Orioles notes: L.J. Hoes has dedicated his standout season to his late grandfather
Outfielder L.J. Hoes is expected to be announced Tuesday as this year's winner of the Brooks Robinson Award for the best season by an Orioles minor league hitter.
He won't be winning it alone, though, not in his mind anyway.
"I really played this whole season for my grandfather. He has been sick this whole season," said the 22-year-old Hoes, who was the Orioles' third-round pick out of Mitchellville, Md., in 2008. "He passed away in August, and I played the whole season for him."
Charles E. Hoes, a retired bio-lab technician born in Germantown, died Aug. 16 at age 78 from ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. His grandson was driving up from Triple-A Norfolk to visit one last time when Hoes received the difficult phone call.
"My dad called me and said, 'No, turn around and go home, the funeral is gonna be in the next two weeks,'" Hoes recalled.
Hoes said his grandfather really loved and understood baseball and would call to give him advice, even when the man was struggling to survive as the debilitating disease robbed him of his vitality.
"It really took over his body really fast. One minute he was walking around and then the next time I saw him he is in a wheelchair and the next time I saw him he was on bed rest," Hoes said. "It was definitely very tough, when you see somebody who was just so strong his whole life. He was pretty much that figure that you looked up to as the strong man. I never saw my grandfather cry or anything like that, but once he was one the bed rest, it was definitely hard to handle."
Hoes' grandfather last saw him play in 2011 when he was with Double-A Bowie. This year, Charles Hoes had been bedridden since March while his grandson had the best year of his young career, hitting a combined .287 with a .374 on-base percentage, five homers and 20 steals at Bowie and Norfolk. For most of his time in Triple-A he was the youngest position player in the International League. But he had a different goal.
"I knew [my grandfather] wouldn't have had an opportunity to see me play this year unless I played [on TV] in the big leagues, so I played this whole season trying to get up here so he'd have an opportunity to see me play," said Hoes, who was called up Sept. 11. "Luckily, I got up here, but it was a couple weeks after he had passed away. But this has definitely meant a lot, me being called up, and I if do win that award it will be for him."
Hoes has yet to make his debut for the Orioles. When he does, he will be the first Maryland-born position player to play for the team since Cal Ripken Jr.
Wolf sidelined
Left-hander Randy Wolf, who started Saturday's extra-inning victory in Boston, is dealing with left elbow discomfort and will have a MRI on Tuesday. An anti-inflammatory injection could follow Tuesday. Wolf was examined by club orthopedist John Wilckens before Monday's doubleheader.
Orioles manager Buck Showalter said Wolf would be sidelined several days, but the hope is that he could be available Friday. With Thursday's off day, that's the earliest Wolf would have been ready to pitch again anyway.
The 36-year-old Wolf, whom the Orioles signed Aug. 31 after he was waived by the Milwaukee Brewers, began feeling discomfort toward the end of Saturday's start, in which he allowed three runs in five innings, Showalter said.
Around the horn
Infielder Wilson Betemit (right wrist) was in the Orioles' clubhouse Monday, but he is not close to playing yet. He said his wrist has improved after a cortisone injection and he could swing a bat within the next two weeks, meaning he could still be an outside possibility for the postseason. … Catcher Matt Wieters and his wife Maria, who are expecting their first child, could take advantage of Thursday's off day. That's when Maria is scheduled to be induced, Showalter said. … Closer Jim Johnson, the club's nominee for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award, was recognized during a pre-game ceremony Monday. The nominees are chosen for their on-field and off-field contributions. … Adam Jones' 32nd home run on Monday was also his 100th run scored of the season. The last Oriole to accomplish that in a season was Brian Roberts in 2009 when he scored 110 runs. ... After winning Monday's first game, the Orioles are 30-15 in day games. ... St. Philip Neri School in Linthicum won the Orioles' "Go Orange" challenge for demonstrating their support for the team. Schools across the state were invited to submit a photo and a summary detailing their efforts and were judged on "their overall creativity, school spirit and best use of orange." As a reward, the Oriole Bird and pitchers Jason Hammel, Tommy Hunter and Troy Patton will visit the school Thursday. Perry Hall Elementary in Baltimore was awarded second place and Halstead Academy of Science and the Arts in Baltimore received third place. All three top schools will receive tickets for their entire student body to attend an Orioles home game next April.
Baltimore Sun reporter Eduardo A. Encina contributed to this article.
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