Jim Hoey

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #19 prospect in 2008
  Hoey jumped into the Orioles' plans in 2006, flying through three levels of the minors and making his major league debut after recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2004. He pitched just as well in the minors last year, including 20 scoreless appearances in Double-A, but again got hit hard in the big leagues. Hoey has shown plus stuff ever since coming back from his surgery, with a fastball that consistently sits at 94-97 mph and has touched 100. He gets a good downhill plane to the plate from his 6-foot-6 frame, and it's hard for hitters to elevate the ball. He backs up his heat with a sharp slider. While Hoey goes right after hitters in the minors, he has tried to be too fine in the majors, losing command of both his pitches and falling behind in the count. When he goes to the fastball in those situations, big league hitters turn it around. Hoey has all the tools to pitch in the late innings at the big league level, so the Orioles hope his stints at the end of the last two seasons have taught him what he needs to do to have success there. They've worked him in multiple innings and on back-to-back days to prepare him for a middle-relief role for the near future. He'll compete for a job in the Baltimore bullpen in spring training.
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  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #8 prospect in 2007
  Hoey had a promising debut at Bluefield in 2003, but he made just two appearances in 2004 before going down with an elbow strain that eventually required Tommy John surgery. He worked back into shape in 2005 and was at full strength in 2006, jumping through three levels and reaching the big leagues as a reliever. During his rehabilitation, Hoey smoothed out his mechanics and tapped into the full strength of his arm, and in 2006 he consistently worked at 96-97 mph. In an August appearance with Bowie, he touched 100 six times. He also showed a good slider most of the season. Getting knocked around in the big leagues reinforced Hoey's need to improve his command, though he also may have been tired. His slider also wasn't sharp in the majors, and he tends to get on the side of it at times. Hoey has the frame to be a starter, but with his success in 2006 he'll remain a reliever. With a good spring, he should return to the big league bullpen.