Erik Hamren (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Erik Hamren is a Major League Baseball
pitcher
for the San Diego Padres
.
as an outfielder
and batted .452 his senior year. He lettered in both baseball and football. He was not pursued by any team out of high school, and went to college at University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA, to play for head coach Ed Sprague, a former MLB player. He played in only six games his freshman year, 2006, as an outfielder for the Tigers. In 2007, Hamren also made 10 pitching appearances for Pacific, posting a 13.94 ERA in 10.1 innings with 7 strikeouts. He transferred to Saddleback College
for the 2008 season and was drafted by the Chicago Cubs
in the 37th round, 1121st overall, of the 2008 MLB Draft.
. He started 2009 with Single-A Peoria
, and finished with a 5.98 ERA over 38 appearances. He was released by the Cubs in the offseason. He spent 2010 in the independent Northern League, in what proved to be the league's last season. He split time with Kansas City
and Joliet
. He had a 3.39 ERA in the league before being signed in the offseason by the San Diego Padres
. He started with A-Advanced Lake Elsinore
, and went 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA before earning a promotion to Double-A San Antonio
, where he went 3-0 with a 0.92 ERA and was a Texas League
All-Star.
On July 31, 2011, Hamren was promoted to the major leagues to replace Mike Adams, who was traded to the Texas Rangers
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
for the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
.
Amateur career
Hamren went to Tesoro High SchoolTesoro High School
Tesoro High School is a public school found in the southern Orange County area of Las Flores, California. Established in the fall of 2001, Tesoro is 1 of 7 high schools in the Capistrano Unified School District. As of the 2009-2010 year, Tesoro serves nearly 3,000 students in grades 9-12...
as an outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
and batted .452 his senior year. He lettered in both baseball and football. He was not pursued by any team out of high school, and went to college at University of the Pacific in Stockton, CA, to play for head coach Ed Sprague, a former MLB player. He played in only six games his freshman year, 2006, as an outfielder for the Tigers. In 2007, Hamren also made 10 pitching appearances for Pacific, posting a 13.94 ERA in 10.1 innings with 7 strikeouts. He transferred to Saddleback College
Saddleback College
The athletic programs are supported in part by the Associated Student Body at Saddleback College. Revenue generated from attendance at athletic events helps support the entire student activities program.-On-campus media outlets:*The Lariat...
for the 2008 season and was drafted by the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in the 37th round, 1121st overall, of the 2008 MLB Draft.
Professional career
He was drafted as a pitcher and was assigned to the Rookie level Arizona League Cubs, where he went 1-1 with a 5.87 ERA almost exclusively as a reliever. He was promoted to Short-Season BoiseBoise Hawks
The Boise Hawks are a minor league baseball team, located in Boise, Idaho. The team is currently a farm team for the Chicago Cubs and play in the Short-Season Class A Northwest League.-History:...
. He started 2009 with Single-A Peoria
Peoria Chiefs
The Peoria Chiefs are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, from Peoria, Illinois. They play in the Midwest League....
, and finished with a 5.98 ERA over 38 appearances. He was released by the Cubs in the offseason. He spent 2010 in the independent Northern League, in what proved to be the league's last season. He split time with Kansas City
Kansas City T-Bones
The Kansas City T-Bones are a professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Kansas, in the United States. The T-Bones are a member of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
and Joliet
Joliet JackHammers
The Joliet JackHammers were a professional baseball team based in Joliet, Illinois, in the United States. The JackHammers were a member of the Northern League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. From 2002 to 2010, the JackHammers played their home games at Silver Cross...
. He had a 3.39 ERA in the league before being signed in the offseason by the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
. He started with A-Advanced Lake Elsinore
Lake Elsinore Storm
The Lake Elsinore Storm is a minor league baseball team in Lake Elsinore, California, USA. It is a Class A - Advanced team in the California League, and is a farm team of the San Diego Padres. The Storm plays its home games at Lake Elsinore Diamond...
, and went 2-0 with a 1.08 ERA before earning a promotion to Double-A San Antonio
San Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres major-league club. The Missions play in Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, located in San Antonio...
, where he went 3-0 with a 0.92 ERA and was a Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
All-Star.
On July 31, 2011, Hamren was promoted to the major leagues to replace Mike Adams, who was traded to the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
.