Hoes to Bowie

[BowieMike]

Just confirmed with Baysox manager Brad Komminsk that L.J. Hoes will join the team for its three-game road trip in Akron this week. Hoes will take the roster spot of Joel Guzman, who is traveling to New York to finalize his United States naturalization process.

I'll have more later.

Thanks to OH Keys beat writer Adam Vencill for providing the tip.

[Crazysilver03]

Interesting. I hope this is more than just a three day assignment.

[rhyno2110]

Wow, this is so exciting!!!!

[Mr. Solo Dolo]

Hopefully he does well and can become a legit top prospect.

I hereby declare that the official name of his fan club is "The Hoes Train".

[Flosman]

I would be the first to point out it is to early to know for sure but Jordan's drafting keeps looking better overall.

[AVencill]

From what Keys manager Orlando Gomez told me, L.J.'s going to be in the starting lineup and be the DH. Add another weapon, albeit temporarily to the Baysox lineup. Gomez expects third catcher Kyle Moore to return tomorrow and be activated to take Hoes spot for a couple days. Moore is just 0-for-2 in one game a couple weeks ago against Wilmington.

Another move announced by Gomez after the game is that Cole McCurry is going to head to Delmarva tomorrow and provide some temporary relief to a bullpen that has been decimated the last two nights. McCurry is scheduled to make one appearance and then re-join the Keys.

[ThisIsOurHouse]

The Orioles are being a lot more aggresive with there hitting prospects this year then I can remember. Or maybe they have reason too. This may be aggresive but we should consider bringing Avery up soon too, I believe he can handle Bowie though I'm no scout.

[Oriolesfan8]

Just to clarify: Is this promotion permanent, or just for a few days to fill a couple-day need?

[Bibleman]

Guys let's remember, LJ Hoes and Xavier Avery are only 20 yrs. old. Hoes won't turn 21 until March and Avery in January. Slow down. To have them both in Bowie in 2011 at 21 yrs. of age is quite impressive. They will struggle, it's a guarantee. I'm excited, but keep things in perspective.

[AVencill]

Just to clarify: Is this promotion permanent, or just for a few days to fill a couple-day need?

This is just a temporary move, same with McCurry to Delmarva, but it'll be fun to see how a 20 year old with great plate discipline in Hoes does against AA pitching.

[Oriolesfan8]

This is just a temporary move, same with McCurry to Delmarva, but it'll be fun to see how a 20 year old with great plate discipline in Hoes does against AA pitching.

Got it! Thanks for the clarification

[BowieMike]

I asked Komminsk if there was a possibility Hoes stays with Bowie for more than three days. He said "as of now" it's only a three-day assignment.

Guzman will head to New York on Tuesday and is expected back by Thursday when the Baysox begin a four-game series with New Britain at Prince George's Stadium. He made his home in Tampa, Fla. for a few years before relocating to the Bronx this past offseason.

Congratulations to Joel, by the way.

[QBsILLEST1]

Hopefully he does well and can become a legit top prospect.

I hereby declare that the official name of his fan club is "The Hoes Train".


I would be the first to point out it is to early to know for sure but Jordan's drafting keeps looking better overall.

I agree with both comments here. I'd certainly say both Hoes and Avery(more specifically Hoes) are on their way to top prospect status, but if Hoes did hit his way onto the team permanently, I could certainly see him as a top 100 guy. Too bad his power has diminished lately since coming back from mono which took his strength away big time....

Regardless, good stuff to see. I wouldn't promote Avery this year though because with the lesser discipline, I think he should finish this season on a high note in Fredrick and be ready for Bowie next year. Hoes toolbox and skill set are better for success to jump up a whole extra level. They are already among the youngest in Fredrick. I'd imagine Hoes would be very close to the3 youngest in the EL. Though its not a permanent move, I think it may be a litmus test to see if Hoes could handle AA pitching....

[RedDevil00]

Congratulations to Joel, by the way.

Glad someone remembered to say this...attaining US citizenship is a long process. Good for him that he's finally made it (or about to make it).

[JohnD]

It'd be nice of Hoes stayed at Bowie and then went down to the Fall League to catch up on the at-bats he missed.

[Who's On 1st]

I asked Komminsk if there was a possibility Hoes stays with Bowie for more than three days. He said "as of now" it's only a three-day assignment.

Guzman will head to New York on Tuesday and is expected back by Thursday when the Baysox begin a four-game series with New Britain at Prince George's Stadium. He made his home in Tampa, Fla. for a few years before relocating to the Bronx this past offseason.

Congratulations to Joel, by the way.
It will be interesting to see what Hoes can do, I just wished it was not during a road trip.

I want to say Congrats to Joel Guzman as well.

[QBsILLEST1]

It'd be nice of Hoes stayed at Bowie and then went down to the Fall League to catch up on the at-bats he missed.

I'd guess that we see something like this happen. We could see Avery out there too...

[Slappy]

I wish I could get more excited about Hoes. He's got a good eye, but I'm not too sure what else. Little power, fielding is suspect, speed is nothing to gloat about. He is young, so that's a plus. I'm more interested in Mahoney at this point.

