Douglas Hodo flew to Baltimore last weekend and inked his deal with the Orioles, the team that selected him on July 18 in this year’s Major League Baseball Draft.
With the signing this past Tuesday, Hodo officially leaves the University of Texas baseball program where he played the last three years. Not only did Hodo earn a degree from UT but he was a double major and has a degree in sports management with a minor in business.
Hodo still had two years of eligibility remaining with the Longhorns but said it was time for the next chapter of his career. He said he knows it won’t be easy being successful at the next level.
“I want to be a big leaguer, and if that’s going to work out it’s going to work out, but I’m not setting a timetable on how long it’s going to take me to make it,” he said. “I’m excited about getting drafted but I still have to go out and play because I have a bigger goal than getting drafted.”
During his time at Texas, Hodo helped the Longhorns reach the College World Series two years in a row, and said it was great.
“It was awesome, it’s an unbelievable experience to do it twice,” he said. “I know we didn’t finish how we wanted but it was a real treat to go there with the guys on the team.”
UT almost made it to the championship round two years ago but this year the Longhorns dropped their first two games at the CWS.
At this year’s super regional against East Carolina to qualify for the CWS, Hodo finished with seven hits, including two home runs, five runs scored and three RBI in three games.
Hodo was ranked as the 223rd pick in the draft according to the MLB draft tracker website but went 167th overall. So, did his performance in Greenville help his draft stock?
“I’m sure it didn’t’ hurt,” he said. “Every year at Texas I improved and I just kept working and was surrounded by great people.”
Hodo was the leadoff hitter for the Horns this year and was the starting centerfielder. He hit .319 this year with 26 doubles, 10 home runs and two triples. He also drove in 47 runs and scored 73 runs.
The .319 average is up from the .281 he hit the previous season when he had 62 hits and scored 52 runs.
During his senior season at BHS, Hodo recorded an impressive .506 batting average with 40 stolen bases.
The 167th pick is slated to sign for $320,000, although Hodo didn’t want to reveal the exact amount he received when he signed.
“My agent already settled on a number with the Orioles,” he said. “We made the agreement and I’m happy with it.”
Hodo and former Greyhound teammate Cole Phillips were at a draft party with family and friends when they were both selected, and Hodo said it was a lot of fun.
“It was a sigh of relief (to get drafted), and it was cool to be with the people who helped me the most with my career,” he said.
Hodo noted that it says a lot about a school like Boerne High where two players were drafted in the first six rounds after Phillips went in the second round and Hodo in the sixth.
“It’s a testament to how Coach (Bill) Merrill and Coach (Bryan) Bishop are running the program,” he said. “It’s getting better and better, and a lot of guys are committing to Division I schools each year.”
As of Wednesday, Hodo was in Sarasota, Florida, at the Orioles’ spring training facility and is waiting to hear from the Baltimore franchise on what’s in store for the rest of the summer.
“I want to be a big leaguer, and if that’s going to work out it’s going to work out, but I’m not setting a timetable on how long it’s going to take me to make it. I’m excited about getting drafted, but I still have to go out and play because I have a bigger goal than getting drafted.” –Douglas Hodo
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