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Eric Hosmer News & Rumors

Hosmer sits, likely to stay on bench Friday
May 18
Kansas City Star
 
"Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer sat out Thursday's 5-3 loss to Baltimore and likely will sit out Friday's series opener against Arizona at Kauffman Stadium as well. Manager Ned Yost decided to sit the struggling Hosmer, who was replaced at first by Billy Butler, effectively snapping a streak of 77 consecutive games Hosmer has started, the eighth-longest current streak in baseball. Hosmer is hitting .174 in 144 at-bats this season, and was recently moved down in the lineup to sixth. Yost said Hosmer will likely sit today against left-hander Joe Saunders as well but was quick to note that Hosmer has been largely unlucky this year."
Gordon, Hosmer say they're willing to bunt for hits to beat over-shifted infields
May 1
Kansas City Star
 
"Two rainouts for the Royals in three days mean more time sitting around the clubhouse, and Alex Gordon and Eric Hosmer admit to sifting through counter-measures after watching opposing defenses increasingly overshift their infield. Don't be surprised to see one or both try to drop a bunt up the third-base line. Hosmer tried it against Toronto and wound up on second base after a rushed throw resulted in an error. "I don't want to force it," he said, "but if the situation is right – if we're tied or I'm leading off – I might look to do it again. I'm not going to do it with guys in scoring position or something like that." Well, no, as hitting coach Kevin Seitzer observed, "Those two guys get"
Hosmer avoids injury but remains in hitting slump
April 30
Kansas City Star
 
"First baseman Eric Hosmer is mired in a zero-for-15 skid after going hitless Sunday in four at-bats. His average is down to .188 but, just maybe, his luck is turning. Hosmer avoided a possible serious injury in the eighth inning when a pitch from Twins reliever Glen Perkins skimmed the fingers of his right hand on a check swing. Hosmer dropped the bat as he went to the ground — and stayed there a moment to collect himself. It was an anxious moment because the ball ricocheted high into the screen behind the plate. Had that carom, as it initially appeared, come directly off his fingers … but all appears well. Afterward, Hosmer's hand showed no sign of swelling. Now if he can just get some"
We may see Hosmer's best years in KC
April 15
Kansas City Star
 
"Right here at the top, in front of God and all of Kansas City, should be my public apology to Eric Hosmer. I only know Eric a little, but have always found him to be polite and pleasant and kind. He is the product of a loving family and selfless support system, and they should all be proud of the young man he's become. He doesn't deserve the lies I've been telling about him at home, about how he never opens doors for women and leaves dirty dishes in the sink and probably kicks a puppy every time he makes an out. So, Eric, I'm sorry. But in my defense: there's only so many times a man can watch his wife oogle at the television before he tries something desperate. Eric Hosmer is Kansas"
Hosmer: The face of the franchise
April 1
Kansas City Star
 
"The ball is hanging in the Arizona sky, a white speck in a cloudless blue, hurtling into the distance. Did you see that one? It clears the fence in right-center and keeps going, leaving onlookers to gawk and guess. How far did that one go? Had to be 425, right? Another pitch, and the same sound, a pure crack straight from Hollywood sound effects. This ball is moving in the opposite direction, a screamer toward left-center, a one-hopper against the fence. Eric Hosmer recoils, loosening his muscles for just a second before returning to that familiar pose. Hands back, knees bent, bat pointing slightly back, ready to strike. It's a warm Arizona morning in early March, and the Royals will play"
Royals plan to experiment with Hosmer in right
March 24
Kansas City Star
 
"That isn't a mistake in the box score from the Royals' 2-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday at Surprise Stadium. First baseman Eric Hosmer really did play the final three innings in right field. "I've played in the summer out there in high school," Hosmer said, "but, obviously, it's different now. There were guys out there helping me out. I was just looking around to see what they're doing — and moving one step along. "It was fun." The move is designed to provide the Royals with a way to keep Hosmer and Billy Butler in the lineup for interleague road games when rules prohibit use of the designated hitter. "I'm going to try to get (Hosmer) in right field, or the outfield,"
Hosmer and Moustakas among Royals' latest one-year signings
February 19
Kansas City Star
 
"The Royals reached one-year contract agreements Saturday with four more players: first baseman Eric Hosmer, third baseman Mike Moustakas, center fielder Lorenzo Cain and right-handed pitcher Luis Mendoza. Hosmer, Moustakas and Cain are projected starters, while Mendoza, who is out of options, is in line for a long look this spring to win a job in the rotation or bullpen. All four players have less than three years of major-league service, which meant they had no negotiating leverage. The Royals now have just seven unsigned players on their 40-man roster, all of whom have less than three years of service time."
Brett says young Royals remind him of his playing days
January 15
Kansas City Star
 
