2009 NEXT RUNNER-UP: DAVID PRICE

Bob Croslin

In his 10 big league games, David Price blew away some seriously heavy hitters: Magglio Ordoñez, A-Rod, Chase Utley. But what's that compared to facing down the man who would become president?

After the 23-year-old Price closed out the Red Sox in Game 7 of the ALCS, he and some teammates were asked to attend a Barack Obama rally the next day. Before taking the stage, the Illinois senator looked Price squarely in the eye and said he had been watching when the Rays eliminated his beloved White Sox from the playoffs. "I won't hold that against you," Obama said. Then the candidate told Price he had also seen his commanding performance against Boston. And that's when the rest of the Rays knew who should introduce Obama to the crowd. "David," said DH Cliff Floyd, "you're going to do it."

Price fought back his nerves and improv'd his intro like a pro. Just as he had dominated as a reliever on the fly, even though his past and future are as a starter. Before the ALCS clincher, the Rays brain trust had held a baseball version of war games, playing out different scenarios they might encounter. In one they envisioned Price—a lefty just 16 months removed from being the No. 1 overall pick in the draft—coming into the game late to take on lefty slugger J.D. Drew. "Nobody in the room had a problem with that," says executive VP Andrew Friedman.

Neither did Price. As it turned out, he faced Drew with two outs in the eighth, the bases loaded and the Rays holding a two-run lead. Using his slider and fastball, Price needed just four pitches to strike out the 11-year veteran. "You're talking about one of the better hitters in the majors," says Gordon Lakey, the Phillies' big league scouting director. "And Drew had no chance. That was an at-bat that defined Price."

And turned The One into a First Fan.

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