By Jen Marder
June 7, 2010
Today the Baltimore Orioles selected Manny Machado in the first round (#3 overall) in the 2010 MLB Draft. Baseball Beginnings has been scouting Machado from the start of the draft cycle. Enjoy links to the content we have published on him through the year.
Watch Manny Machado Video
By John Klima
January 1, 2010
Right-hander Matt Hobgood hasn’t spent the winter sitting on the couch watching Norco High graduate Toby Gerhart of Stanford make a run at the Heisman Trophy. Instead, Hobgood committed himself to a new off-season workout routine that he believes will help him progress as a new professional. Today Baseball Beginnings presents the conclusion of our exclusive Matt Hobgood interview.
By John Klima
December 31, 2009
Matt Hobgood recently turned 19, a few months removed from his professional debut after the Baltimore Orioles made the Norco (Calif.) right-hander the team’s no. 1 pick and the 5th overall selection in the 2009 MLB Draft. Hobgood, who signed for $2.5 million with a “22” mixed into the tail of that contract to reflect his favorite number, went to rookie ball where he is well aware that many observers expressed concern about results and diminished velocity.
Hobgood has always pitched with a chip on his shoulder. As an amateur, he believed he belonged in the same company as the other power arm starting pitchers in his draft class. He has heard the comments that his body is too big to allow for success over a long career. In all our conversations with Hobgood, he has made it a point to express his differing opinion.
Baseball Beginnings caught up with Hobgood recently, moments after the right-hander finished a winter workout. What we found was a young pitcher who recognizes that he wasn’t lights out in Bluefield, but on the other side of the coin, Bluefield is rookie ball for a reason.
By John Klima
June 26, 2009
The Baltimore Orioles are expected to announce the signing of right-hander Matt Hobgood Saturday at a press conference at Camden Yards pending the completion of a physical, Baseball Beginnings has confirmed. Hobgood, the club’s first overall pick in the 2009 draft, was the first high school right-hander selected.
Watch Matt Hobgood Scouting video
Read Matt Hobgood Q&A
Read Matt Hobgood Scouting report
Catching up with Matt Hobgood
Watch Matt Hobgood vs. Jake Marisnick Video
By John Klima
June 12, 2009
Matt Hobgood’s selection as the fifth overall pick in the 2009 draft by the Orioles sparked mixed emotions in Baltimore, where some fans felt the pick was made on 
convenience and signability.
Baseball Beginnings covered Hobgood this spring more extensively than any other national source. Here in Southern California, the consensus was that Hobgood was not going to get out of the first 10 picks.
For example, when I spoke to the Angels a week before the draft and asked if he would be there for them at 24 and 25, the answer I got was “not a chance.” Mock drafts had him going anywhere from 15 to 70. But Orioles scouting director Joe Jordan decided that if Seattle took Dustin Ackley with the second pick, he was going to draft a staff anchor from the right side to complement 2008′s No.1 pick, left-hander Brian Matusz. Matt Wieters, another Jordan pick, will be waiting to catch.
Jordan is going back to basics. Back in the Jim Palmer-Mike Cuellar-Dave McNally days, Baltimore was always built on pitching first.
Hobgood’s stock rose this spring because he never dropped off. He has shown in several starts the ability to pitch at 93-95 for strikes late in the game. He also has a power curveball and the makings of a change-up and a cutter. The Orioles view him as a hard-thrower with a good mechanical foundation, a great make-up, and project him as a front-end starter on a contending team.
Baseball Beginnings asked Hobgood how he would introduce himself to Baltimore fans. (more…)
By John Klima
June 9, 2009
Here is video from Matt Hobgood’s bullpen session last week at Camden Yards. The Orioles selected the Gatorade National High School Player of the Year with the fifth overall pick. Hobgood is a durable right-hander who should project as a front-end starter for a contending team. We covered Hobgood extensively this season. In Southern California, Hobgood’s durability and competitive nature matched his fastball, which he can pitch with at 94 mph. I’ve seen him touch 95 and 96 mph and have a curveball with tight rotation. He’s got the workings of a change that he has thrown with a splitter grip and a cutter.
Read Matt Hobgood Q&A
Watch Matt Hobgood Scouting video
Read Matt Hobgood Scouting report
Watch Matt Hobgood vs. Jake Marisnick Video
Catching up with Matt Hobgood
