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Pirates get a major bonus
By KRISTEN LEIGH PORTER CRYSTAL RIVER -- Dressed in a Pirates shirt and yellow shorts, No. 32 was pitching batting practice Thursday afternoon. Despite looking not so different from the players surrounding him, he stood out. Standing on the field recently named after him was 1990 Crystal River graduate and Major League Baseball pitcher Mike Hampton. "Just wish he was on our team," joked Pirates coach Brent Hall. The 30-year-old Atlanta Brave has been back in Citrus County since Sunday, and has been out every day since Monday practicing with the team. "I realize I'm not 16, 17 anymore," said Hampton, who as a senior went 10-3 with a 0.42 ERA in 14 games. "I'm starting to show my age, but it's fun." While he was pitching, Hampton joked that he might need some relief after a long sequence with a batter. He also promised to throw a strike from 26 feet and delivered. "Shoot, from right there I was scared," Hampton said. "I couldn't let the ball go and I was in-between my speeds there. They're pretty good, they get the thing going pretty quick and they've got quick hands. Coach Hall has been teaching them, and he throws as hard as I do from there. I don't really let up with these guys too much." Hampton did conditioning alongside the Pirates and threw in the bullpen, in addition to giving out tips and working with the players. His young sons, Gage and Griffin, wore official No. 32 (Hampton's major league number) Pirate gear like their father. Hampton will head for Atlanta on Saturday. Players report for spring training on Feb. 13 and the first workout is Feb. 14. Then the real work gets done. "For the pitchers, we just try to get our arms in shape and log some innings," Hampton said. "Hitters just basically try to see the ball and then get their timing down." Since the Braves spring training will be held less than two hours away at Disney's Wide World Of Sports Complex, Hampton said he will try to make it out to a few Crystal River games. He likes the close proximity to his hometown of Homosassa. "We're right at Disney, too, and the kids are pretty pumped up," Hampton said. "It's great being in Florida spring training after I've spring-trained in Arizona for three years. I don't think there's any comparison, I think Florida's definitely the best place." Braves spring games are held at Cracker Jack Stadium within the sports complex in Lake Buena Vista. The Braves take to the field Feb. 27 against Georgia Tech, then they open major league play with Philadelphia the next day. Hampton's expectations with the Braves are to win another division title and get to the playoffs. "I have team goals, I don't really care too much about personal achievement," Hampton said. "I'll go out and do as best I can and play as hard as I can. But as long as we're in the postseason with the chance to win the World Series, it's all I care about." He also sees success in store for his old team, which made it to the final four last year. "They work hard and they're into it and they've got a great teacher in coach Hall," Hampton said. "I think they want it. They've got a pretty good reputation going and have a good string of success, and will just continue doing the same." Kristen Leigh Porter can be reached at porter@sptimes.com or 564-3628.
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