Dan Hitt learned from mistakes in rookie ball; Saw four seasons, made high-A
Johnson City and reliever Dan Hitt took the victory in this July 1988 game. But Hitt would rather have taken the save, The Johnson City Press wrote.
The difference: He gave up a ninth-inning game-tying home run, The Press wrote.
"I'm glad we won," Hitt told The Press afterward. "But I will think about the mistake. It was an 0-2 pitch, and I threw a fastball. That's a sin. You don't ever do that."
Hitt moved on from Johnson City that year, his second as a pro, to make single-A Savannah the next year. He played in just one more campaign after Savannah. He topped out at high-A.
Hitt's career began in 1987, taken by the Cardinals in the 31st round of the draft out of St. Louis Community College - Meramec Campus. He was also credited by his full name Daniel Hitt.
Hitt started with the Cardinals at Johnson City. He went 1-2 in 22 outings, two starts, with a 4.80 ERA. He retired four of five batters in a July contest. "My job was to get the left-hand batters," Hitt told The Press.
He returned to Johnson City for 1988 and saw 30 relief outings. He went 5-2, with a 1.35 ERA and seven saves.
That July, The Press noted Hitt went on a stretch where he allowed a single earned run in 15.1 innings of work.
"My confidence level is way up," Hitt told The Press after an outing where he went three scoreless for the win. "My fastball had a lot of movement on it and I used it, except for one slider."
Hitt made Savannah for 1989. He went 4-2 over 63 total relief outings. He ended with a 2.38 ERA. He then played 1990 at high-A St. Petersburg. He went 1-3 over 37 relief outings, with a 3.51 ERA. That season with St. Petersburg proved his last.
- Johnson City Press, July 16, 1987: Cards
- Johnson City Press, July 10, 1988: Hitt shuts door as Johnson City clips Pulaski
- Johnson City Press, July 31, 1988: Hitt, Cards recover to nip Pirates
Made the Majors:1,325-33.3%
Never Made Majors:2,654-66.7%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:542
10+ Seasons in the Minors:329
