Mizzou in the Minors: Justin James

Have you noticed what Justin James has been doing lately?

James was promoted to AAA Sacramento July 21st. since then, he has posted a 0.93 ERA in 8 relief appearances, 9-1/3 innings pitched. 10 H, 2 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 1 R, 1 ER, 6 BB, 14 K, 1.65 WHIP.

This is quite the comeback for James, who played for the Tigers in 2002 and 2003 and was drafted in the 5th round by the Blue Jays in '03. He worked his way through the Toronto farm system until he was shipped off to the Reds organization in the off-season of 2007-08, and spent 2008 toiling in the Cincinnati minor leagues. In 2009 he found himself out of affiliated baseball and signed with the Kansas City T-Bones of the independent Northern League, where he played through 2009 and began the season in 2010.

On June 18, 2020, the T-Bones sold James' contract to the Oakland A's organization, who sent him to AA Midland, promoting him to Triple A a month later.

It brings to mind a quote from Satchel Paige:

"Never let your head hang down. Never give up and sit down and grieve. Find another way. And don't pray when it rains if you don't pray when the sun shines."

2010 Stats from FirstInning.com

■ Yukon's Justin James faring well in Triple-A (NewsOK.com, 7/31/10)

It didn't take long for former Yukon standout Justin James to move up the ladder in the A's organization.

Just more than a month after signing with Oakland after more than a season with the independent Kansas City T-Bones, James was called up to Triple-A Sacramento.