DeJesus recalls tough years in Kansas City

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- David DeJesus knows the Rays' road trip to Kansas City this week will rekindle a lot of memories -- not all of them pleasant.

"Every year there was tough," recalled DeJesus, who played with the Royals from 2003 through 2010.

While DeJesus was in Kansas City, the Royals enjoyed just one winning season ('03). And the Royals lost 100 or more games three years in a row (2004-06).

"I've been around losing a lot," DeJesus said Sunday. "Now I see what winning is like here. I love it here.

"This is something different," continued DeJesus, who was acquired by the Rays in a trade with the Washington Nationals on Aug. 23, 2013.

"Here, we know at any time we can score runs instead of wondering when we can go home. Here we have guys who have proven themselves.

"This is something I've never been a part of before. And I want to be a part of it."

Nevertheless, DeJesus is looking forward to returning to Kansas City with the Rays.

"I like going back there," he said. "There's still a bunch of players there who were there when I was there, trying to make their mark -- and now they've made their mark," he said.