Relief pitcher Jim Hoey barely had a chance to unpack his suitcase last year after quickly propelling up the Orioles farm system from low Single-A Delmarva at the start to the big leagues by late August.
Now a part of the Orioles 40-man roster, Hoey hopes to take that experience last year and learn enough to get back and stay in the major leagues in the near future. He is currently the closer with the Double-A Bowie Baysox, where he has not allowed a run and has three saves in as many chances, the latest of which came Friday in a 4-3 win over the Akron Aeros.
Hoey said everything happened so fast for him last year that he didn?t have a chance to reflect until after the season about how far he advanced in a short time.
“To start in low-A and end up with the big club before the September call-ups was something that wasn?t even on my mind,” Hoey said. “Out of spring training I just wanted to start on a full-season club and maybe make Bowie by the end of the year.”
The right-handed Hoey finished last season a combined 2-1 with 33 saves and a 2.28 ERA in 49 games between Single-A Delmarva, Single-A Frederick and Double-A Bowie before the Orioles recalled him Aug. 23.
The 24-year-old New Jersey native experienced mix success at Baltimore as he went 0-1 with a 10.24 ERA in 9.2 innings. But, he only had one really bad outing when he was charged with six runs on four hits, a walk and two hit batters in 0.2 innings against the New York Yankees.
Hoey said just as big an accomplishment last season as reaching the majors was the fact that he remained healthy for the whole season for the first time in his career. His only ailment in 2006 came in the final two weeks when he was shut down with a sore right shoulder. Bowie pitching coach and former Oriole hurler Scott McGregor said Hoey has the right make-up to reach the major leagues and wouldn?t be surprised to see him setting up for Baltimore closer Chris Ray in the next few years.
“Last year was a long year for him to make so many jumps,” McGregor said. “He?s got a short memory and who has a short memory. As long as he continues to work like he has, I see him being a valuable member of the bullpen in Baltimore one day.”
The Hoey file
» Age: 24
» Height: 6-foot-6
» Weight: 210 pounds
»Hometown: Trenton, N.J.
» How acquired? 13th round, 2003 draft
» Did you know? Hoey won the Orioles Jim Palmer Prize in 2006 as the top pitcher in the team?s minor league system … He faced two batters in his major league debut when he recorded a walk and a strikeout against the Minnesota Twins on Aug. 23.
