KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) -- Mike Hampton rubs down the ball, stares toward home plate and delivers a pitch that sweeps across the outside corner. Mark Kotsay never gets the bat off his shoulder.
The outfielder nods approvingly toward the mound. "That's better," Kotsay says.
Brayan Pena is even more enthusiastic. "That-a boy!" the catcher barks, giving a slight pump of the fist.
For Hampton, it's another baby step in one of baseball's longest-running comebacks.
"My pitches are starting to come around," he said a few minutes later, standing by his locker in the Atlanta Braves' clubhouse. "My arm's been feeling pretty sound. I'm happy where I'm at right now."
Remember Mike Hampton? Left-handed pitcher. Former 20-game winner. Perhaps best known for getting one of the richest contracts in baseball history.
Well, he's still around, though no one could be blamed for thinking he retired or took up coaching or settled for a job overseas. Hampton hasn't made it through a full year since 2004. Heck, he hasn't pitched at all over the last two seasons.
"Put yourself in his shoes," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "You like to play, you like to pitch, you like the competition -- then, all of a sudden, it's taken away from you. It hurts."
But, now, entering the final year of that infamous eight-year, $121 million deal he signed with Colorado in 2001, the 35-year-old Hampton is back on the mound, trying to show in the early days of spring training that he's still got a little something left in that scarred-up pitching arm.
"I've been preparing for this day since the day after the surgery," Hampton said. "I'm excited."
Braves veteran Mike Hampton back for yet another comeback after missing last 2 seasons - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
Opinions on Hampton?
Opinions on Hampton?
Linear Mode
