It's been a long career for Joseph Hamilton. An original 29th-round draft pick by the then-Alaska Kodiaks, Hamilton, a right-hander with a deceptively sneaky slider, has toiled in the Stockholm/Florida/South Bay minor league system through all of their moves and championships. He has considered retiring a few times; He even was Rule V-eligible for the past few seasons, but no one wanted him.
But, now, his perseverance has paid off. Owner/GM Michael Weintraub called his cell phone after the Arizona Bay Tools' latest game. The 26-year old Hamilton, who had logged over 367 innings in his eight seasons shuffling between AAA and A, had finally made the Big Show.
"I didn't believe him at first," Hamilton said. "I thought he was telling me I was being traded."
Hamilton, who was 2-0 with a 2.61 ERA thus far this season with Arizona Bay, says he knew he was pitching well enough for a call-up, but has felt that way in the past. "It's a complete shock," he said. "My wife and I agreed that this would be my last year if I didn't make it. Now that I have, I hope I'll stick."
South Bay promoted Hamilton to take the roster spot of starter Boris Harris, who pulled his rotator cuff muscle and will be injured for close to two months. Veteran right-hander Troy Nelson will slide into the rotation to take Harris's spot, and Hamilton will fill Nelson's role as a middle-inning pitcher.
In 367 1/3 minor league innings, Hamilton was 12-17 with a 4.53 ERA, 335 strikeouts, and 4 saves.
Is this what you're reduced to, Michael?
ReplyDeleteI'm all for your bringing up replacement level talent, though. I encourage you to go out of your way to do so.
Maybe Troy will actually get that 100th win before he retires...
ReplyDeleteZev
[Raspberry to Nate.]
ReplyDeleteI thought this was a nice story of long and unheralded work finally paying off. It's a beat writer's dream.
Nate: Why bring up my big guns before they're ready when a "replacement level" player is probably good enough to beat you?
ReplyDeleteZev: He has two months to win three games. I think he'll get them as a starter, if not, he'll vulture one or two when he moves back into the bullpen.
... And, of course, including the Cecil Cup, Nelson already has 101 wins.
ReplyDeleteHe'll get his fifth postseason win this October, I predict.
What kind of odds are you laying on that prediction, Michael? I might want some of that action since I will sweep you right out of town in the Cecil Cup.
ReplyDeleteAssuming, of course, that you reach the Cecil Cup.