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he’s cleared, this young man profiles as an Eric Milton-type starter. I loved what I saw.”
    So did every other Phillies scout who stopped by that spring.
    A report filed after Hamels’ start on April 12, 2002, said: “See him as a Number One starter on a major-league club. Has impact-type stuff. Will
move quickly through a system. Mound presence and professional approach stand out.”
    On May 3, another Phillies scouting report read: “A definite consideration at number seventeen.”
    Hamels got better and better that season. In his year away from the mound, he had gotten bigger and stronger physically, and it showed in his fastball.
    â€œI had never seriously trained, so I think the rehab helped me,” he said. “I went from 6-1, 140 to 6-3, 170. My fastball went from 85 to 91–92. I was like, ‘Wow, this is pretty sweet.’ ”
    Conner stayed on Hamels and all the Phillies’ big scouts popped in for a look-see. Marti Wolever, who had taken over as scouting director when Mike Arbuckle moved up in the front office the previous year, watched one of Hamels’ starts and told Conner, “That’s our guy. Don’t miss another start.” Arbuckle made a trip to San Diego and was impressed with the kid’s demeanor.
    â€œHe had a way about him that said, I’ve got this under control ,” Arbuckle recalled.
    Less than two years after he had worried about Hamels’ pitching days being over before they really started, Furtak enjoyed every pitch the left-hander threw that season. With each passing start, he saw Hamels’ confidence and competitiveness grow. The kid was healthy—and really good.
    â€œOne time we were playing Torrey Pines,” Furtak said. “Cole had a no-hitter going and a guy tried to bunt on him. He was pissed.”
    Hamels sought retribution. He threw at the code-breaking hitter twice, missing him both times. Hamels looked into the dugout where Furtak motioned for him to calm down. Furtak motioned for a fastball and Hamels blew the hitter away with two of them.
    In another game, Furtak went to the mound and instructed Hamels to walk a batter.
    â€œCan’t I just hit him?” Hamels asked.
    â€œLook,” Furtak said. “Walk this guy, throw the next guy three straight curveballs and you’re out of the inning.”
    Bingo, bango, bongo . Hamels was out of the inning.
    The game Furtak remembers most was Hamels’ last one.
    â€œIt was at Montgomery High School,” he said. “Cole seemed a little out of sorts in the bullpen. He was bouncing his curveball ten feet in front of the plate. It was right before the draft and there must have been forty scouts
standing there watching him warm up. Every time he bounced a curveball, they’d write something down.”
    In the dugout after warm-ups, Furtak tried to calm Hamels’ nerves.
    â€œDude, you’re going to be fine,” he said. “You’ll be awesome.”
    When Hamels took the mound, Furtak instructed the catcher to call a first-pitch curveball.
    â€œIt was a beauty,” Furtak said.
    Hamels gave the scouts plenty to write about that day. He pitched so brilliantly that the opposing coach asked him to sign a ball after the game.
    â€œThat kid is going to be something special,” the coach told Furtak.

    Even as Hamels dazzled during his senior season at Rancho Bernardo, there were skeptics in the scouting community. Conner remembers hearing his brethren from other clubs wonder how Hamels would react once he got to Double-A and was having a bad night, or a bad stretch of games. Was he tough enough to handle that adversity? Was he tough enough to make the climb to the majors?
    Conner had no doubt.
    â€œFor me, coming back from that injury spoke volumes,” Conner said. “He could have went to school and I believe been a success in whatever he did. He could have ridden off into the sunset, but he fought back.