Padres Welcome Hosmer as the Next Step in “The Process”
First baseman formally introduced at spring training press conference
By Bill Center
Eric Hosmer said all the right things Tuesday morning during his introductory press conference as a San Diego Padre.
That was no surprise. Hosmer is a polished veteran who was flanked by Padres general manager A.J. Preller and agent Scott Boras.
As much as a press conference, Tuesday was a moment of celebration for the Padres.
Preller has been following a “process” for rebuilding the Padres. It started two years ago with the club’s biggest investment in young talent. The process seems to be working.
Now, Preller pushed the “process” forward with the addition of All-Star and four-time American League Gold Glove first baseman Eric Hosmer, who gives the Padres a national presence on and off the field.
Quickly, a brief review of Hosmer the player.
Last season, Hosmer hit .318 with a .385 on-base percentage and a .498 slugging percentage for a .882 OPS with Kansas City in the American League.
Hosmer has hit 25 homers each of the past two seasons while averaging 99 RBIs. He picked up his first Silver Slugger award last season while winning the American League Gold Glove at first for the fourth time in five years.
Hosmer’s 2018 season would likely rank among the Padres top 25 seasons ever.
Preller Tuesday spoke of Hosmer as a part of the process.
“The next stage for us was being able to layer in the right piece,” said Preller during his opening remarks.
“Let’s build the foundation, let’s build the core, let’s go out and get the right pieces.”
The Padres have spent two years doing that, building the foundation. But there comes a time when you have to take the next step — build atop that foundation.
Hosmer represent the next step.
“Eric is a two-way player,” said Preller, noting Hosmer’s impressive resume on defense as well as offense. “He’s a big piece for us. He accelerates the process.
“He’s a four-time Gold Glove winner. Eric’s a left-handed bat that doesn’t strike out and handles the strike zone. He gets on base. He drives in and scores runs. And the things Hosmer shows daily (on and off the field), we were so convicted that he was the guy for us at this time.”
Now and for the future. The Padres have contracted the 28-year-old Hosmer for at least five years and as many as eight.
Hosmer is at the peak time of his career. He has played on a World Series champion. He likely improves the Padres at three positions, possibly four, plus the bench.
He is eager to move the Padres’ forward.
“I see where the organization is going . . . what the people at the top are trying to do, and I bought in,” said Hosmer. “I look forward to bringing that championship gene over here.”
Hosmer said he sees a lot of similarities between where the Padres are today and where the Kansas City Royals were “five to six years ago” when they were headed to the 2015 World Series title.
“I grew up in baseball,” said Hosmer. “I owe it to these guys to show them how it goes.”
Just after the Hosmer press conference concluded Tuesday, Mark Loretta, a former Padres player and now a special assistant to the Padres’ baseball operations department, tweeted: “If you watched the Hosmer press conference, you got a glimpse of what this guy is all about. Class, Professionalism, Grit, Leadership. Thrilled to have him in San Diego.”
That speaks volumes about how the Padres view the overall package that is Eric Hosmer, who has suffered one setback in his first day as a Padre.
Hosmer has worn №35 throughout his career. But that is Randy Jones’ number and it has been retired by the Padres.
So Hosmer went to Glenn Hoffman and asked the third base coach if he might give up №30. Hoffman agreed.
“I told Glenn it would mean a lot if I could wear №30 in honor of Yordano Ventura (the late Royals’ pitcher),” said Hosmer. “It really meant a lot to me that Glenn agreed. I’ll wear it with pride each and every day.”
Hopefully daily . . . for eight seasons.
