While parousing my”must read” list of college baseball websites, newspapers, magazines, and blogs, I came across this little tidbit of Terp info from Baseball America (scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page).
Apparently Eric Milton, a 1996 graduate from the University, is trying to make a comeback at the ripe young age of 33 (he turns 34 in August). Milton signed an minor league contract with the Dodgers back in the middle of February and is currently pitching for the Dodgers Triple-A affiliate, the Albuquerque Isotopes, and he is pitching well.
Before this season, Milton hadn’t pitched in almost two years as he recovered from Tommy John elbow reconstruction. If you remember correctly Milton signed a fat 3-year, $25 million contract with the Reds in 2005 and then proceeded to have two of the worst seasons of his career before being shut down early in to 2007.
But now Milton is back.
I will let the link explain to you just how well he has pitched in the recent weeks, but according to the Isotopes’ team website, Milton is second on the team in ERA (3.67) and tied for first on the team in strikeouts (20) through 27 innings.
Milton is listed as the probable starter for tonight’s game between the Isotopes (11-14) and the Oklahoma City RedHawks (10-14), so if anyone is passing by Oklahoma City stop in for a cheap, and hopefully well-pitched, minor league baseball game.
But don’t get your hopes up just yet mid-90’s Terps baseball fans. The Dodgers are loaded with young, and good starting pitching, and they just recently called up another pitcher trying to make a comeback in Jeff Weaver. Hoping for injury is bad karma and so I won’t do it, but the season is still young, and Milton may get a shot at some point in the season although it remains to be seen when or for how long.
But then again, Milton has a secret weapon that all major league baseball teams love….he’s throws the ball hard with his left hand.
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