"I know where we'd be in [the National League East] with 10 more wins, and I believe a healthy Mike Hampton at the top of his game could have given us those wins," Braves general manager John Schuerholz said. "Not to lay this at Mike's feet, but that was our plan when we put this team together."
"This year, I know I was counted on to be one of the main guys in the rotation," Hampton said. "It was set up in the rotation, and I was on schedule. So I kind of put the Braves behind the eight ball, because I was ready to go, and then all of the sudden, I have another surgery."
"I didn't take any shortcuts or miss any steps," Hampton said. "I did everything I was asked to come back healthy, and [the Tommy John surgery] just didn't take. It just wasn't meant to be. Hopefully this last surgery will be the last one that I have, and I can come back to help this team win a World Series."
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