St. Louis Cardinals: Mark Hamilton choosing the greater good

Former Cardinal Mark Hamilton’s career wasn’t exactly what he had imagined, though I’m guessing he’s happy with where his path eventually took him.

If you don’t remember Mark Hamilton from his professional baseball playing days, no problem. He’s prepared to make a mark more newsworthy in this world than any hitter will in any game this baseball season (if we are so lucky to have baseball this season).

Mark Hamilton was drafted in the second round of the 2006 draft by the St. Louis Cardinals and ranked high on the prospect rankings sheet put out by Baseball America. He tore through the minor leagues, hitting home runs at every stop along the way.

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By 2010 a cup of coffee was in store and Hamilton got a couple of hits in fourteen at-bats. The following year he got a long look in the majors, locking down forty-seven at-bats, but only getting ten hits. The power which he displayed in the minor leagues had yet to make an appearance in the big leagues.

Hamilton spent a year in the Red Sox organization and one with the Braves Triple-A team, never making it back to the majors. It was his time playing winter ball in Mexico and the Dominican which made him take a look at what he was doing. Seeing what people didn’t have, and the opportunities he was given, he decided to make a change.

At the age of 30, Mark Hamilton quit playing baseball and went back to medical school. Now with the coronavirus pandemic sweeping through America and doctors being called to the “front-lines”, Hamilton will graduate a month early and begin his residency immediately.

Following in the footsteps of his father, Hamilton is answering the call of duty at a time the country needs it more than anything else. Sure, he could have stayed with his childhood dream, and at the age of 35, he could still be going from minor league contract to non-roster invitee trying to get back to the Show.

Hamilton won’t be making any headlines in his new profession and the lives he saves won’t appear in any boxscores, though he deserves all the accolades in the world for putting the health of others ahead of his own personal glory.

For more information about COVID-19, visit the CDC’s website or the website for your state’s Department of Health.