Surprise, Ariz. ? Dewon Brazelton is trying to revive his once-promising career in spring training with the Kansas City Royals as a minor league invite.

Brazelton, who was the third overall pick in the 2001 draft out of Middle Tennessee State, is scheduled to throw three innings today against the Texas Rangers.

The Tampa Bay Devil Rays signed Brazelton for $4.2 million and called him up in 2002 after only 27 starts in the minors. He was their Opening Day starter in 2005, but his career has fizzled instead of sizzled. Brazelton went 8-23 with a 5.98 earned run average in 54 games, 41 of them starts, with the Devil Rays.

“Hindsight being 20-20, it seemed like a good idea at the time, but it just didn’t work out,” Brazelton said Wednesday of being hurried to the majors. “In Tampa, there were a lot of ups and downs. I was young. They needed somebody quick. For the most part, I wasn’t ready. They tried to make me ready as quick as possible.

“But things take time and you can’t rush them,” he said. “A lot of my early career I spent a lot of time trying to survive instead of like really to develop. It is hard to survive (in majors), but that is the situation I was put in.”

The Devil Rays traded Brazelton to the San Diego Padres for Sean Burroughs after the 2005 season. Brazelton went 1-0 with a 1.77 ERA in five spring training starts last year and earned a spot in the Padres’ rotation, but that turned out to be short-lived. He gave up 17 earned runs and 17 hits in 61â3 innings in his first two starts and was dispatched to the bullpen. He was sent to the minors May 11 with an 0-2 record and a 12.00 ERA in nine games.

The Royals signed Brazelton as a minor league free agent on Nov. 27.

“I know this is a place I’m happy to be,” Brazelton said. “I wanted to come here. It seems to be a good fit.”

Brazelton, a 26-year-old right-hander, throws a mid-90s fastball, but control has been an issue.