So why did so many teams allow Brendan Harris -- the Devil Rays shortstop who spent time with the Cubs, Expos/Nationals, and Reds before joining the Rays in a Jan. 2 trade -- to fall through the cracks?

"You can look at it two ways: Maybe some clubs didn't really need him, or ... a lot of teams wanted him," said Devil Rays infield/third-base coach Tom Foley. "So we ended up with him with the idea he might make our club as a utility player, and now he's the starting shortstop."

Harris, 26, looked like one of those anonymous offseason acquisitions that would never amount to anything: A player who would be off the team before most ever realized he was on it.

But Harris intrigued the Rays.

Ben Zobrist went to Spring Training penciled in as the everyday shortstop and the team wanted to have a utility player who could play shortstop. Harris had played the position in the past and Rays scouts thought he could compete for the role, so they acquired him.

"That was our main thing during Spring Training, find out if [Harris] could play short," Foley said. "If he can't play short, it's going to be tough to be our utility guy. We found out he could play short, he had a strong arm and he hit the ball during Spring Training."

Harris made the team and played well while Zobrist struggled, hitting just .159 in 19 games. Eventually, the Rays optioned Zobrist to Triple-A Durham and Harris became the everyday shortstop. After starting just once in the team's first 11 games, Harris has made 76 starts since.

"Harry continually did what he did during Spring Training, carrying it into the season when he got the chance to play," Foley said. "And he got to play a little more, and next thing you know, he had the job at short."

Harris said the difference between not playing and playing is "night and day."

"When you're not playing, you're preparing and you're trying hard, you're ready to go," Harris said. "But you don't feel like you're at your best because you haven't been in there. It's really frustrating because you don't feel like you get to show what you can do."

For Harris, the difference between simulating playing and actually playing is finding a rhythm.

"[It's about] seeing the pitches and the break on the ball," Harris said. "[When you play every day] you recognize things a little quicker. When you're not in there, everything happens so fast."

Harris, who is hitting .306 with eight home runs and 39 RBIs, has opened some eyes with his production, hitting for a high average, for power, as well as fielding the ball well. In fact, Harris might be the only person not surprised by his performance this season.

"No, I'm not really [surprised], because I've hit .300 before," Harris said. "And I've hit some home runs before, so I've been through it before. But this is happening a little quicker -- me getting my opportunity and being able to produce -- than what I thought it would."

Included in Harris' highlight reel this season are the career-high five RBIs against the Marlins on June 10 and the two games in which he delivered walk-off hits in Rays wins.

"I like to think I'm just a good all-around player," said Harris. "I can hit a little bit and play defense. And I can help you win a bunch of different ways."

Foley believes one of Harris' major strengths is the fact that he's strong-willed.

"I think this guy plays with a fiery passion," Foley said. "He gets mad when he makes an out, he gets mad when he makes an error. It hurts when he loses. I think it bothers him, as it should everybody else, and I'm sure it does everybody else, but it shows on him, you can see that. He's a gamer, he plays hard and you know how they talk about those dirt players? This guy is just a hard-nosed player."

Added Rays manager Joe Maddon: "The most overwhelming good thing about him is who he is -- his makeup, his character. This guy comes out and does extra running before everybody shows. He does weight work on the road, he does a lot of stuff nobody ever sees. This is the first opportunity he's ever gotten and he's making the most of it."

Being an everyday Major Leaguer and playing well has earned Harris more recognition, but the shortstop said it has not changed him.

"Being in a smaller community here, living in downtown St. Petersburg, I run into people here and there who are pretty supportive," Harris said. "But being recognized and getting a lot of credit is something that just isn't high on my agenda."

Harris' relaxed approach is evident when he talks about himself, and he smiled at the notion of him ever talking about himself in the third person -- a practice not uncommon among today's athletes.

"If I ever get to that place, shoot me," he said.