[JohnD]

At least it used to be that A-ball players generally had to spend their final month at AA to be eligible for Arizona. The exception was one A-ball player was ok to go.

Hoes is interesting because he has great plate discipline and knows the game. Defensively he was an outfielder in high school, and is in his second year of playing infield now. Usually the adjustment goes the other way.

[AVencill]

I wish I could get more excited about Hoes. He's got a good eye, but I'm not too sure what else. Little power, fielding is suspect, speed is nothing to gloat about. He is young, so that's a plus. I'm more interested in Mahoney at this point.

Hoes has a great eye at the plate which might be his best skill. As far as your claim of his fielding being "suspect", I don't buy it one bit. L.J.'s showed he can field left and right and his fielding percentage is way up this year along with the fact he has with 6 weeks left, a 1/4 of the error total he had in Delmarva in 2009. L.J. ranged far to his right in yesterday's game and made an off-balanced throw from the grass behind second to get a runner. L.J.'s shown some pop with the bat, but he's not the type of hitter to bop 20 home runs, but he'll hit for good average with good gap power and hit maybe 10-15 homer projection and steal a few bases along the way.

[Frobby]

I got all excited by the thread title, only to read that the move is temporary. Oh well, it will still be interesting to see how Hoes does.

[waroriole]

Is BRob a possible comp for Hoes, assuming he reaches his potential?

[McLovin]

Hoes has a great eye at the plate which might be his best skill. As far as your claim of his fielding being "suspect", I don't buy it one bit. L.J.'s showed he can field left and right and his fielding percentage is way up this year along with the fact he has with 6 weeks left, a 1/4 of the error total he had in Delmarva in 2009. L.J. ranged far to his right in yesterday's game and made an off-balanced throw from the grass behind second to get a runner. L.J.'s shown some pop with the bat, but he's not the type of hitter to bop 20 home runs, but he'll hit for good average with good gap power and hit maybe 10-15 homer projection and steal a few bases along the way.
I've seen him a few times - much less than you. He was also coming off mono. But I thought his range was really limited. His reactions were very slow, and he was slow to the ball. Again, maybe it was the mono.

[Arthur_Bryant]

Is BRob a possible comp for Hoes, assuming he reaches his potential?

His power would have to develop significantly. Power is the X factor, and that is still TBD.

Until that is clearer, I don't think anyone can say with real confidence what his potential might be.

[AVencill]

I've seen him a few times - much less than you. He was also coming off mono. But I thought his range was really limited. His reactions were very slow, and he was slow to the ball. Again, maybe it was the mono.

Didn't you see him during his rehab at Aberdeen? If so, then yeah, I'd agree that the mono attributed to his slow reactions and slowness to ball. He definitely would not be at game speed. He still had some rust once he started back in Frederick, moreso with picking up breaking pitches than in the field. Now he's got the whole package rolling again.

[QBsILLEST1]

Didn't you see him during his rehab at Aberdeen? If so, then yeah, I'd agree that the mono attributed to his slow reactions and slowness to ball. He definitely would not be at game speed. He still had some rust once he started back in Frederick, moreso with picking up breaking pitches than in the field. Now he's got the whole package rolling again.

Seeing someone on a rehab assignment ESPECIALLY after a sickness like mono, I find it hard to be able to really come up with a concrete conclusion on how he profiles or what type of skills or tools he has. But thats just me.

[McLovin]

Seeing someone on a rehab assignment ESPECIALLY after a sickness like mono, I find it hard to be able to really come up with a concrete conclusion on how he profiles or what type of skills or tools he has. But thats just me.
And... My conclusion was far from concrete, hence me saying 'but mono' not once, but twice. But I read all of the words before getting ultra sensitive about my overly optimistic evaluations. But that's just me.

[olehippi]

Hoes gets a base hit in his first Bowie AB. Way to go LJ!!!

[Flosman]

Willl the O's just go ahead and promote the
kid to Norfolk. I mean he has a 2.000 ops at AA what does he have left to prove. Sure this settles the top 100 question.

Seriously it is a big night for the kid and a tip of the hat is in order.

[olehippi]

Hoes is now 2 for 3 with an RBI. Looks like he's loving Bowie so far.

[Crazysilver03]

Hoes is now 2 for 3 with an RBI. Looks like he's loving Bowie so far.

Well, he is from Bowie, so I am sure he is loving being home.

[clapdiddy]

This is awesome to hear! Even if the kid goes back down...it's nice for him to get a couple of hits in his first game in AA!

[Who's On 1st]

Well, he is from Bowie, so I am sure he is loving being home.

While he may be FROM Bowie, the Baysox ARE on a road trip to Akron.

[JohnD]

There's no reason to send him back to Frederick for the last month of the season. Let's see what he can do.

[QBsILLEST1]

There's no reason to send him back to Frederick for the last month of the season. Let's see what he can do.

