With Mississippi losing close Shae Simmons to the majors in the middle of a hot pennant race, the Braves did not have to look far to find another door-slammer. James Hoyt, 27, who had been Simmons' set-up man, took over the closer role with equal success.
Hoyt, 6-5, 220, was leading the Southern League in holds by a wide margin, has saved three games since Simmons left, and is currently 2-2, 1.35 in 24 games with 37 strikeouts in 27 innings. This is merely picking up where he left off in 2013, where he appeared in 39 games combined for Lynchburg and Mississippi, going 3-3, 3.94 (2.48 in Miss.) with 105 strikeouts in 82 innings.
Where, you might ask, in the hell did he come from. The answer is, hell, aka the Mexican League. In 2012, he pitched for Tabasco, as well as Wichita in the A.A. and Edinburg in the NABL(!). He broke into the pros in the NABL as well, pitching for Yuma in 2011. The Braves signed him as a free agent in November of 2012. The world traveler calls Boise home, but played college ball for Centenary and Palomar (Calif.) College.
After going undrafted, he went to work repairing sailboats in San Diego. From there, he tells his story:
"I heard about an independent league tryout. Jose Canseco was there. He was coaching the Yuma (Arizona) Scorpions and they drafted me out of the work out." Hoyt finished a season with them. That club then folded prior to the start of the 2012 season so he moved to Texas to play for the Edinburg Roadrunners. Shortly after that he went north into Kansas to play for the Wichita Wing Nuts. He threw one shutout inning and then oddly, didn't pitch again for a week. At the end of that week a friend from Arizona helped get his name out and as a result, Hoyt was signed by Tabasco. That's where he caught his big break: "I had a great time down there. I wouldn't be where I am now if I wouldn't have taken that chance and gone," Hoyt said.
Braves scout (not credited in the media guide) signed him after watching him put up a 2.02 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 13 innings.
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CLASS AAA
Rochester 3, Gwinnett 2
LP: Maya (2-1) 6 IP, 11 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K.
Constanza 2-3, R, BB.
Bethancourt 1-4, 2 RBIs.
CLASS AA
Mississippi 1, Chattanooga 0
WP: Graham (1-3) 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K. (74 pitches)
Cunniff 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K.
Hoyt (Save, 4) 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K.
Rohm 1-3, 2B, RBI. (.289)
Hunter 1-2, 2B, BB. (.299)
ADVANCED CLASS A
Salem 7, Lynchburg 6
SP: Sims 3 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 4 BB, 1 K.
Moore 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K.
LP: Wilson (3-2) 1 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K.
Peraza 2-4, R, 2 SB. (30)
Hyams 2-4, 2B, 3B, R, RBI.
Sanchez 2-3, 2B, 2 RBIs.
Castro 1-4, 2B, R, RBI.
Nick 1-5, R, RBI.
CLASS A
Game One
Rome 7, Greenville 4 (7)
SP: Marksberry 4 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K.
WP: Holmes (2-1) 3 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 0 BB, 3 K.
Caratini 2-4, 2 RBIs.
Wilson 1-3, 2B, R, 2 RBIs.
Brown 1-3, 2B, 2 R, RBI.
Sears 2-3, 2 2B, 2 R.
Game Two
Greenville 5, Rome 3 (7)
SP: Vail 2.2 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K.
LP: Otero (0-3) 2.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 B, 2 K.
Sanchez 1-3, 2B, 2 RBIs.
Caratini 1-4, 2B, RBI.
Franco 1-2, 2B, R.
SHORT-SEASON
DSL Angels @ DSL Braves (3-3), No Report.
ROSTER MOVES:
AAA: Andy Simunic signed as FA, assigned to Gwinnett. OF Derek Mitchell demoted to Mississippi. Todd Cunningham on 7-day DL (thumb sprain), Joe Leonard promoted to Gwinnett from Miss.
ADV.A: Tyler Tewell back onto DL; Anthony Nunez promoted to Lynchburg.
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