Jim Hoey
Encyclopedia
James Urban "Jim" Hoey grew up in Mount Laurel, New Jersey and is a relief pitcher
in the Minnesota Twins
organization. He is known mainly for his fastball
, which he throws consistently between 95 and 98 mph; 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
.
During the 13th round of the MLB draft, the Orioles organization drafted Hoey out of Rider University
in June . Initially, Rider University was 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 . 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 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 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 run
s, 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
. Early in the 2008 season it was announced that Hoey would undergo arthroscopic shoulder surgery and miss the entire year. He began the 2009 season with the Bowie Baysox
.
On December 9, 2010, the Orioles traded Hoey along with fellow minor league pitcher Brett Jacobson to the Minnesota Twins for shortstop J.J. Hardy
and utility infielder Brendan Harris
.
Hoey was called up to the major leagues by Minnesota on April 17, 2011, when they optioned Jeff Manship
to the minors.
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
in the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
organization. He is known mainly for his fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
, which he throws consistently between 95 and 98 mph; he did strike a batter out on a 100 mph fastball while playing for the Bowie Baysox
Bowie Baysox
The Bowie Baysox are a minor league baseball team located in Bowie, Maryland. They are the class-AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, and play in the Eastern League...
. In addition to the fastball, he throws a slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
and changeup
Changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...
.
Biography
Hoey returned to the Trenton area in his sophomore year of high school and played for the Hamilton High School West varsity baseball team. In his senior year of high school, Hoey helped the team to win the Division 3 State Championship with a 13-1 season. This was the school's first Championship in its 70-year history. James walked away with 131 strike outs and a .48 ERA. In honor of James' prior accomplishments and his rapid success through the minor league system, Hamilton High West retired his number during a formal ceremony on February 1, 2007.During the 13th round of the MLB draft, the Orioles organization drafted Hoey out of Rider University
Rider University
Rider University is a private, coeducational and nonsectarian university located chiefly in Lawrenceville, in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States...
in June . Initially, Rider University was using him as a starting pitcher
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
. As a starter, Hoey had a 2.79 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
for the rookie-level Bluefield Orioles
Bluefield Orioles
The Bluefield Blue Jays are a minor league baseball team of the Rookie Appalachian League representing the twin cities of Bluefield, West Virginia, and Bluefield, Virginia. Beginning in 2011, Bluefield will be affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays. The team plays their home games at Bowen Field, a...
and also made 15 starts for the Aberdeen IronBirds
Aberdeen IronBirds
The Aberdeen IronBirds are a Short-Season A classification affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The IronBirds play in the New York - Penn League and are based in Aberdeen, Maryland, which is in Harford County....
in . 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 due to Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery
Tommy John surgery, known in medical practice as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, is a surgical procedure in which a ligament in the medial elbow is replaced with a tendon from elsewhere in the body...
; 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 in the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
with the Delmarva Shorebirds
Delmarva Shorebirds
The Delmarva Shorebirds are a minor league baseball team based in Salisbury, Maryland. They are one of three Single-A affiliates of the Baltimore Orioles and a member of the South Atlantic League. The Shorebirds play at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.The "Shorebirds" name refers to the marine waterfowl...
. 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
Frederick Keys
The Frederick Keys minor league baseball team is the "High-A" class A baseball affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The Keys are based in Frederick, Maryland. The franchise is named for Star Spangled Banner poet Francis Scott Key, a native of Frederick County. The team mascot is a coyote known as...
and the Class AA Bowie Baysox
Bowie Baysox
The Bowie Baysox are a minor league baseball team located in Bowie, Maryland. They are the class-AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, and play in the Eastern League...
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 run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s, struck out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
73 batters, and walked
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
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
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. Early in the 2008 season it was announced that Hoey would undergo arthroscopic shoulder surgery and miss the entire year. He began the 2009 season with the Bowie Baysox
Bowie Baysox
The Bowie Baysox are a minor league baseball team located in Bowie, Maryland. They are the class-AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, and play in the Eastern League...
.
On December 9, 2010, the Orioles traded Hoey along with fellow minor league pitcher Brett Jacobson to the Minnesota Twins for shortstop J.J. Hardy
J.J. Hardy
James Jerry "J.J." Hardy is a Major League Baseball shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles.-Early life:...
and utility infielder Brendan Harris
Brendan Harris
Brendan Michael Harris Brendan Michael Harris Brendan Michael Harris (born August 26, 1980 in Albany, New York is a Major League Baseball utility infielder who is a free agent.Brendan grew up in Queensbury, New York and led the Spartans to the 1998 State Baseball Tournament. He graduated from the...
.
Hoey was called up to the major leagues by Minnesota on April 17, 2011, when they optioned Jeff Manship
Jeff Manship
Jeffrey Michael Manship is a right-handed pitcher for the Minnesota Twins. He was the Twins' 14th round selection of the June 2006 Major League Baseball Draft.-Amateur career:...
to the minors.