Hosmer hit .439 with a .525 OBP in 26 games for Omaha. As crazy as those numbers are, the big left-handed hitter was even better against lefties (.500/.568/.813) in Omaha than righties (.409/.506/.470). He consistently drove the ball back up the middle for base hits. And the only question at this point has been his power (3 HR against lefties/0 HR against righties), but the theory is, his power will increase as he gets older.
Ned Yost says Hosmer will go into the lineup in Kansas City immediately.
Hosmer has been telling Omaha media since the season began that he was focused on winning a championship with the Storm Chasers, adding that some of the guys who won a championship in Single-A Burlington (2008) and Double-A NW Arkansas (2010) now play in Omaha.
He re-iterated the importance of playing with many of the same guys when he appeared on the Storm Chasers pre-game show with Mark Nasser on Wednesday night. Nasser asked him what his turning point was after hitting just .241 in 2009 for Burlington and Wilmington.
“Moving up to Wilmington, and getting comfortable with these guys and playing in the playoffs and having a good playoff run that year and doing well – it was basically a big turnaround for me,” Hosmer said.
“Not really having any experience on what a minor league season is like and coming out that next year, working that offseason, knowing what a full season is – how much wear and tear it has on your body. I got to prepare a lot better. Really just got comfortable with the guys around me. Everyone’s welcomed me with open arms. It’s been a great run and it’s been fun.”
Nasser pressed him about whether he was thinking about playing in the big leagues, a least a little bit.
“Yeah, absolutely,” Hosmer said. “Everybody in this clubhouse, everybody who plays professional baseball – that’s their main goal, to get to the big leagues. You know, I haven’t questioned Dayton or anybody’s development of any of these players and I’m not going to. They know what they are doing. They put together many winning teams in Atlanta.
“They’re starting to win up there and everyone’s real motivated, watching the games on TV and everyone’s goal is to get up there and help them win, but you’ve got to control what you can control. Right now I’m with Omaha and that’s the goal – to win games for Omaha.”
Now he gets a chance to help Kansas City win games.
