Stockdale's Hobson will have to decide on pros or college
| Monday, Jun 08 2009 10:42 PM
Last Updated Monday, Jun 08 2009 10:47 PM
LOCAL DRAFT HOPEFULS
High school
K.C. Hobson, 1B, Stockdale
Chris Neal, SS, Liberty
Bakersfield College
Zach Arneson, RHP (Liberty)
Art Charles, 1B (Ridgeview)
Greg Fowler, IF (Bakersfield)
Jarret Martin, LHP (Centennial)
Travis Morgan, 3B (Liberty)
Marcos Reyna, RHP (Delano)
Sam Westendorf, OF (Centennial)
Four-year colleges
Jeff Burleson, RHP/IF, Oral Roberts (Liberty, BC)
Jared Eskew, LHP, Cal Poly SLO (Liberty)
Tyler Garewal, OF, Oral Roberts (Centennial, BC)
T.J. Kelly, RHP, Oral Roberts (Liberty, BC)
Juan Martinez, IF, Oral Roberts (South, BC)
Luke Yoder, OF, Cal Poly SLO (Liberty)
Kyle Witten, RHP, Cal State Fullerton (Liberty, BC)
Images
Jenn Ireland / The Californian Stockdale's pitcher Kristopher Hobson throws a pitch during their game against Bullard High School Tuesday evening at Stockdale High School. Stockdale won 4-3.
The championships have been won, the workouts are finished, the comparisons to his father are tired out and the day, at long last, is here.
Today is the day Stockdale graduate K.C. Hobson becomes a professional baseball player.
Maybe.
Seeking more publicity for its first-year player draft, Major League Baseball is limiting today to just three rounds -- in years past, teams would draft until they ran out of time on Day 1, sometimes more than 20 rounds.
By most accounts, that puts Hobson, son of former Major League player and manager Butch Hobson, on the bubble of being drafted on the first day, which will be televised at 3 p.m. by MLB Network.
"We're thinking there's a good chance it'll be (today)," Hobson said, "but we'll see what happens. God willing, it will be."
Hobson said he, his adviser and his family have a certain number in mind -- as in a spot in the draft or a signing-bonus offer -- that a team would have to meet in order for Hobson to consider signing. He's keeping that number private; if he chooses not to take a pro team's offer, he can fall back on a scholarship offer from Texas A&M.
"There's no wrong choice," Hobson said. "Do I want to go play pro ball? Hell yeah, I do. But A&M is a great program, and I can't go wrong there."
If he winds up at A&M, Hobson likely will play first base and pitch -- like he did at Stockdale, leading the Mustangs to the past two Central Section championships.
But if Hobson is drafted, it'll be as a first baseman -- he hit .488 as a senior with 15 home runs and 47 RBIs.
"He's a gap-to-gap hitter, and (scouts) see his power numbers increasing," Stockdale assistant Greg Showers said. "He's a power hitter, and he doesn't strike out a lot. He's also got a really good glove and a plus arm."
And teams are interested. Hobson said he's worked out for organizations "across the board," including the Dodgers and Giants in recent workouts. He traveled to AT&T Park in San Francisco this past weekend and, Showers was told, nearly hit a ball into McCovey Cove in batting practice with a wooden bat.
Where Hobson will be drafted, though, still is a mystery. Baseball America doesn't have Hobson going in the first five rounds of its mock draft, but MaxPreps calls him the No. 33 high school senior in the country, and the "Real Baseball Intelligence" Web site says he's the No. 16 player available.
Hobson, who'll watch the draft at home with family and a few friends, could find his fate today.
"It's a big day," he said.
It's also a big day for other players with local ties. Bakersfield College coach Tim Painton said freshman pitchers Jarret Martin (from Centennial) and Marcos Reyna (Delano) probably are the BC players who will be drafted first -- though not till at least Wednesday.
Martin was drafted in the 19th round out of high school last year but opted for BC.
"He's a 6-foot-3 left-handed pitcher that will throw the ball in the low 90s (miles per hour)," Painton said. "That in itself is what got him drafted a year ago."
Reyna "burst on to the scene as far as professional baseball goes. He was throwing 88 or so in high school and had some command issues. For us, he's topped out at 93, touched 94 a couple of times. He's got a good curveball and just a lot more upside."
Painton said other BC players who could get a phone call this week -- the draft concludes Thursday -- include freshman first baseman Art Charles (Ridgeview), sophomore pitcher Zach Arneson (Liberty) and sophomore infielder/pitcher Greg Fowler (Bakersfield High).
Former BC players Juan Martinez (South), Tyler Garewal (Centennial), Jeff Burleson (Liberty) and T.J. Kelly (Liberty) are all at Oral Roberts now, and all are draft hopefuls. Painton said another former BC player Kyle Witten (Liberty), now at Cal State Fullerton, is a strong draft possibility.
Former Liberty players Jared Eskew and Luke Yoder are at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and could also be drafted, as could recent Liberty graduate Chris Neal, a shortstop.
