Atlanta Baseball News: Injury-Plagued Hampton Shelved Again

Snap!  Crackle!  Pop!  Breakfast time? 

Nope, it's another trip to the disabled list for Mike Hampton. 

Slated to make his first major league start since August 19, 2005 in the Braves' April 2 game against Pittsburgh, Hampton dejectedly walked off a bullpen mound at Turner Field after straining his left pectoral muscle. One day later the 35-year-old southpaw was placed on the 15-day disabled list, all-too-familiar territory for Hampton. 

Atlanta's 2008 fortunes in a division packed with young talent will depend heavily on the output of its highly-touted starting rotation. With that in mind, Braves fans must be a little nervous after two of the team's prized hurlers, Hampton and Tom Glavine, who left Sunday's game against Washington in the first inning with a strained right hamstring, have been hobbled by early-season injuries. 

Glavine, who has never spent a day on the disabled list during his storied career, ceded the baseball after just 16 pitches on a cold day at Nationals Park. 

While Glavine and Hampton are not figured to miss significant time due to their respective maladies, age for both and Hampton's track record are causes for concern.  Hampton has undergone two major elbow surgeries, which, along with a series of hamstring, back and groin problems, have caused him to miss nearly three whole seasons of baseball. 

Said Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell, who was at Hampton's side in the bullpen at the time of the injury, "It was like Christmas Day got cancelled." 

"I wish there was a miracle cure," said Hampton.  "But I just want to get this thing taken care of and get it ready. I want to be on the DL [disabled list] the least amount of time as possible and I want to be out there pitching as soon as possible." 

Hampton, in the final year of an eight-year, $121 million contract, is understandably down. However, the light at the end of the tunnel may be within reach. Whether or not you're a fan of the Braves, you can't help but pull for this guy.  

Will he make it back? Stay tuned...  

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?