Baseball Beginnings

Posted By John Klima on June 8, 2009

Who will be the first High School right-hander chosen in the 2009 Draft? It’s difficult to tell, but one solid candidate is Norco (Calif.) Matt Hobgood, a hard-throwing right-hander who was his state’s Gatorade Player of the Year.  

Hobgood has a lot going for him. For starters, he is about as clean mechanically as you can find for a high school power pitcher. A lack of arm extension is the root of all evil, and while we don’t claim to be pitching coaches, we know enough to say that the kid who can get on top of the ball with some regularity before he signs has a better chance of surviving the rigors of pro ball than the slingers.

That’s one of Hobgood’s selling points and can be seen in the still photo and in his video, especially in the last sequence. Hobgood is known for getting better and throwing harder later in the game and his durability defies his body type. He’s a better athlete than it looks and still reminds me of Matt Cain.

Hobgood’s pitching charts read like a typical summer week in the Inland Empire, ranging from 90 to 95. His curveball has the makings of a power piece. On the mound, he’s a Dr. Frankenstein, playing around with a split-change grip or the occasional cutter.

The good scouts, those who put down the guns and the cards long enough to watch the individual, know that Hobgood is a competitor. Among the elite players in his area, he’s known as a fire-breather. For some teams, this is something they like, but you never got the feeling Hobgood was pitching for the guns. He was pitching for his teams first and the guns could come along for the ride. 

Follow the page jump to watch Hobgood video and read his Q&A, scouting report and other content.

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Read Matt Hobgood Q&A
Read Matt Hobgood Scouting report
Watch Matt Hobgood vs. Jake Marisnick Video
Watch Matt Hobgood’s Camden Yards bullpen session
Catching up with Matt Hobgood

Categories: '09 Videos
Tags: Matt Hobgood