Hellboy

.

I guess I'll take this off my birthday gift list for Jeremy...





.

It was a great performance. Today he is back at AAA Durham Bulls. Tough to crack the starting rotation of the Rays at this time, but Coach Madden says he will get his time in the rotation very soon. Coach Madden spoke very highly of Jeremy's make up and pregame routine. Said he was not nervous and pitched like a pro.

Particulary appropriate was his walk-up/warm-up song:

Hell's Bells - AC/DC

.

From The DesMoines Register.




.

CD,

We first saw Jeremy in 2002. He was very good. He actually was selected to the Iowa HS basketball state all tournament team as a freshman.

At first scouts thought we were overblowing his talent. Everyone thought he was too small.

We took some heat when we selected him to the Aflac Game. Especially being he was hurt most of that year. People thought we were crazy when calling him the best pitcher in high school baseball.

Hellickson was always the type that you had to see him a lot before you would realize how special his talents were. He could throw hard, but it was all the other things that set him apart. Unbelievable command and three solid pitches. Then he was always at his best at the biggest moments.

We knew the Rays got a gem in the 4th round. He was much better than some of the first round picks that year. USA Baseball knew it, the teams he pitched for and against knew it too. He truly was the best HS pitcher in the country.

Here is his link, if you scroll down you can follow his final three or four years before the draft.

Jeremy Hellickson

Why am I smiling? I don't know this kid from Adam. Character counts. Awesome.

A perfect 10 all the way! Congratulations on getting the ticket back to the bigs!

LOL! And for all those that say height doesn't really matter...check out the comment section of his PG profile. "Only 6-0 but maybe the best pitcher in high school baseball". ONLY? "Everyone thought he was too small"???? He's 6'0"!

Wonder how many talented 5'10" players won't even get a passing glance?

I love a success story like this... except when he beats my Twins!

Hellickson really did look good last night, even though I was rooting for the other team.

Julie

sandlotmom,

If any of those 5'10 pitchers throw like Hellickson they will get much more than a passing glance. We selected a 5'9 RHP for Aflac this year.

Son played wth Jeremy on a traveling team in HS and he was unbelievable even back then. I'm actually shocked that he's spent almost 5 years in the minors.