing up in Cumberland, Baldelli said he always watched the baseball playoffs and dreamed of playing in a World Series.

“I wanted to play in those games when everybody is watching. It makes it that much more special,” he said.

As he spoke in the Rays’ clubhouse, several teammates walked by and chanted “Rocky, Rocky.” He’s a big favorite among the group, both for his laid-back style and for all that he’s conquered to come back and join the team for its run at a championship.

“This is why we wanted him back in this clubhouse,” said reliever J.P. Howell. “We knew what kind of guy he is and what kind of player he can be. What he’s been through to be here and now to really help us is amazing.”

Baldelli doesn’t know when he’ll play next in the series but he’s happy that when his moment came, he delivered.

“I never could have imagined that I’d be back here, playing in the postseason and playing at Fenway and having a chance to got to the World Series,” he said. “I mean, that’s just kind of icing on the cake because I was just trying to get back in playing shape.”

Mission accomplished.

kmcnamar@projo.com