Chamberlain reports to Yankees
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BY CURT McKEEVER/Lincoln Journal Star
Joba Chamberlain isn’t about to talk trash about the old girl, but she’s likely headed to the scrap yard soon.
“My Jeep’s done me good,” Chamberlain said Wednesday of his 1996 Grand Cherokee, “but it’s time for a new one.”
At least now, the former Nebraska All-America pitcher from Lincoln Northeast can afford one. Chamberlain, the 41st pick in last June’s major-league draft, signed with the New York Yankees on Saturday for $1.1 million.
He’s currently at the Yankees’ training complex in Tampa, where he expects to be for another two weeks. After a short visit home, Chamberlain will return for fall instructional league. He then could wind up playing winter ball, or return home again before heading to minor-league spring training.
“It’s exciting to be down here to wear the Yankee pride,” Chamberlain said. “I threw my first (bullpen workout) today and it felt great.”
Chamberlain spent the summer working out in Lincoln while his representatives with Hendricks Sports Management in Texas negotiated with the Yankees. Even though there were times when talks between the sides were at a standstill, the powerful right-hander remained patient about the process.
“I talked to a lot of guys, and they were saying how fun it was to get out and play,” Chamberlain said of some former Husker teammates. “But I was never envious.
“This year’s been one of the greatest of my entire life — with the birth of my son and baseball. Your body takes a beating, but mentally you need a break, too, and it was awesome to be able to spend the summer at home. . . . I knew it was the best thing for both me and the Yankees.“
Chamberlain was ranked by Baseball America as the No. 7 prospect entering the draft. He lasted until the supplemental phase of the first round, where teams that had suffered a loss of a Type A free agent the previous season were given a pick.
Chamberlain came to Nebraska as a complete unknown two years ago after spending one unspectacular season at NCAA Division II Nebraska-Kearney. In two seasons with the Huskers, he went 16-7 with a 3.29 earned-run average and 232 strikeouts.
In 2005, Chamberlain was 10-2 and a third-team All-American while helping the Huskers reach the College World Series. Last season, he was plagued by early soreness in his arm and finished 6-5 with a 3.93 ERA.
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