From the Wilmington News-Journal:
Buddy Hurlock - Catcher turned closer is solid as a Rock; Mike James leads Carolina League with 22 saves
He doesn't fold," said Blue Rocks pitching coach Mike Cather. "He doesn't give in, no doubt. The kid has a big backbone."
James, 25, was captain of the University of Connecticut baseball team as a senior in 2004. After setting a UConn career record with 22 saves, James was drafted in the 28th round in 2004 -- 845th overall.
Now he is making strides toward the majors, performing well enough at low A Greenville (S.C.) last season to earn an August promotion to Wilmington.
James' role as closer almost wasn't meant to be. A native of Roswell, Ga., where he still resides, he occasionally pitched in Little League and high school, but mostly played catcher until going to UConn.
When James got there, the Huskies already had a catcher, Mike Leonard, who, coincidentally, is at Greenville in the Red Sox minor league system.
"I ended up pitching," James said, "and I just ran with it."
...
That's the key to being an effective closer, said Goose Gregson, Boston's roving minor league pitching instructor.
"Most guys who become good closers," Gregson said, "have the mindset to close. Some guys flat out can't do that. It's a rare mentality. It's very different to do it. You have to have a very short memory. Most pitchers don't."
James added a change-up to his fastball and breaking ball this year. Gregson said it is unusual for a closer to have three pitches because "you don't get beat with your third-best pitch," but that James is "ahead of the game."