KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- A few minutes after one of the most important spring training outings of Mike Hampton's career, he faced one of his biggest media gatherings in years.
"Welcome to New York," Hampton said with a laugh as he walked into the Atlanta Braves' clubhouse after pitching two scoreless innings in his first appearance against major league batters in two years.
The Braves beat a Houston Astros split squad 6-4 on Sunday, but Hampton was the big story.
He's been sidelined with multiple shoulder and elbow injuries and, most recently a leg injury. He hasn't pitched in a big league game since 2005, but Braves manager Bobby Cox said he still has Hampton penciled in for a spot in his starting rotation.
Hampton was sharp and struck out his first batter, Michael Bourne, on four pitches. He allowed only one single in two innings and only went to two balls on one batter.
Despite the layoff, Hampton said he wants to be treated just like any other Braves starter during the spring. He is part of a five-man rotation that includes John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, Chuck James and Tim Hudson and Cox said that, until he hears otherwise, Hampton will go every fifth day, adding more innings along the way.
Hampton said all he wanted was a chance and that he has never felt better.
"I still have a ways to go," he said. "My arm feels great but my legs aren't all there yet. I just wanted to stay near the strike zone, and getting that first hitter to strike out was just great."
Hampton won 22 games for the Astros in 1999 and won a total of 27 games for the Braves in 2003 and 2004, but he went 5-3 in 2005 and hasn't pitched in the majors since.
Hampton isn't ready to call it quits if the spring doesn't go well, but he was throwing his curveball and sinker, mixing it in with his regular pitches and said he didn't feel even slight pain.
"I am not going to downplay the importance of today," Hampton said. "It's a step-to-step process to get ready by opening day, but this was promising."
Fifteen of Hampton's 22 pitches were strikes and only Jose Cruz Jr.'s single in the second inning left the infield.
Even though he has plenty of candidates for a fifth starter role, Cox made it clear he expects Hampton to get the nod.
"He was absolutely outstanding," Cox said. "He's been rusty after more than two years and he still hit 93 (mph). I was proud of him and very happy. For now, we are just going to treat him like any other pitcher, going every fifth day. He's earned it."
Braves third baseman Chipper Jones was a late scratch. He tweaked his right hamstring and is expected to miss a couple of days as a precaution. Cox said he isn't concerned.
Astros starter Brandon Backe, who went 3-1 in five starts for the Astros last season, allowed only one walk in two innings.
