2020 Dodgers Top 100 Prospects: No. 9, 3B Kody Hoese

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We’re back today with No. 9 on the Top 100 countdown. He’s the second 2019 draftee to make the Top 10. He is Kody Hoese.

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Previous Entries

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I’ve included Future Value (FV) grades and risks for the Top 50 prospects. For example, if a guy gets a “50 low,” he has a really good chance to be an average player at his position. If a guy gets a “55/High,” there’s a good chance he won’t reach that ceiling, but the potential is there. The grades are 20-80 (50 is average), and the risks are as follows:

  • Low: Players who are usually older, have debuted, are relievers and/or have higher floors than ceilings
  • Medium: Players who are a mix of younger and older, usually have higher floors
  • High: Players who are usually younger with potential, but also question marks
  • Extreme: Players who are generally younger with star potential, but a ton of question marks

This is to show what value a player might provide at the MLB level. The higher the risk, the less likely a player will reach that ceiling.

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Editor’s Note: I am not a scout (#notascout). I am an amateur when it comes to evaluating players. I don’t claim to be a pro, I just want to pass along the information I observe/obtain to the people. Notes and comments are based on personal observation, talking to sources, reading scouting reports and watching video. For future entries in this series: All ratings in the charts below are on the standard 20-80 scouting scale, where 50 is roughly average, 80 is elite and nearly unattainable and 20 is unacceptably poor. Enjoy.

Other Notes: “Role” is a realistic future role (slightly optimistic in some cases). Age is the 2020 season age for the player (June 30 is the cutoff date).

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Rating Key

80 — Elite
75 — Borderline Elite
70 — Plus-plus
60-65 — Plus
55 — Above-average
50 — Average
45 — Fringe-average
40 — Below-average
30-35 — Poor
20-25 — Very Poor

9. Kody Hoese

DOB: 7/13/97Age: 22Height: 6’4Weight: 200Bats: RightThrows: RightPosition: 3B

Acquired: First round, No. 25 overall of 2019 MLB Draft, Tulane University, $2,743,000 signing bonus

Physical description: Tall, power-hitter’s frame

Strengths: Plus-power potential, advanced hitter, solid plate discipline

Weaknesses: Not overly athletic, defense questionable, below-average speed

Key statistics: .299/.380/.483, 20.0 10.5 BB%, 14.6 K%, .184 ISO (A/AZL)

Role: Everyday third baseman

Player comparison: Rhys Hoskins

Summary: As one of the more advanced college hitters in last year’s draft, the Dodgers had no issue taking Hoese with their first selection. They wanted Daniel Espino, but he went one pick ahead to Cleveland. Like most draftees, he began with the AZL Dodgers but quickly made his way to the Midwest League. It was a good-not-great showing (.264/.330/.385), but he only had 103 plate appearances there. In his junior season with Tulane, he hit .391/.486/.779 with 23 home runs — 4th-best among Division I NCAA baseball players.

Hoese has a tall stance with slightly bent knees and, on the whole, is relatively quiet. His hands are held up near his ear. He has a small leg kick and uses his quick hands to generate bat speed. He’s able to leverage his swing and his 6-foot-4 frame to produce potential 25-home run power. However, he hit the ball on the ground a hit too much in his pro debut (44.7 GB%), so that’s something he’ll look to improve going forward. He has good pitch recognition and should minimize the strikeouts while drawing a decent amount of walks. He doesn’t have the ceiling of most guys in this Top 10, but his floor is a among the highest. He’s definitely a bat-first guy.

On defense, he could be an average third baseman when all is right. He dealt with a sore elbow late in his debut that limited his work in the field. He doesn’t have a ton of range, but he has good enough hands to field what’s hit his way. If his arm is healthy, he has above-average arm strength. Some think he could move to either first base or left field, if third base proves to be too much for him. His bat will play at all three spots, but it’d be a little more premium at third. He’s a fringy runner, so don’t expect a ton from him on the base paths.

Spray Charts

Video

Video courtesy of MiLB.

ToolPresentFuture
Hit4055
Power4060
Speed4540
Defense4050
Arm4555
FV/Risk55High

2019 Ranking: 8 (Midseason)
2020 Location: Low-A Great Lakes/High-A Rancho Cucamonga
ETA: 2023

Next Up: Prospect No. 8

About Dustin Nosler

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Dustin Nosler began writing about the Dodgers in July 2009 at his blog, Feelin' Kinda Blue. He co-hosted a weekly podcast with Jared Massey called Dugout Blues. He was a contributor/editor at The Hardball Times and True Blue LA. He graduated from California State University, Sacramento, with his bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in digital media. While at CSUS, he worked for the student-run newspaper The State Hornet for three years, culminating with a 1-year term as editor-in-chief. He resides in Stockton, Calif.