Albert Pujols vs. Mike Hampton 2
Michael William Hampton (born September 9, 1972 in Brooksville, Florida) is a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks organization. Hampton is well-known for being one of the best active hitting pitchers, as well as for his large contract and frequent injuries.
Hampton became a starter for Houston in 1995, and kept his ERA under 4.00 for every season he was with the Astros. In 1999, Hampton had his best year. He broke through with a 22–4 record, best in the National League, and a 2.90 ERA. He picked up his first of five Silver Slugger Awards and narrowly finished second in National League Cy Young Award voting to Randy Johnson.
Hampton began a rehab assignment on November 22, 2007 for Navojoa of the Mexican Winter League. In the first inning, he attempted to make a play on a comebacker and left during warmups before the second inning, feeling discomfort in his hamstring. The rest of his rehab was left in doubt
Awards and Accomplishments
* 2-time All-Star (1999, 2001)
* National League Championship Series MVP (2000)
* Led NL in winning percentage (.8462, 1999)
* Became the first pitcher ever to win the Gold Glove Award and Silver Slugger awards in the same season (2003). The Gold Glove also snapped then-Atlanta teammate Greg Maddux's streak of 13 consecutive Gold Gloves. Hampton was the only National League pitcher other than Maddux to win a Gold Glove during Maddux's career from 1989 and onward.
* Hampton holds the record for most Silver Slugger awards for a pitcher, with five.