With the 5th overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft, the Baltimore Orioles selected HS Right-handed pitcher Matt Hobgood.
Here are some profiles on Hobgood:
http://sanjose.bizjournals.com/sanjo…/06/08/CG28101
http://mvn.com/outsider/2009/05/mlb-…t-hobgood.html
http://baseballbeginnings.com/2009/0…hobgood-video/
http://baseballbeginnings.com/2009/03/25/qa-with-rhp-matt-hobgood-norco-high/
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/…ontent=hobgood
http://www.perfectgame.org/(X(1)S(gp3wrczmltj42ovb34jt0nrb))/players/playerprofile.aspx?ID=129225&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/MLB_Draft/entry/view/24149/looks_can_be_deceiving_body_types_dont_always_tell_full_story
http://baseballdraftreport.com/2009/06/05/mock-draft-3-0/
Baseball Beginnings Scouting Report:
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Big boned, large athletic frame, large features, a man among boys.
STRENTHS: Very athletic for size, multi-sport athlete. Possesses above-average arm with aggressive delivery. Predominantly uses 2-seam FB (91-95), avg. 92-93. Maintains velocity throughout. Gains strength later in game. Hit 94 several times in seventh inning. CB has power and depth with occasional tight rotation, 78-82, mostly 81. CH (change-up) is split-grip style, down to 81. Fields position very well. Highly athletic. Competitive kid and shows it.
WEAKNESSES: Active front side. Lead arm and hip tend to open too quickly.
SUMMARY: A horse with room to grow. Once front side is coached and closed up, stuff will only improve. Shows you making of two above-average pitches right now with power and movement. Athleticism should allow for adjustments. Size, strength and stamina are impressive for his age. Has a bright future and should be an innings-eating mainstay on a contender.
Delivery 45/55
Fastball 60/65
Curveball 55/60
Change-up 40/50
Control 40/50
Command 40/50
Overall Future Potential (OFP): 55
MLB.Com Scouting Report
Fastball:
Hobgood threw his fastball in the 89-92 mph range and went right after hitters with it.
Fastball movement:
Has heavy, hard life.
Curve:
A plus pitch, 11-to-5, true curve, thrown 74-79 mph. It has the chance to be the best high school curve in this class.
Slider:
It’s slurvy at 80 mph, and is a usable pitch.
Changeup:
Didn’t show a changeup and may lack a feel for it.
Control:
Has average high school command, but was throwing to the radar gun a bit too much.
Poise:
Exceptional. He challenged hitters, daring them to try and hit him. He has a little mean streak on the mound.
Physical Description:
Hobgood is a big, physical animal — like a Josh Beckett type.
Medical Update:
Healthy.
Strengths:
Size, strength and durability. Also has two plus pitches now, with the intangibles to be a front-of-the-rotation starter.
Weaknesses:
Doesn’t show a feel for a changeup. He lands a little hard and will have to soften his front side a little to hone command.
Summary:
Hobgood is a big, strong right-hander with two plus offerings in his heavy fastball and outstanding curve. Some small tweaks to his delivery should help him find even better fastball command. If he can add a changeup to go along with his other offerings and his tremendous mound presence, he has the chance to be a front-of-the-rotation starter in the future.
Ive stated numerous times Green would have been my pick… and I thought that either Alex White or Z.Wheeler was actually going to be the pick… Hobgood was seen as a lower 1st round pick by most evaluators…. that said, I can get behind the pick if Joe Jordan and the O’s Scouting Department comes out and says he was their top choice.
I can also get behind the pick, if they say they graded him out fairly similar to a number of different arms, and thought he would be the easiest to sign – if they use that ‘extra’ money to sign additional players over-slot.
If Hobgood signs early enough, he could get time at Aberdeen this summer. If things go well, he should start the 2010 season at Low A Delmarva.
Best case scenario, Hobgood becomes a possibility in Baltimore between the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.