James Hoyt

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Houston Astros #23 prospect in 2017
  Centenary College in Shreveport, La., went out with a bang. In its second-to-last year in Division I before moving to D-III, the program had a pair of future big league pitchers on its roster. Seth Lugo, now with the Mets, was a solid swingman, while Hoyt battled a knee injury and posted an 18.82 ERA in nine appearances. Hoyt pitched in the independent (and now-defunct) North American Baseball League, graduated to the American Association and eventually the Mexican League. Along the way his stuff just kept getting better. Hoyt's once high-80s fastball became a 93-96 mph heater, and his fastball now earns at least plus grades and has earned 70s on the 20-to-80 scale from some scouts. It sets up a plus mid-80s slider that is a true out pitch. His fringe-average control is the only thing keeping him from a being a high-leverage reliever. Hoyt's stuff wasn't as firm in the second half of 2016 as it was in the first, which was poor timing for a pitcher who made his big league debut in July. Already 30, he'll compete for a job in the Houston bullpen in 2017.
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  Ranked Houston Astros #27 prospect in 2016
  After posting an 18.82 ERA as a senior at Centenary (La.), Hoyt wasn't surprised when he wasn't drafted, but he wasn't willing to give up. His arm strength got him a spot in the now-defunct independent North American League. Steadily sharpening his control, he spent some time in the independent American Association and dominated in the Mexican League before the Braves took notice and signed him. Hoyt's fastball/slider combo got him signed and it's what enticed the Astros to pick him up in the Evan Gattis-Mike Foltynewicz trade. Hoyt's plus 93-96 mph fastball and plus slider took a step forward in the second half of 2015. He had five saves and a 0.64 ERA with 32 strikeouts and four walks in 28 innings after July 1. He carried that dominance into an excellent stint as a closer for Lara in the Venezuelan League. Impossibly wild in college, Hoyt now has average control. He will mix in a splitter, but he's best off focusing on his fastball/slider combo. He'll head to spring training with a chance to earn a spot in the Astros' bullpen.
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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #30 prospect in 2014
  Hoyt has overcome long odds to become a potential bullpen contributor in the big leagues. The Boise, Idaho, native attended Palomar (Calif.) JC and Centenary College in Louisiana before he started working on sailboats, returning to baseball only after attending a tryout to play for Yuma in the independent North American League in 2011. After that team folded, Hoyt spent 2012 with Edinburg in the same circuit prior to being traded to Wichita in the American Association and then signing with Tabasco in the Mexican League. After averaging 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings in his two seasons of indy ball and posting a 1.76 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 41 innings in 2012, he signed his first contract in affiliated ball with the Braves in November 2012. He pitched in long relief with three spot starts at high Class A Lynchburg in 2013 before putting together an impressive second half at Double-A Mississippi. Hoyt has tremendous size and presence on the mound. He has an above-average fastball that sits in the 94-96 mph range and a slider that has a chance to develop into a plus offering. Deemed raw in spring training, Hoyt went from trying to blow the ball past hitters early in the season to learning how to get outs. He needs more consistency with his mechanics out of the stretch. He is also working on controlling the running game by improving his pickoff move and ability to hold runners. Having made great progress in a short period, Hoyt should see time at Triple-A Gwinnett in 2014.