"The words are flowing quickly from George Brett's mouth. The greatest player in Royals history can't stop talking about winning baseball in Kansas City. It's a cold January afternoon at Kauffman Stadium, small pockets of snow still covering parts of the parking lot, and Brett finally has to lean over a bit and catch his breath. He's saying the same names and phrases you've heard before. Eric Hosmer can be a star. And the young left-handed pitchers can turn into studs. And guys like Johnny Giavotella and Mike Moustakas and Salvador Perez can win with talent AND chemistry. "What were they doing in Double-A two years ago?" Brett says. "They were voted the best (darn) team in all of"
Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer making offseason adjustments
January 12
Kansas City Star
 
"The text message appeared, and Eric Hosmer took a moment to study the invitation on the face of his phone. This was a few weeks ago, and Hosmer was back home in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. And now, some 36-year-old major-league veteran with a south Florida address was interrupting his offseason with a simple offer. "Hey, this is Alex … you're welcome whenever you want to come hit." So you may know that Hosmer, the Royals' 22-year-old first baseman, is a baseball junkie, a kid who built something of a legendary reputation as a teenager for his marathon workouts. But these days, Hosmer can admit he's learned at least one more thing about working out during his first offseason as a major-leaguer:"
Royals' Hosmer finishes third in AL rookie balloting
November 15
Kansas City Star
 
"Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer finished third in balloting for the Jackie Robinson American League Rookie of the Year released Monday by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Tampa Bay pitcher Jeremy Hellickson won the award by collecting 17 of the 28 first-place votes and finishing with 102 points. Angels first baseman Mark Trumbo was second with five and 63, followed by Hosmer with four and 38. "It's a complete honor to be named in the top three for rookie of the year," Hosmer said through his Twitter account shortly after the balloting was announced. "Big congratulations to my boy, Jeremy Hellickson!""
Royals' Hosmer picked as Burke award winner for special achievement
November 1
Kansas City Star
 
"Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer started his major-league awards hardware collection earlier this season when picked twice as the American League rookie of the month and twice as the Royals' player of the month. Now he can add the Joe Burke Special Achievement award for his season-long accomplishments. It is one of three postseason presentations to Royals players by the Kansas City Chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. The Les Milgram Player of the Year and Bruce Rice Pitcher of the Year will be announced later this week. Previous Burke award winners include six players subsequently inducted into the franchise's Hall of Fame. Hosmer finished with 66 runs, 27 doubles, 19"
Royals' Hosmer is AL Rookie of the Month
September 30
Kansas City Star
 
"Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer added to his AL Rookie of the Year case on Thursday when he was selected the AL Rookie of the Month for September. Hosmer batted .349 with five homers and seven doubles while leading all rookies with 41 hits in 25 games. He highlighted his September with a five-for-five performance in a victory over Detroit on Sept. 20. Hosmer, 21, finished the season batting .293 with 19 homers, 27 doubles and 78 RBIs in 128 games after making his major-league debut against Oakland on May 6 at Kauffman Stadium. He also took home AL Rookie of the Month honors for July. On Thursday, Royals GM Dayton Moore said Hosmer's progress had surpassed all expectations entering"
Late surge boosts Hosmer's case for Rookie of the Year
September 13
Kansas City Star
 
"Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer doesn't want to think about it, but he's putting on a late-season kick that should ensure he gets serious consideration when the Baseball Writers' Association of America selects the American League Rookie of the Year. Hosmer batted .370 with seven homers and 16 RBIs in a 20-games-in-20-days stretch that concluded Sunday with a 2-1 victory at Seattle. He leads all AL rookies in hits and ranks first in average and on-base percentage among those playing at least 100 games. "I think you can hurt yourself by thinking about that stuff," Hosmer said. "If you're going out and trying to win every day by helping the team, that stuff will come. Once you start worrying"
Hosmer among baseball's best at first base
August 24
Kansas City Star
 
"Rookie Eric Hosmer didn't join the Royals until May 6, but he ranks among the American League leaders in scoops by a first baseman in analysis compiled by Baseball Info Solutions video scouts for the Fielding Bible. Hosmer draws raves for his hand-eye coordination, but he contends an adjusted approach, along with a growing knowledge of his teammates' tendencies, play a major factor in his growing number of successful scoops. "What I had to learn when I got here," he said, "was, when you pick it, you've got to stay through it (with a sweeping motion). You have an imaginary line on where you think the ball is going to bounce. "Before, I was just working up and down. Then I learned to go"