Della Grotta in minors

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays drafted Newport Beach resident Robert Della Grotta in the 37th round of the 2007 First Year Players Draft.

Della Grotta agreed to a contract with Tampa Bay on Sunday. He reported to training camp on Tuesday in Florida, and is slated to begin minor-league play with the Hudson Valley Renegades, a single A team in the Penn-New York League.

Della Grotta, a right-handed pitcher, played at Pepperdine University, where he majored in advertising.

Della Grotta played two sports at Mater Dei in Santa Ana, where he went to high school. He pitched and played defensive end and tight end in football as a two-way starter.

He was Mater Dei’s 2003 Male Athlete of the Year.

Della Grotta was active in Newport Beach as a child, participating and excelling in Junior All-American Football, Junior Lifeguards, AYSO soccer, Newport Hills swim team and Little League. He was a member of the 1997 Daily Pilot Little League Dream Team.

— From staff reports