Hamilton doesn't allow hit in four-frame debut

He came to the party a little late, but it didn't take long for Brandon Hamilton to make an impression on the Midwest League.

In his first full-season professional game, Hamilton tossed four scoreless innings without allowing a hit, striking out six while walking four in the West Michigan Whitecaps' 7-5 loss to the Fort Wayne Wizards.

"I was a little nervous, I'll tell you that," Hamilton said. "It was different baseball as far as the fans, the teams, the umpires ... everything. I did OK, but I was probably a little bit tight."

Hamilton, a 2007 supplemental first-round draft pick and the 60th overall, is considered one of the top pitching prospects in the Tigers organization. Baseball America rated him Detroit's 10th-best prospect coming into this season, calling his curveball the best in the farm system.

Hamilton left the game with the Whitecaps leading, 4-0, heading into the fifth inning. Mauricio Robles surrendered four earned runs while recording only two outs, and Santo Mieses (1-3) was hit up for three more in his two frames of work for the loss.

Last year, Hamilton went 1-1 with a 3.10 ERA in seven games -- including five starts -- for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast Tigers after being drafted out of Stanhope Elmore High School in Millbrook, Ala.

In 20 1/3 innings of work in the Gulf Coast League, Hamilton struck out 23 batters.

Heading into his first full season, Hamilton pulled an oblique muscle in a Spring Training game. The injury held him back in extended spring training for several months, so he wanted to stick to basics in his first start.

"I just threw my fastball. I think I threw like five curveballs, one (split-finger fastball) and one changeup. The rest were fastballs," Hamilton said. "That was the main thing I was getting guys out with."

But this one good game and all the attention Hamilton has gotten to date hasn't altered his mind-set.

"It's always good to hear, but as far as letting it go to my head, I just ignore it," Hamilton said. "I don't go out onto the mound thinking I've got to do something to get into the newspaper."