The anticipated changes the Devils Rays expected occurred in Scholzen while he was gone. He's physically bigger (20 pounds heavier), but more importantly, he's mentally stronger.

"Jim has matured a lot," said his father Nick Scholzen. "Mentally, I don't know if he could have taken it (two years ago)."

Now he'll take the mission experience and apply it to baseball and use it to his advantage.

"When you're on your mission or when you do anything, you have to be focused on that one thing," he said. "(Instead of the mission) it's going to be the other way now. The focus is going to be baseball."

Scholzen, who hit .305 with four doubles, a homer and 16 RBIs for Dixie State College in 2005, will stay in extended spring training until mid-June when he'll most likely be assigned to rookie ball in Princeton (W.Va.) of the Appalachian League. He could also get extra training if he earns an invite to the Fall Instructional League.

"The pressure is there, but pressure is there for everyone as well. I'm grateful for this opportunity to do this," he said. "It's awesome to know that I'm able to do this and that the Devil Rays were kind enough to let me."

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E-mail: jhinton@desnews.com