100% agree. If he succeeds, with good OBP and a good batting average, I think we have something here. AND, if he does do well here, he can possibly start next year in Norfolk if not start there, be promoted to Norfolk at some point next season. He will be mighty close to Baltimore. When is Brob's contract up again?

[Arthur_Bryant]

100% agree. If he succeeds, with good OBP and a good batting average, I think we have something here. AND, if he does do well here, he can possibly start next year in Norfolk if not start there, be promoted to Norfolk at some point next season. He will be mighty close to Baltimore. When is Brob's contract up again?

No way he goes to Norfolk in April on the basis of five weeks at AA.

Nor should he.

It might give him a leg up on a mid-season promotion, though I would almost prefer to let the power simmer at Bowie.

[Frobby]

No way he goes to Norfolk in April on the basis of five weeks at AA.

Nor should he.

It might give him a leg up on a mid-season promotion, though I would almost prefer to let the power simmer at Bowie.

"No way" is a pretty silly thing to say. Markakis jumped all the way to the majors after 5 weeks of AA. Angle jumped to AAA this year after 2 weeks of AA. So of course it is possible that Hoes could jump to AAA next year if he stayed in AA the rest of this season and did well. However, the point is probably academic, because Hoes isn't going to stay in AA more than a few days, it appears. Which, by the way, is fine by me.

[McLovin]

There's no reason to send him back to Frederick for the last month of the season. Let's see what he can do.
Odds are that they would bring him up the last week anyway.

It's interesting that they moved Adams to 3rd last night too, although I imagine it's not the first time he's played there.

[Arthur_Bryant]

"No way" is a pretty silly thing to say. Markakis jumped all the way to the majors after 5 weeks of AA. Angle jumped to AAA this year after 2 weeks of AA. So of course it is possible that Hoes could jump to AAA next year if he stayed in AA the rest of this season and did well. However, the point is probably academic, because Hoes isn't going to stay in AA more than a few days, it appears. Which, by the way, is fine by me.

Fair enough. Not the first silly thing I've ever said, nor the silliest. It could even be added that his most outstanding ability, plate discipline, is one that tends to play well at any level. But it would still be extraordinary for a kid who was barely keeping his head above water at Delmarva last season.

BTW I hope that he gets multi-hit games all week, and stays where he is through the end of next month. This might encourage the O's to send him to the AFL, which would be another half-step up toward what I just said couldn't happen.

[QBsILLEST1]

Odds are that they would bring him up the last week anyway.

It's interesting that they moved Adams to 3rd last night too, although I imagine it's not the first time he's played there.

Adams' bat seems to get slept on a lot. He has a solid bat, not fantastic, but solid, but with no defensive home, what do you do with a guy like that? He doesn't hit well enough to be a DH...

[QBsILLEST1]

Fair enough. Not the first silly thing I've ever said, nor the silliest. It could even be added that his most outstanding ability, plate discipline, is one that tends to play well at any level. But it would still be extraordinary for a kid who was barely keeping his head above water at Delmarva last season.

BTW I hope that he gets multi-hit games all week, and stays where he is through the end of next month. This might encourage the O's to send him to the AFL, which would be another half-step up toward what I just said couldn't happen.

It is pretty strange to see what he and Avery did at Delmarva and now what they are doing in Bowie.....Hoes' discipline slipped horribly last year as well. I dunno if we attribute that to his personal problems last year or what because it wasn't just Avery and Hoes who fell off last year in Delmarva, it was pretty much every prospect we had there....

[Arthur_Bryant]

It is pretty strange to see what he and Avery did at Delmarva and now what they are doing in Bowie.....Hoes' discipline slipped horribly last year as well. I dunno if we attribute that to his personal problems last year or what because it wasn't just Avery and Hoes who fell off last year in Delmarva, it was pretty much every prospect we had there....

Given the youth and inexperience of Hoes and Avery, the Sally League was probably at the outer limits of their abilities. The fact that they were in full-season ball at all, less than a year out of HS, came as somewhat a surprise to many. They're now a year older, they've been through the full-season grind, and maybe they've learned how to make adjustments. I hope so, because that's one of the biggest lessons for a young pro player; the competition is always evolving, and to succeed you have to be able to make corrections on the fly.

I would have loved to see them both light up A ball, but that wasn't very realistic under the circumstances. I actually thought that they did pretty well, given the situation. Look at Ohman and Dalles this year.

[Frobby]

It is pretty strange to see what he and Avery did at Delmarva and now what they are doing in Bowie.....Hoes' discipline slipped horribly last year as well. I dunno if we attribute that to his personal problems last year or what because it wasn't just Avery and Hoes who fell off last year in Delmarva, it was pretty much every prospect we had there....

Delmarva is a tough place to hit, Frederick is an easy place to hit. That has a lot to do with it. However, both these guys have made good strides this year, and I really can't explain Hoes' lack of plate discipline in 2009.

[JohnD]

I'm guessing a lot of you are underestimating the jump from varsity baseball to the Sally League in one season. That's my guess as to why the discipline dropped. It's definitely encouraging that he's getting it back.

[BowieMike]

Hoes has officially been transferred back to Frederick.