Hoffpauir hopes best is ahead of him

When Micah Hoffpauir had microfracture knee surgery midway through the 2007 season, doctors said they weren't sure if he'd play baseball again.

But Hoffpauir not only returned to the game in 2008, he embarked on the hottest stretch of his career, hitting .362 with 34 doubles, 25 home runs and 100 RBIs in only 71 games for Triple-A Iowa.

His surge made him the Cubs' Minor League Player of the Year and prompted his first call-up to the majors, where he batted .342 in 33 games for Chicago.

"That's probably the second-coolest thing that's happened in my life outside of my daughter's birth," the 30-year-old first baseman/outfielder said Thursday before Iowa's 8-4 victory over the 51s at Cashman Field. "Everything just kind of clicked all at once."

Hoffpauir matched the Pacific Coast League's modern-day record with four home runs in a game for Iowa in 2007 and also went 5-for-5 with two homers for Chicago in a game against the New York Mets in 2008.

But the Texas native said the highlight of his nine-year career was cracking his first major league hit against the Astros in Houston in front of several family members and friends.

"For them to get to see my first major league hit after such a long time in the minor leagues, it's something I'll cherish for the rest of my life," said Hoffpauir, who was mired in the minors for seven years before his big league debut.

Hoffpauir hit .239 with 10 homers and 35 RBIs in 105 games with the Cubs last year.

"I don't feel like my 2009 season was that bad," he said. "My average wasn't where I wanted it to be, but my production off the bench was pretty good."

Although Chicago signed veteran infielders Chad Tracy and Kevin Millar in the offseason, Hoffpauir liked his chances to make the team this year.

"I felt like it was my job to lose, but it just didn't work out for me," he said.

Playing for Iowa (16-17) for the seventh straight season, Hoffpauir struggled this season before hitting a three-run homer in each of his first two games against Las Vegas (15-20).

He went 0-for-4 with an sacrifice fly Thursday and is batting .205 with five homers and 26 RBIs in 32 games.

"The last couple of games I've played pretty well," Hoffpauir said. "But other than that, it has been a grind for me so far."

Despite being stuck behind All-Star first baseman Derrek Lee and others on the Cubs' depth chart, Hoffpauir continues to keep the faith.

"I have a job and I'm happy about that," he said. "One day something good will work out for me, I think."

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.