Just days after the Dodgers added one of their brightest infield prospects to their 60-man player pool in Michael Busch, the team also welcomed to camp third baseman Kody Hoese, who is currently ranked as the seventh-best prospect in the entire Los Angeles system.
In January, Jim Callis of MLB.com put together a series of rankings highlighting the game’s best prospects by position. Surprisingly, the 23-year-old Hoese appeared on the list as the 10th-best third base prospect in all of baseball.
Like Dodger boss Andrew Friedman, the right-handed hitting Hoese attended Tulane University in New Orleans. The 6-foot-4, 200-pounder was a bit of a late bloomer—as a freshman at Tulane, he hit just .213 with no homers in 44 games, primarily rotating between shortstop and third base. During his sophomore year, he played at third base exclusively, and his bat began to catch fire. He started all 58 games for the Green Wave and slashed .291/.368/.435 with five homers, 13 doubles and 34 RBI.
Things got even better during his junior year. He exploded for 23 homers, which was fourth in NCAA Division I. He tied a Tulane record with three homers in the fifth game of the season and won the American Athletic Conference player of the year honors after setting league records for homers, 183 total bases, a .779 slugging percentage and 72 runs scored.
Those numbers elevated the Indiana native to the top of the college prospect rankings. Subsequently, Friedman and his troops selected Hoese in the first round of the 2019 draft, making him the 25th overall pick.
Immediately after the draft, the Dodgers ushered Hoese to rookie ball in Arizona, where he hit .357/.456/.643 with five doubles and three homers in 56 AB over 19 games. From there, he went straight to Low-A Great Lakes, bypassing Ogden in the Pioneer League. For the Loons, he slashed .264/.330/.385 with three long balls in 22 games.
Hoese has the ability to drive the ball to all fields and he continues to gain strength and power at the plate. His tall frame, coupled with his decent infielding range, is perfect for the hot corner. Scouts say right now his arm strength could be his best asset.
Hoese’s arrival is interesting because some pundits believe the youngster has the potential to quickly emerge as a big league third baseman, especially in light of Justin Turner‘s potential departure at the end of this year.
Looking at the organizational depth at third base, Enrique Hernandez is around. But, like Turner, Kiké will also be eligible for free agency at the end of the season. Chris Taylor, Matt Beaty and even Edwin Rios can handle the hot corner, but none seem to fit the team’s mold to hold down the everyday duties there.
Max Muncy has spent time at third base in the past, but his efforts with the glove have produced less than desirable results. Moreover, there has been plenty of fan-based chatter about shortstop Corey Seager eventually relocating to third, but there has been no signal whatsoever from management that this is the team’s desired plan.
Hoese headlines a third-base prospect list that also includes 23-year-old Cristian Santana, 20-year-old Miguel Vargas, and 25-year-old utility man Zach McKinstry.
I’m really liking what I’m seeing from McKinstry. I don’t think he’ll ever be an every day player for the Dodgers but he seems like a very good sub to team with CT3 when Kike leaves. And he’s a lefty hitter to go with Taylor’s righty.
I like him too Jeff. Hopefully that doesn’t make us asinine!
Do you know what’s even worse than being asinine, Rich? Being an asinine Shlemming. And I wear that badge proudly.
AS’s rule!
U 2 are hilarious. Woke up this morning to the welcome news that Tyler White is no longer a Dodger. Signed with a Korean team. And Jose Lobaton is now with the Cubs. Hey, I have no problem with McKinstrey taking over for Kike when he is gone. Although he has done some nice things as a Dodger, Kike has driven me nuts with his inconsistency. Joc has done that too, and neither of them will be in blue next year. Kike said he would have sat out had it not been for the fact that he is a free agent this winter, and he would have not gotten his service time had he opted out. More pressing question is do they re-sign Turner this winter or not, and for how long and how much. He surely will not command the same type of contract he recieved last time. And I think if they do make an offer, it will not be more than 2 years. An asinine schlemming? That is actually kind of funny. Wonder what a photo of one would look like,
Well that would be up to you bear to “look into” that one! And I would certainly miss both Kiki’s and Joc’s childlike enthusiasm for the game. Too many robots today. And Turner will sign a 2 year contract for a fair number
Depending on the kind of year JT has at the plate this year, I could even see him getting a third year. I don’t see any way that he isn’t back, assuming the DH is made permanent.
That would be asinine not to keep JT!
Okay boys, now you are just getting silly.