Tommy Hottovy



Age: 23

Born: July 9, 1981

Resides: Parkville, MO

Height: 6-1; Weight: 190

Throws: Left

Drafted: 4th round, 2004 College: Wichita State

Scouting Report: Primarily a reliever for four years at Wichita State, Hottovy prefers to start. He throws two and four seam fastballs as well as a change and an excellent curveball. Good command.

SoxProspects.com bio on Tommy

Thru 7/29:

W = 0
L = 1
ERA = 0.00
G = 7
IP = 12
H = 5
BB = 0
K = 15

Thru 8/3:

W = 0
L = 1
ERA = 0.00
G = 8
IP = 14
H = 6
BB = 0
K = 21

Thru 8/8:

W = 0
L = 1
ERA = 0.56
G = 9
IP = 16
H = 7
BB = 0
K = 24

Thru 8/14:

Stop the presses -- Tommy walked a batter tonight!

W = 0
L = 1
ERA = 0.48
G = 10
IP = 18.2
H = 11
BB = 1
K = 27

Thru 8/20:

W = 0
L = 1
ERA = 0.42
G = 11
IP = 21.2
H = 14
BB = 1
K = 30

Thru 8/28:

W = 0
L = 1
ERA = 0.73
IP = 24.2
H = 18
BB = 1
K = 32

Final numbers for Tommy:

W = 0
L = 1
ERA = 0.89
G = 14
IP = 30.1
H = 24
BB = 4
K = 39

His 0.89 ERA is a franchise record.

Here's an excerpt from Hottovy's profile in DieHard magazine's prospect issue. In it, I addressed where he'll likely pitch this season.


"Tommy Hottovy is a mature, athletic LH starting pitcher, "said Cherington. "He's got good command of his fastball, and a couple of breaking balls, with good feel for both. He repeats his delivery well and is intelligent. He's got a pretty advanced feel for pitching for someone going into his first full year as a pro".

Where he'll start that first full season is the question. Low-A Capital City or High-A Wilmington are the more likely destinations, but Hottovy is aware Abe Alvarez -- another of the team's promising lefties -- made the jump from Lowell to Double-A Portland last year. He'd welcome a similar opportunity.

"I like the idea of getting thrown into the fire and seeing what I'm made of," said Hottovy. "I've always liked facing the best of the best, and think I could learn more at a higher level. It will come down to what happens in the spring, but I'd love to answer that kind of challenge."

Something about this guy tells me he is ready for the jump to Double-A. Everything I've read about the guy leads me to believe his psyche is no so fragile that his career would spiral down the toilet if he hit a few speed bumps along the way.

I've been tapped to keep tabs on Tommy, so he's my first report.

Hottovy has pitched twice for Wilmington so far this season.

On April 9th he lasted 3 innings, giving up 4 ER, striking out 3, and walking none. Unfortunately, an additional unearned run meant that he left the game with the Blue Rocks down 4-5, and he subsequently took the loss.

Tommy fared much better, to say the least, in his next start, pitching 4 perfect innings, with 4 K's (and of course no hits or walks). He wasn't eligible for a decision, but left with the Blue Rocks leading 1-0.

So far he's 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA, with 7 hits and 7 K's in 7 innings (WHIP of 1.00).

He obviously has a lot of potential. I'll try to keep the updates coming weekly, and I plan to go to Wilmington to watch him pitch in early June.

Tommy pitched another gem on Wednesday, picking up his first win of the season after 5 innings of shutout ball. He gave up 3 hits and a walk, and struck out 7 against the Kinston Indians (Cleveland's Class A Affiliate).

His season ERA stands at 3.00, and his WHIP is at 0.91. He has struck out 14 batters in 12 IP, and opponents are batting .217 against him.

Tommy took a bit of a step back this week, giving up 7 ER in 2 IP in his last start. He struck out 2 and gave up 8 hits and no walks.

His season ERA is now 7.07 over 14 IP. His WHIP is still a respectable 1.35, thanks mostly to his extremely low BB rate. He has an excellent 16-1 K/BB ratio, but he's allowed opposing batters to hit .300 against him.

After a very poor season in High-A last year (3-12, 5.45 ERA), Hottovy may be getting things together. Keep in mind that he's a 24-year-old (turns 25 in July) who is in his second year in the Carolina League, but he's off to a fantastic start, including another good outing last night (7 IP, 1 ER, 8Ks).

So far this season: 4-3, 2.17 ERA, 54 IP, 41 hits, 13 BB, 35 K, 0 HR.

I would hope that a promotion to Portland is in his near future to see if his success is real, or just a product of being rather old for his league.

From the August 29 Portland Press Herald:

Dan Hickling - No-hit bid fails, but no problem




Hottovy's no-hit bid lasted two outs into the seventh before he allowed a bloop single by Carlos Gomez, the only hit for the Mets in Portland's 10-0 victory before 2,665 fans at NYSEG Stadium.

