Jim Hoey

Infobox MLB player


width = 150px
name = Jim Hoey
team = Baltimore Orioles
number = 27
position = Relief pitcher
birthdate = birth date and age|1982|12|30
birthplace = city-state|Trenton|New Jersey
bats = Right
throws = Right
debutdate = August 23
debutyear = 2006
debutteam = Baltimore Orioles
statyear = 2008
stat1label = Win-Loss
stat1value = 3-5
stat2label = Earned run average
stat2value = 8.13
stat3label = Strikeouts
stat3value = 24
teams =
*Baltimore Orioles (by|2006-present)

James Urban "Jim" Hoey (born December 30, 1982 in Trenton, New Jersey) is a relief pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles. He is known mainly for his fastball, which he regularly throws at 95 to 96 miles per hour; he did strike a batter out on a 100 mph fastball while playing for the Bowie Baysox. In addition to the fastball, he throws a slider and changeup.

Hoey played high school baseball at Hamilton High School, which retired his number in a ceremony held on February 1, 2007. [ [http://www.rider.edu/174_5638.htm WZBN Video Vault - Former Bronc Hoey to Have Number Retired at Hamilton West on February 1, 2007] , Rider University, January 15, 2007. Accessed October 22, 2007. "Former Bronc and current Baltimore Oriole James Hoey will have his number retired by Hamilton West High School on February 1, 2007."]

The Orioles drafted Hoey out of Rider University in by|2003 and were initially using him as a starting pitcher. As a starter, Hoey had a 2.79 ERA for the rookie-level Bluefield Orioles and also made 15 starts for the Aberdeen IronBirds in by|2004. [http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060907&content_id=129829&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp] He missed the rest of 2004 and most of by|2005 due to Tommy John surgery; the surgery, as well as maturing, allowed him to gain three miles per hour on his fastball. Upon returning from the surgery, he became a relief pitcher. He pitched fifteen innings as a reliever in the short-season Class A New York-Penn League for the Aberdeen IronBirds in 2005 and started by|2006 in the South Atlantic League with the Delmarva Shorebirds. He became Delmarva's closer at the start of the season; from there, he started a rapid ascent through the Orioles' minor-league system, receiving call-ups to the high-Class A Frederick Keys and the Class AA Bowie Baysox before the end of the minor-league season. Across the three levels, he combined for 33 saves and a 2.28 ERA; he allowed three home runs, struck out 73 batters, and walked 18 in 51 1/3 innings of work. He was called up to the Orioles on August 23, 2006, and made his first appearance with them against the Minnesota Twins. At the beginning of the 2008 season he was placed out for the season.

References

External links

* [http://www.examiner.com/a-222704~Bowie_s_Hoey_has_the_closing_power.html Bowie's Hoey has the closing power]
* [http://orioles.scout.com/2/565120.html Scout.com: Minor League Pitcher of the Year: Jim Hoey]
* [http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/team/player.jsp?player_id=460597 MLB.com profile]
* [http://thebaseballcube.com/players/H/James-Hoey.shtml The Baseball Cube] - major- and minor-league statistics