Wes Hodges
From BR Bullpen
Wesley Michael Hodges
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 6' 2", Weight 180 lb.
- School Georgia Institute of Technology
- High School Baylor School
- Born September 14, 1984 in Chattanooga, TN USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Wes Hodges made his minor league debut in 2007 and performed well.
Hodges was an All-State pick in high school in 2002 and 2003. He hit .374 as a junior and .430 as a senior despite a broken bone in his hand forcing him to bat left-handed for the first time. He was the MVP of the Tennessee-Georgia All-Star Baseball Game. The Chicago White Sox picked him in the 13th round of the 2003 amateur draft but he opted for college instead.
In 2004, the freshman hit .304/.387/.467 as the third baseman for the #10 team in NCAA Division I before he had four fractures in his cheekbone, ending his season. He hit just .159/.253/.250 with the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod League that summer. As a sophomore, Hodges batted .397/.466/.566 with 67 runs in 63 games and led the #11 team in NCAA Division I in average. He was 4th in the Atlantic Coast Conference in average and split All-ACC third base honors with Ryan Braun, a neat feat as Braun was the Conference MVP.
Hodges hit .329/.418/.571 with 68 RBI in 58 games as a junior as Georgia Tech made the 2005 College World Series. Hodges was the 69th pick of the 2005 amateur draft as a leg injury hurt his status - he signed for a $1,000,000 bonus, the highes of the second-rounders.
Hodges hit .288/.367/.473 in his pro debut, with the 2007 Kinston Indians. He hit 15 home runs and fielded .922 at third base. He was 9th in the Carolina League in average and made the league All-Star team at third. Baseball America rated him the best defensive third baseman in the league and the #5 prospect overall, between Max Ramirez and Chorye Spoone.
