Bowie Outfielder Strives for Continued Improvement in Quest for Baltimore

After a frustrating start to the season, Baysox outfielder L.J. Hoes has significantly turned things around during the last two months.

The 21-year old Hoes—who batted just .241 in 41 games with Single-A Frederick prior to being promoted to Bowie in early May—has raised his batting average with the Baysox, which had been as low as .233 May 30, to a team-best .299, as of Monday afternoon.

The former 2008 third-round pick, who has also seen action at third base and second base this year, is batting .313 in July after hitting .310 in June. He has scored 21 runs, produced 26 RBI and recorded nine stolen bases in his last 44 games.

“It’s been good,” Hoes said of his turnaround. “I’ve just been trying to take it day by day and game by game. I’m just trying to keep the momentum going and finish out the season strong.”

Hoes, who largely credits Bowie hitting coach Denny Hocking for his improvement, says he has progressively adjusted to the “better and smarter” pitching at the Double-A level while also saying that he is making a lot more contact than in the past, cutting down on his strikeouts and just improving his overall approach at the plate.

Hoes has struck out just 34 times, while drawing 17 walks, in 53 games with the Baysox. He has a .361 on-base percentage during June and July.

“He’s made adjustments,” said Hocking, who spent 11 seasons in the major leagues from 1993-2005. “He’s more comfortable now and is just playing at a higher level than he was during his first month here.”

Hocking also spoke highly of Hoes’ upside, and long-term potential, although he did point out that he’s concerned about the disparity between Hoes’ numbers at home compared to on the road.

Hoes is batting .345 with eight extra-base hits in 30 games on the road this season, but is hitting just .231 with only two extra-base hits in 23 games at home.

Hocking attributes the disparity to Hoes, who was actually born in Bowie and played high school baseball in Washington, D.C., being distracted by the constant presence, and demands, of family friends at home while benefiting from “the routine and more structured environment” provided by games on the road.

“He’s still learning to play in front of family, which is something he’s going to have to do if he’s going to continue to climb the ladder and play for the Baltimore Orioles,” Hocking said. “But, when I look at L.J., he’s going to project to play at Triple-A and, potentially, in the big leagues. He’s got a swing for that, he stays inside the ball nicely, does really well with two strikes and is a contact guy that puts the ball in play. And, if you’ve got those kinds of skills in your offensive arsenal, I think that bodes well for you and your future.”

Hoes, meanwhile, is focused on doing everything he can to continue to improve that offensive skill-set during the final two months of the season.

“My goal is to get to Baltimore,” Hoes said. “So I’m just going to continue to work hard, try to do all the little things, and just try to continue getting better day by day so I can make that happen.”