Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Top Prospect - Eric Hosmer


Eric Hosmer, 1B, Plantation FLA
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Hosmer has legit power - no doubt. He has a tremendous load (not hitch) where he lowers his hands allowing his a lighting quick bat a short path to the ball.

  • I have heard Hosmer has a substantial "hitch". This is not correct, he has a load - which is different. Almost all power hitters have a load - Chipper Jones with a very obvious ones. A hitch occurs DURING the swing - not before. Cecil Fielder had a hitch. Hosmer lowering his hands is not a bad thing - although I think he will have to make an adjustment on good fastballs in.


MiLB.com scouting report has him with "average power right now". Let me assure you, there is nothing average about that power. At 6'4 210 he has plus power to all fields as you can see from the youtube video.

David Rawnsley, a cross checker is blown away by Hosmer - calling him one of the best high shcool bats he has seen in 20 years - article here http://www.pgcrosschecker.com/2007/columnists/davidrawnsley/weeklycolumn/hosmer_special_hitter.aspx


However to be drafted as a 1B out of high school, there has to be no doubt you can hit - and to me, Hosmer has not hit well enough in show cases (Aflac and Team USA) to justify being ranked higher than Skipworth and Hicks. Furthermore, his high school competition has not been outstanding. He did play in a Lagrange, GA tournament dropping a bomb off fellow first round talent Ethan Martin - Martin also struck him out earlier in the game.

Hosmer does have as high of an upside as anyone in the draft - and he will need to come close to reaching it to justify a top 10 pick.
With polished 1B Smoak and Alonso in the draft, and Boras as his adviser, I would be surprised to see him go in the top 10.

He has been compared to Casey Kotchman and Jason Giambi.


I see Hosmer dropping in the draft as teams have other solid 1B options for less money available this year. If Boras tries to get him a major league contract, I do not think anyone will sign him.
I think if he will sign for between 2-3 million, the National, Rangers, and Astros will all be in play.

He has committed to Arizona State.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7TqsNf30Gdg
extremely impressive ^ he is fooled on the pitch, reaches, and still hits it out
http://youtube.com/watch?v=7TqsNf30Gdg
http://youtube.com/watch?v=eHvNi6z877I
http://youtube.com/watch?v=UpKu15bl44U&feature=related
oppo bomb

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