Who Am I?
James Hoyt
RHP
Age: 30
Height: 6′ 6″
Weight: 230
Throws right, Bats right
How did I get here?
Well, he started out working on sailboats in San Diego. (Seriously). Then he tried out for the Yuma Scorpions in 2011, and was coached by coaching legend Jose Canseco. You may not believe this, but Yuma folded after 2011. I’m sure it wasn’t Jose’s fault. He played for a couple more independent teams in 2012, and caught on with Tabasco in the Mexican League in 2012, which likely added some fire to his heater. He was signed by the Braves as a free agent in November 2012, then dealt to Houston along with Evan Gattis in exchange for Mike Foltynewicz, Rio Ruiz, and Andrew Thurman in January 2015. He was added to the 40-man roster in August 2016.
Contract status: You may not believe this after that last paragraph, but he’s making the league minimum. 2 option years remaining.
Why am I here?
Worst case scenario: he’s bouncing up and down from AAA as injuries in the bullpen dictate.
Best case scenario: opposing hitters are facing a wipeout slider second only to Giles… in the sixth inning.
What are my strengths?
First, let me refresh you, Dear Reader, on what I said about Ken Giles earlier this week:
With all due respect to Billy Wagner and Brad Lidge, Giles possesses potentially the best out pitch of any Astro reliever. Giles threw the slider 529 times last year, recording 181 swing-and-misses vs. only 12 hits. Hitters had a .093 average and .186 SLG against the slider. It became a very simple process: if Giles got ahead in the count, the at-bat was over. Hitters went .157/.164/.276 once behind in the count against Giles.
Dear Reader, I’d like to introduce you to Ken Giles’ older brother. In his 22 major league innings, Hoyt thew his slider more than his fastball, 204 to 143. He gave up a .149 average and .298 SLG against the slider. But it was a good enough weapon that once he was ahead in the count, hitters went only .129/.129/.226.
What are my weaknesses?
What else did I say about Giles?
When the batter got ahead in the count, they went .362/.581/.723 against Giles. Essentially, if you could get ball one, you turned into Barry Bonds against him.
Small sample size warning, but… 33 batters got ahead of Hoyt. They went .348/.515/.957.
Yes, .957.
You see, Dear Reader, Hoyt has a good fastball – he’ll hit 94 or 95 – but it certainly isn’t Giles’ fastball. So if hitters are spitting on that slider and taking their chances with a 100 MPH heater, well, I leave it to the reader’s imagination what they’ll do sitting dead red on 94 MPH.
What is my future with the Astros?
Look, the man went from the Yuma Scorpions to the Houston Astros in 5 years. Betting against him seems folly. Everything from his past few seasons in the minors to the advanced projection systems says he’s going to be a good one.
I just can’t shake the feeling that Cinderella’s coach is about to turn back into a pumpkin.
What is my projected 2017 performance?
| W | L | IP | H | HR | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 1 | 1 | 22 | 16 | 5 | 9 | 28 | 4.50 | 1.14 |
| 2016 (AAA) | 4 | 3 | 55 | 29 | 2 | 19 | 93 | 1.64 | 0.87 |
| PECOTA | 3 | 2 | 47.2 | 40 | 5 | 17 | 56 | 3.69 | 1.21 |
| ZIPS | 61.2 | 50 | 7 | 19 | 81 | 3.21 | 1.12 | ||
| MMWAG | 1 | 1 | 52 | 48 | 7 | 20 | 70 | 3.75 | 1.31 |
Who else would I remind you of?
Jimmy Morris.