L.J. Hoes hit .524 with eight home runs and 29 RBIs. He stole 32 bases and scored 44 runs.
L.J. Hoes will move from center field to second base for the Orioles.
By Ryan Mink
rmink@digitalsports.comL.J. Hoes started going to Baltimore Orioles games when he was 3 years old. From that point on, he was an Orioles fan. Like many boys, he idolized Cal Ripken Jr. Also like many boys, he wished that one day he would be able to wear black and orange and play on a Major League Baseball field.
But unlike nearly every boy, Hoes actually became an Oriole.
Hoes was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the third round and 81st overall in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft Thursday, making him the only Washington area high school player to be selected on the draft's first day.
“I was actually an Orioles fan to begin with,” Hoes said. “I remember everything from the Orioles games I went to. If I went to basketball or football game I would fall asleep, but not at an Orioles game. To be drafted by them, man, it’s just a dream come true.”
Hoes said he plans to sign a contract with the Orioles instead of fulfilling his scholarship to the University of North Carolina. After he signs a contract, Hoes expects to be sent to Bluefield, W.Va., to play in the Appalacian rookie league.
“I fully intend on signing and starting my pro career as soon as possible,” Hoes said. “North Carolina is a great opportunity, but this has always been my dream.”
There wasn’t much dreaming the night before the draft. Hoes said he got about five hours sleep Tuesday night and three or four Wednesday evening. He couldn’t stop thinking about where he would go in the draft and to what team. He was hoping for anywhere between the first and third round.
Hoes couldn’t contain himself on Thursday. He woke up, went to IHOP to get his mind off the draft. Then he went to the Bowie Town Center to do a little shopping, played some video games with friends and finally went to get some ice cream during the middle of the draft.
“I was so nervous,” Hoes said. “I just did anything to keep my mind off it.”
When Hoes saw his name flash on the screen he immediately raised both hands. His father, the much bigger Jerome Hoes (same as L.J.'s given name), jumped on top of his son.
Hoes batted .524 with eight home runs and 29 RBIs at or near the top of St. John’s order this year. He stole 32 bases and scored 44 runs. Hoes also went 2-0 with three saves and a 1.35 ERA.
“He’s the best hitter I’ve ever seen,” St. John’s Coach Mark Gibbs said. “I played with a lot of good hitters and a lot of good hitters in college. To be able to consistently put the fat part of the bat on the baseball, I’ve never seen somebody do it better than him. He can just hit.
But the 6-foot-1, 180-pound senior was drafted as a second basemen instead of as a centerfielder, the position he primarily placed last year along with limited pitching.
According to web blog by ESPN’s Keith Law, the biggest question was whether Hoes would have enough speed to man centerfield. The issue was that scouts didn’t believe he had enough power to move to a corner outfield or infield position.
Hoes played the infield while growing up until his sophomore season at St. John’s, when he moved to center field. He played third base his freshman year. Hoes still played shortstop in limited duty his junior year and said he doesn’t forsee the move being a problem at all.
“I was actually pretty happy,” Hoes said. “I grew up playing infield and I always wanted to come back. I’ve just got to get used to turning double plays again.”
Hoes also talked to officials from the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs, but the Orioles were the first to call. He worked out at second base for the Orioles and Cardinals.
“I figured the Orioles kind of had a shot of getting me,” Hoes said. “I want to stay home and play in front of my family and friends.”
Mike Sheridan, a former star player at Gonzaga, was drafted with the first pick of the fifth round by the Tampa Bay Rays.