The pitching performance, coming as it did over Portland's only competition for a spot in the Eastern League playoffs, took on added importance.

...


Hottovy has been sensational in his last two starts, both against Binghamton, allowing no runs and just three hits in 13 innings.

"Tommy went out and worked hard," said catcher Alberto Concepcion. "He basically had the same plan. He pitched ahead, used his off-speed pitches and used his fastball to keep them off balance. That was a really big part of his success."

Hottovy, who struck seven, was backed up by some superb defense and a 15-hit offense led by Brandon Moss, who was 4 for 4.

Does this kid project to be a ML SP if so who is his best comparison?

Another soft-tossing lefty. He had a nice start to the season in Wilmington, but he was a 24/25-year-old in A-ball. He has an ERA over 5 since being bumped to Portland, although he's pitched extremely well his last two starts. A longshot to be a starter in the majors, IMO.

Dang, was hoping the Red Sox had something going with another prospect

Others might not agree, but in my opinion, right now, pretty much all of the exciting names in Boston's system are in Wilmington (High-A) and below, with the exception of Ellsbury at AA. That's not to say there are no potentially useful parts in AA and AAA, but there's not much in terms of guys with all-star caliber upside.

The best prospects in Boston's upper levels were wiped out this year by trade or promotion -- Hanley Ramirez, Anibal Sanchez, Jon Lester, Jon Papelbon, Manny Delcarmen, Craig Hansen, Dustin Pedroia.

That's actually a damn impressive list for one team in one year, but now it's going to take a year or two, or even three, for the pipeline to refill.

From the Sept. 2 Wilmington News Journal:


Buddy Hurlock - Otness finds niche behind the plate; Utility player becoming clubhouse leader as Rocks catcher


He wasn't drafted out of college, but Boston signed Otness as a free agent soon after the 2004 draft.

"There were some guys who I was talking to who thought I'd get drafted," Otness said. "It turns out I didn't. [Boston] needed a fourth outfielder in the Gulf Coast League. ... My whole goal was just to get into the system, and look at what's happened in the last three years."

What's happened is Otness being flipped around the baseball field like a pinball.

He played just three games for Boston's Gulf Coast team in 2004. After an injury to the first baseman for Boston's short-season Class A team in Lowell (Mass.), Otness was promoted, going back to playing first and third base that year.

During spring training in 2005, Otness was sent back to the outfield, until ...

"With about five days left in spring training," Otness said, "they said, 'All right, we want you to be a catcher now.' "

So Otness donned the tools of ignorance. At low Class A Greenville last season, he caught and was a utility player for the first half of the season, then became the regular catcher in the second half. He hit .331 in 117 games to earn a spot in Wilmington this year.

Otness hit .245 in the first half for the Blue Rocks, but entering tonight's 6:05 home game against Frederick his average is up to .277. He was 53-for-183 in July and August (.290).

It's his presence behind the plate, however, that's earned Otness raves this season.

From the Sept. 13 Portland Press Herald:

Kevin Thomas - He's not overpowering, but knows how to win


Since being promoted to Portland on July 31, Hottovy has made eight starts. In his first four outings, the left-hander went 0-3 with an 8.14 ERA. In his last four starts, he is 3-0 with a 1.04 ERA.

"It was more me getting to know what I have to do to be successful here," Hottovy said. "And the funny thing is, there is not much difference. If I just stay within myself and do what I can do, then everything is fine.

"It took me a couple of games to realize that I didn't have to do everything perfect all the time to be successful."

Hottovy is not a power pitcher, but his 87-mph fastball can seem like 97 when he has his curveball and change-up working.

Kevin Thomas, Press Herald - Dogs' rainout least of Hottovy's concerns; Portland pitcher Tommy Hottovy is still looking for answers to what is causing pain in his arm.

Hottovy, 26, is scheduled to fly out today to visit Dr. James Andrews, the noted sports surgeon, in Birmingham, Ala.

Hottovy, who has been shut down with forearm pain three times since last July, is hoping to find some answers.

"I still have the same (problem) as last year," said Hottovy, who spent a month on the disabled list last season, then all of spring training before he was shut down on May 28 after two starts.

"We thought it was tendinitis last year," Hottovy said. "I did rehab and felt good at the end of the season. The minute I got down to spring training, it came back again.

"Did the MRI and didn't see much. Did the same rehab and now it's back again. There's obviously something else in there besides tendinitis."

Dr. Andrews is perhaps the nation's premier specialist for pitchers and their well-worn arms. He has performed thousands of Tommy John surgeries, transplanting ligaments to damaged elbows.

The surgery typically requires a year of rehabilitation, so just the mention of Andrews' name can evoke concern.

"I know," Hottovy said, "but I'm to the point now where I want to be healthy again. If it's going to take surgery, then that's what will have to be.

"Maybe it's not Tommy John surgery. Maybe it's something (an arthroscope) can do, just to clean it out."