Tommy Hottovy

From SoSH

Contents 1 Scouting Report 2 Biography 3 Career Statistics 4 2006 STATISTICS

Scouting Report

Tommy Hottovy was used primarily as a relief pitcher throughout his collegiate career, but he prefers to start and is well-suited for it with three decent pitches. He throws two and four seam fastballs that touch the low 90's and sit in the high 80's, an improving change-up and his trademark pitch, an excellent curveball. He recently developped what's basically a no-seam fastball, which he tried because he was having trouble with blisters, and it acts almost like a splitter.

In 2005, the Red Sox worked with Hottovy to retool his delivery and improve his mechanics. This resulted in significant struggles early on in the season and inconsistent command throughout. By most accounts, Hottovy had worked through the problems adjusting to his new delivery by the end of a disappointing and challenging 2005 campaign.

So far in 2006, Hottovy is off to a good start and is pitching much better at high A Wilmington, mainly due to a drastic decrease in HRs allowed. While he has posted a stellar ERA through midseason, his below-average strikeout rate and advanced age (he'll be 25 on July 9) render his prospect status marginal at best. To make the majors, he'll most likely have to revert to the bullpen role in which he was so successful in college.

Biography

2000 - 2003

Tommy Hottovy began his baseball career as a standout pitcher at Park Hill South High School in Riverside, Missouri. As a senior in May 2000, Hottovy was named to the U.S. Navy Scholastic All-America Baseball Team in recognition of his excellence on the field and in the classroom. Hottovy was not drafted despite his excellent senior season, so he elected to attend Wichita State University.

2004

During his three years pitching for Wichita State he was used almost exclusively in relief. Hottovy enjoyed his best season as a senior in 2004, a season in which he posted 9 wins, a 2.25 ERA, 92 strikeouts and only 10 walks in 76 innings. He continued to excel in the classroom as well, where he achieved a 3.762 GPA as a Finance major. Following the 2004 season Hottovy was named First Team Academic All-America.

Based on the strength of his senior season, the Boston Red Sox made the previously undrafted Hottovy their 4th round selection (125 overall) in the 2004 amateur entry draft. He signed his first professional contract with the Red Sox on June 10, 2004 and was rewarded with a $110,000 bonus.

After signing with the Red Sox he was immediately dispatched to the Lowell Spinners, Boston's short season class A affiliate, to begin his professional career. At Lowell, Hottovy was nothing short of dominant. In his first professional stop he compiled a miniscule 0.89 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and racked up 39 strikeouts against only 4 walks in just over 30 innings pitched.

2005

The Red Sox were so pleased with Hottovy that they elected to promote him directly to the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Class A Advanced), bypassing the Greenville Drive (Class A), a lower level affiliate.

The organization worked with Hottovy to improve his mechanics so that he would have a more controlled and effortless delivery, one that would be easier to repeat. The result was Hottovy's worst season at any level, a season in which he led the Carolina League in losses (12), posted an ERA of 5.45, allowed an alarming 18 HR's and issued 37 walks in only 104 innings.

In an interview with David Laurila, Hottovy claims that despite the discouraging numbers he grew and matured more as a pitcher in 2005 than in any other season. He believes that he has the problems with his new delivery ironed out, and he looks forward to a much more successful 2006 season. He claims that he is more comfortable now and expects to command all of his pitches much more consistently.

2006

The early results seem to indicate that Hottovy has in fact left his mechanical difficulties behind. He is back to dominating hitters again, and he's doing it at Wilmington where he was hit hard last year. So far this season Hottovy is 8-6 with a 2.77 ERA through 17 starts. His peripheral numbers are a mixed bag, as he has allowed only 86 hits, 27 walks, and 3 HR's over 100+ innings, all improvements over 2005, but his strikeout rate has declined as well.

Career Statistics

2006 STATISTICS

Year-to-date (Through 08/30/06)

Game Log (Through 08/30/06)