Justin Hampson doesn’t have to worry anymore that he might be taking up space in the Rockies organization just because he’s a left-handed pitcher.
He’s back on the prospect list after a 2005 season in Colorado Springs he would like to forget. It’s not so much that he’s tearing up the Pacific Coast League, more that his numbers are Triple-A caliber, whichever role he is playing.
The 26-year-old has given Sky Sox manager Tom Runnells and pitching coach Chuck Kniffin quality pitching as a starter and reliever. Hampson’s record is 2-1, but his ERA of 2.35 was the best among starting pitchers in the organization as the season entered the last week of May.
Bill Geivett, Rockies vice president of baseball operations, is noticing Hampson’s success in the bullpen.
“Everyone is looking for left-handed relief pitching,” Geivett said.
Kniffin doesn’t hesitate to say Hampson belongs in the Sky Sox clubhouse, and not because of the theory that there’s always room for a left-handed pitcher.
“He’s been throwing the ball exceptionally well,” Kniffin said. “He throws four pitches for strikes when he’s going good, and he does a nice job controlling the other team’s running game. It’s a valuable asset on any pitching staff to have someone who can do some situational pitching.”
Hampson, a 28th-round draft pick in the 1999 June amateur draft, finally can smile when he remembers last season.
“I started the season 0-8 and didn’t get my first victory until late May,” Hampson said. “It was frustrating to have a rough time outing after outing. The first win was a 10-8 game in Las Vegas. I kept the ball, and some players signed it for me. A 10-8 victory isn’t something you usually want to remember.”
While coming up through the Rockies organization, Hampson showed promise with 14 victories at Single-A Visalia in 2003 and 10 victories at Double-A Tulsa in 2004. But he hit the bottom last year at 5-13 in his first Triple-A season, the 13 losses the most for any pitcher in the PCL.
He didn’t have to search far for the reason.
“I gave up more than 70 walks and if half of those runners score, it’s not good,” Hampson said. “I never thought I was overmatched. I just came to the point where I started throwing over the plate because I was fed up with beating myself.”
Hampson issued 71 walks and struck out 93 last year. This year in 38 1/3 innings, Hampson has issued 11 walks and struck out 29.
Marc Gustafson, the Rockies’ director of player development, has Hampson on his list.
“We weren’t sure we could put him back at Triple-A coming out of spring training,” Gustafson said. “We weren’t sure he would fit. He’s showing the ability to get hitters out.”
Going elsewhere
Numbers caught up with outfielder Tony Miller, who was dealt Thursday to Toronto. Miller was a 10th-round Rockies draft pick in 2001 and showed promise as he climbed through the organization. He stole 50 bases in 2002 at Asheville.
But playing time was scarce this season in Colorado Springs, with outfielders Jeff Baker, Ryan Spilborghs and Jorge Piedra on the 40-man roster. Jeff Salazar also is due off the disabled list as soon as mid-June.
“We didn’t have a spot for (Miller),” Gustafson said. “He deserved to play, and this gives him a chance.”
Irv Moss can be reached at 303-820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
Organizational leaders
HITTING: (32 games) Carlos Rivera, Colorado Springs, .318; Jeff Baker, Colorado Springs, .316.
RUNS: Dexter Fowler, Asheville, 36; Troy Tulowitzki, Tulsa, 31; Cole Garner, Asheville, 31.
HITS: Matt Miller, Modesto, 56; Fowler, Asheville, 52.
DOUBLES: Tulowitzki, Tulsa, 15; Ian Stewart, Tulsa, 15; Jordan Czarniecki, Tulsa, 15.
TRIPLES: Stewart, Tulsa, 5; Fowler, Asheville, 4.
HOME RUNS: Joseph Koshansky, Tulsa, 10; Miller, Modesto, 8.
RBIs: Miller, Modesto, 44; Baker, Colorado Springs, 35.
STOLEN BASES: Eric Young Jr., Asheville, 33; Fowler, Asheville, 20.
PITCHING WINS: Juan Morillo, Tulsa, 4; Ubaldo Jimenez, Tulsa, 4; Ching Lo, Modesto, 4; Alan Johnson Asheville, 4; Zachary Simons, Asheville, 4.
LOSSES: Six pitchers with 4 each.
SAVES: Manuel Corpas, Tulsa, 12; Brett Strickland, Asheville, 9.
INNINGS: Marc Kaiser, Tulsa, 55 2/3; Johnson, Asheville, 55 1/3.
WALKS: Jimenez, Tulsa, 30
STRIKEOUTS: Enmanuel Ulloa, Tulsa/Colorado Springs, 52; Johnson, Asheville, 51.
ERA: (starters) Justin Hampson, Colorado Springs, 2.35; (relievers) Darren Clarke, Modesto, 1.17.
