Trip back to Denver always on his mind
But Hampson continues to make the most of time here
Garrett Hampson got a sweet, albeit brief, taste of success in his big league debut last month with the Colorado Rockies.
And, as much as he’s enjoyed his time in Albuquerque with the Triple-A Isotopes this season, the speedy 23-year-old infielder is ready for his call back to Denver.
“I think it gave me a little confidence, you know?” said Hampson, who hit .300, had a .417 on-base percentage in 24 plate appearances with the Rockies over seven games after his call-up July 21 as a fill in for the injured D.J. LaMahieu.
“That’s the highest level of baseball. Obviously it was a short amount of time, but I feel like I competed well. I hung in there and now I know what it takes. It feels good to know that I can play at that level. Now I’m just excited to get back there.”
Hampson had the night off Monday for the ’Topes, who started a three-game home series with a 5-2 loss to the Tacoma Rainiers after a two-hour, two-minute weather delay at Isotopes Park.
That put on hold his 15-game hitting streak for the Isotopes — six games with a hit prior to his July call-up and nine games since coming back after LaMahieu returned from his injury.
The 2016 third-round draft pick of the Rockies out of Long Beach State, Hampson is confident his return to Albuquerque was only about roster spots, and not performance.
“I wasn’t really expecting to come back (to Albuquerque), but at the same time I understood,” said Hampson, who is from Reno, Nev. “Obviously D.J. coming off the disabled list meant somebody had to go down. I thought I did everything I could there, so I wasn’t dis-
appointed. I wasn’t mad, sad, nothing. I was ready to come back here and work . ... I didn’t feel like I got demoted, they just can’t have everybody up there.”
Hampson did pretty much everything asked of him with the Rockies, and has positioned himself well for a return visit.
In fact, what Hampson did with the Rockies was pretty much what he’s done at every level he’s played at since turning pro. His stat line, much like his approach during his career-high 15-game hitting streak, has been the model of consistency. He’s never hit below .300 (nor better than .326) while playing for five professional teams over three seasons. His on-base percentage has never been lower that .382 or better than .417.
This year through 63 games with the ’Topes, he’s hitting .320 with a .382 on-base
percentage.
Consistency, as much as anything, has probably been his greatest attribute as he’s made the rapid climb in the organization.
“I like to say it has,” Hampson said. “I think it’s come from a lot of hard work and preparation. I try to keep it the same every day. Some days, you don’t feel as good as others. I just try to come in and stick to my routine and do the same thing every day.”
And his speed — he has 122 career stolen bases in 303 professional games — has been a big part of his avoiding prolonged stretches of struggles.
“It’s not like I don’t get in slumps or don’t feel whacked out at the plate some times,” Hampson said. “Of course I do. But I have a way of creating things with my speed. That helps with avoiding long term slumps.”
CLUB READ SUCCESS:
The Isotopes and Dion’s Pizza recently announced the grand
prize winners for its annual Club Read promotion. This year had more than 1,300 area students turn in the required two reading scorecards this summer, the highest participation since 2012, according to Dion’s.
The grand prize winners were: Lezra Abrams (Horizon Academy West), Bah’Hozhoonie Fleg (Longfellow Elementary), Lorenzo Kloss (Coyote Willow Family School), and Dalilah Richardson (Kirtland Elementary). Winners get a surprise visit from ’Topes mascot Orbit, suite-level tickets to a game, throwing out the first pitch at a game and other prizes.
To qualify, students had to read at least 12 books over the summer.
The winner of the school competition was Navajo Elementary, which will receive a $300 check for library supplies and the school librarian will receive a $50 Dion’s gift card.