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14th Round - Kevin Hockaday - 3B - John Carroll HS, MD


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He actually went slightly higher than I expected him to, probably because the Orioles wanted to make sure some other team didn't pick him up later. If he hits well this summer in the Cal Ripken Senior League (so far in the games I've seen him play, he has looke a bit overmatched against faster pitching) I could see the Orioles giving him a decent enough offer to sign. But, as of now I would say he ends up at Maryland this fall.

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Hmmm....sounds like he's willing to listening to the offer at least.

Considering its the orioles that drafted him, his hometown team, and after watching that interview, I think there's a decent chance we sign him but obviously not without an overslot deal. For now, he'll keep playing ball for Youse's Orioles, and I'll keep everyone posted if I hear anything about him potentially signing.

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Heard KJ on 105.7 this morning and he certainly sounds like a kid who wants to play pro ball. I don't know what his number is but if the Orioles offer enough to buy out the value of his Maryland scholarship I think he signs, maybe even for a bit less. Knowing the way the Orioles do things, they will watch him this summer and if they see enough to warrant the money he wants they'll make him an offer. At this point his performance this summer for Youse's Orioles will determine whether he's signed or not.

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Heard KJ on 105.7 this morning and he certainly sounds like a kid who wants to play pro ball. I don't know what his number is but if the Orioles offer enough to buy out the value of his Maryland scholarship I think he signs, maybe even for a bit less. Knowing the way the Orioles do things, they will watch him this summer and if they see enough to warrant the money he wants they'll make him an offer. At this point his performance this summer for Youse's Orioles will determine whether he's signed or not.

I agree and the Cal Ripken League is probably comparable more or less to the competition he would face in the Gulf Coast League so the Orioles will be able to guage how he would do in pro ball and get a pretty good idea whether he is worth the investment.

So far he has looked pretty overmatched in the 4 games I have seen him play and has yet to put a good swing on the ball. But its a small sample size and I'm sure he will start to pick it up if/when he makes some adjustments in his timing and strike zone discipline.

Definitely a tremendous talent but pretty raw as a hitter and quite frankly I'm skeptical, given the Orioles poor reputation with developing raw high school bats, whether he should sign with the them out of high school.

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Heard KJ on 105.7 this morning and he certainly sounds like a kid who wants to play pro ball. I don't know what his number is but if the Orioles offer enough to buy out the value of his Maryland scholarship I think he signs, maybe even for a bit less. Knowing the way the Orioles do things, they will watch him this summer and if they see enough to warrant the money he wants they'll make him an offer. At this point his performance this summer for Youse's Orioles will determine whether he's signed or not.

Hockaday: "It's a dream come true to get drafted by the Orioles."

Davis: "When Texeira signed with the Yankees, he put on his Yankees cap and declared his love for Don Mattingly and the Yankees, you won't do that will you?"

Hockaday: "No sir, Cal Ripken is my favorite player. I loved the way he played the game, and I'm an Orioles fan."

I'm pulling for this kid, he was nervous over the air, but he bleeds orange and black, there's no question about it.

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