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closeALTOONA — A 15-minute stretch this past week demonstrated why the 2009 version of Miles Durham looks nothing like the player who once played for the State College Spikes.
It started in the bottom of the fifth with Durham one-hopping a two-strike pitch off the left-field wall for a three-run double. Durham didn’t stay on the bases long, scoring from second when a center fielder slid after catching a fly ball.
Once his team finished hitting, Durham donned a first baseman’s mitt and made a diving, hit-saving play in the top of the sixth.
But the biggest surprise last Thursday, might have been Durham’s presence in the Double- A game. Durham was playing for the Altoona Curve against the Erie Seawolves at Blair County Ballpark.
Even the most educated Spikes fans retain foggy memories of Durham. Fewer expected to see him climb the ranks into a Curve uniform.
Two years ago, Durham was a 24-year-old corner outfielder selected in the 22nd round of the 2006 draft on a team filled with seven young players who occupied the same position. The glut of outfielders limited Durham to just 41 games and 141 at-bats in 2007.
From a baseball career perspective, the future appeared bleak for Durham. The season represented his second in the New York-Penn League.
“I don’t remember much about it because it wasn’t a good experience,” he said. “I just remember battling every time I got a chance about every fifth day. It was a tough go-around.”
The Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t extend Durham an invitation to their fall instructional league in Bradenton, Fla. Durham returned to his Fort Worth, Texas, home after the season and started preparing for spring training. He hit, threw, lifted and ran harder, hiding the disappointment attached to hitting .255 with one homer and 13 RBIs. His lone homer was a grand slam.
“I tried to stay positive and keep pushing toward it,” he said.
Durham’s future changed during spring training. He improved enough to start 2008 at full-season Hickory. The Pirates moved Durham to first base after Justin Byler, who led the ‘07 Spikes in homers and RBIs, fractured his forearm playing basketball toward the end of spring training.
“It was a good spring training, a good opportunity,” said Durham, who also played the outfield. “I’m glad I got the chance to go to Hickory. I just went from there.”
The possibility of being released motivated Durham throughout last season. He breezed through Hickory, hitting .348 with 14 homers and 57 RBIs in 72 games to earn a spot in the South Atlantic League All-Star Game.
He ended last season — and started 2009— at High-A Lynchburg. He had the best month of his career in May, hitting .333 with six homers, eight doubles and 21 RBIs. The Pirates promoted Durham to Altoona on June 26, and he joined the Cur ve after appearing in the Carolina-California League All-Star game in Lake Elsinore, Calif.
“It’s great for him,” said Byler, who returned to the Spikes this summer after missing the entire 2008 season after forearm surgery. “His first couple of years he struggled hitting-wise, but he stayed with it. It always seemed like he had potential. It’s good for him to finally click and be up in Double-A.”
Durham’s rise can be attributed to three factors:
•Playing regularly. Durham has more than 800 at-bats since leaving State College.
“Getting everyday at-bats was huge,” he said.
•Versatility. Durham, who started his college career as a quarterback at Division II Texas A&M-Commerce before focusing on baseball at Division I Northwestern State, plays first base and outfield. In college, he played first and third, so changing positions as a professional hasn’t fazed him.
“He has feel, he has instinct and he has athletic ability,” Curve manager Matt Walbeck said.
•Confidence. Durham has a swagger he rarely showed in 2007.
“His confidence is sky high and it’s good for him,” Byler said. “He has a great baseball body and he’s very intelligent about the game.”
Durham entered this weekend hitting .262 with one homer and nine RBIs in 13 Double-A games. Games such as last Thursday’s suggest he could become a regular in Walbeck’s second-half lineup.
“He went through a little bit of a rut for a few games, but he has seemed to slow down and let the game come to him a little bit,” Walbeck said. “When it’s time for him to go get the game, he does it, too. He takes the extra base and drives the ball in the gap. He seems to fit in fine.”
Durham is one of four former Spikes on the Curve’s active roster. Pitchers Daniel Moskos and Dustin Molleken and shortstop Brian Friday also played with Durham in State College.
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