My new favorite major leaguer....for a day?

I know that we here at WOT (which, surprisingly doesn't, in this case, stand for War on Terror) much prefer to rip and tear people down - and we're good at it - here's a good news sports story.

The San Diego Padres called up AAA pitcher Dirk Haythurst to make his major league debut this afternoon against the San Francisco Giants. Once you get past the fact that "Dirk Hayhurst" sounds like either a bad guy in an old episode of the A-Team or a 1970's porn star, I know you all would really like this guy. He is 27 years old and this is his first taste of the bigs - by far. At the beginning of the season, he was not at all considered major league material - and HE knew it. He still hoped that he would make it, of course, and worked hard to make that happen. But, I think we ALL know when we are in a situation where the likelihood of "topping out" is. For instance, even though I am working in academia, I am pretty sure that I won't ever be a president of a university (never know...I will work towards that end....but, probably not). Agent 13 may be a Hair Club Member, but he likely won't ever be the president. You get the idea.

Hayhurst took his non-big league status and ran with it. He created a blog that posts to Baseball America, the foremost web site on non-major league baseball (minors, college ball, etc.). He calls it "The Non-Prospect Diary." I am an occasional reader (I don't have it bookmarked, and like some other bloggers I know, he doesn't update too frequently), but whenever I do read his stuff, he is usually funny - self-deprecating, and funny. If you care - here's the link: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/prospect-diary/

A few particular selections of favorites that I have read in the past....

A little sappy - but, the theme is will I make the big leagues? Appropriate for today - http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/prospect-diary/2007/264795.html

The trip to spring training - http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/prospect-diary/2008/265716.html

He may not be up for long. But, major league rosters expand next week, and there is a good chance that the Pads will let him stick around and collect major league meal money and a paycheck for a couple of weeks. Who knows? Maybe this extra income boost will keep him from having to work this winter at Circuit City.

Dude, no one makes fun of my hair. You know how much I paid for this??


I like the story, and read a couple of entries. Very good.

Growing up I had two friends who actually signed pro baseball contacts, one with Red Sox another with Twins. The latter messed up his shoulder in single A. He is center card in this display...



The other just didn't have the stuff. They had many interesting stories, but the ones I remember the most are when they would talk about getting so close, but not getting "there". Odd as it sounds, I always got the impression that they both would have been happier if they never got so close. Weird from where I stand, as someone who never got too close to anything other than a buffet line.

he could play for the Tigers. He's gotta be beeter then what we have.

paging dontrelle willis, dontrelle willis to the I'm robbing the detroit tigers of 12 mill a year yellow phone please.