by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (5/21/2013) A look at Eric Hosmer's batted-ball stats gives a pretty good indication why he has only one home run so far, and the good news is it's not because of diminished skills. He's simply not getting any elevation on the ball. His fly-ball rate of 19.5 percent is the third-lowest in all of baseball, behind only slap-it-and-run types Everth Cabrera and Elvis Andrus.
Of course, a relatively low fly-ball rate wouldn't be the worst thing for Hosmer's batting average, but this one is clearly doing him more harm than good.
That's not to say the Royals first baseman trying to hit the ball on the ground, but as often as he's doing it, I can't help but think his mechanics are off. In other words, his problem is correctable. It's just a matter of correcting it.
Practically speaking, none of this does any good for Hosmer owners at the moment, but if his back-to-back multi-hit games lead to a full-fledged hot streak, don't hesitate to buy into him again.
Eric Hosmer gets first May double
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (5/20/2013) Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer had his first double in 16 May games Sunday against the Athletics. He was 2 of 4 for his fourth multi-hit game this month.
Hosmer is batting .254 (16 for 63) with a double, triple, home run, four RBI, six walks and seven runs in May.
Eric Hosmer finally slugs first homer
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (5/9/2013) Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer has struggled to get going as the team's primary cleanup hitter, so manager Ned Yost decided to move him back to the fifth spot in the lineup Thursday against the Orioles.
Hosmer responded, slugging his first home run of the season in his 26th start. Hosmer's shot was a two-run shot to left center in the fourth inning, the team's second of the frame. Hosmer finished the game 2 for 4 with two RBI and a run scored in a 6-2 win.
Hosmer has started just 19 games out of the fifth spot in the lineup in his career, but has been productive there. He entered Thursday with a .290 batting average and .900 on-base plus slugging percentage batting behind the cleanup hitter.
Ned Yost has high hopes for Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (5/8/2013) Royals manager Ned Yost is considering changes to his current lineup and believes two players could have vastly different roles in the future, the Kansas City Star reports Wednesday.
While Eric Hosmer has spent a lot of time cleaning up for the Royals this year and Mike Moustakas has been lower in the order, Yost has higher hopes for both down the line when they are finally ready.
"I still believe when it all is said and done that (Eric) Hosmer is going to be a three hitter," Yost said, "and that Moose (Moustakas) is going to be a four or five hitter. It just takes time in the big leagues to get yourself established. You’re still projecting younger players who you think are going to be really productive -- Sal (Perez), Moose, Hos and Cain. It just takes time."
Hosmer is heating up in May and already has seven hits in the month over five games to raise his average to .269 with nine RBI. He's yet to homer. Moustakas has been slow to hit all season with an average below the Mendoza line.
Eric Hosmer still looking for first home run
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (5/3/2013) Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer had five home runs in 2012 by the time May rolled around. This year, he still has zero homers after 88 plate appearances this season.
Hosmer's start to 2013, which includes a .250/.341/.303 line, no home runs, 10 walks and 19 strikeouts, looks similar to his June performance of his rookie year in 2011, when he hit .253/.312/.293 with no home runs, eight walks and 19 strikeouts in 109 plate appearances. He was able to hit .308/.345/.502 with 14 home runs in 348 plate appearances from July 1 on during his rookie year.
Eric Hosmer's average quickly approaching .300
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/25/2013) Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer managed his third double and finished 2 for 5 with one strikeout Thursday at Detroit. Hosmer extended his hitting streak to four games.
Hosmer has managed three multi-hit games during his streak, which has produced a .467 average (7 for 15). Hosmer's batting average has increased from .216 to .288 during his streak.
Eric Hosmer worth a little patience
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (4/23/2013) Wait a second. Back in March, everyone was so sure Eric Hosmer was in line for a rebound performance because his 2012 season was complete anomaly and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, and now, because of what he hasn't done in a span of only 46 at-bats, we're willing to abandon all that? Seems kind of short-sighted to me.
Not that I'm 100 percent convinced he's going to rebound. I never was. But you can bet if I paid a premium for him on Draft Day, I'm giving him more than 46 at-bats to prove his worth.
In addition to some of the encouraging batted-ball trends that Michael Hurcomb pointed out, another reason for optimism with Hosmer is that he has yet to play an uninterrupted week this season. The Royals have already played two series in NL parks, costing them the DH spot for five games. You should at least give Hosmer a chance to get comfortable before you make long-term decisions with him.
Eric Hosmer still has fans ... a fan?
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/21/2013) I don't know how much longer I can keep preaching to be patient with Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer because my patience is running thin, but I'm not at the stage yet where I've given up all hope. There are still a few signals that indicate Hosmer might eventually find his form.
I've been encouraged Hosmer isn't chasing a ton of pitches. He is swinging at just 26 percent of pitches outside the strike zone, which is below his career average (34.6) and the league average (28.8), according to FanGraphs.com. Also, Hosmer is making contact at a career-high 84.2 percent rate and his swinging strike percentage is at a career-low 7.7 percent.
Unfortunately, Hosmer still has a high ground ball rate (2.00 ground ball to fly ball ratio), so I would like to see him get more lift under his swings. If that doesn't happen, then maybe I will start to call Hosmer for what he is -- a bust. But the 2008 first-round pick is only 23 years old and I just don't want to jump ship too early with a player of his potential.
Eric Hosmer reaches base twice in return
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/14/2013) Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer returned to action in Sunday's series finale against the Blue Jays after dealing with a quad injury. He went 1 for 3 with a walk in the 3-2 win.
Hosmer is batting .276 (8 for 29) with four RBI through 10 games.
Eric Hosmer back in starting lineup
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/14/2013) Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer returned to the lineup for Sunday's game against Toronto after dealing with a sore right quadriceps the previous day. Hosmer was moved to the No. 5 spot in the batting order for the first time this season -- the fourth different slot he's occupied.
Eric Hosmer has sore quad muscle
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/13/2013) Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer has a sore right quadriceps muscle, the Kansas City Star reports Saturday.
The issue dates to spring training and resurfaced earlier in the week due to the wet and cold.
Manager Ned Yost said Hosmer should be ready to play Sunday against Toronto.
Hosmer is batting .269 with one extra-base hit -- a double -- and four RBI in 26 at-bats.
Eric Hosmer comes up huge for Royals
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (4/5/2013) After starting the season with just one hit in his first nine at-bats, Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer bounced back in a big way during Friday's series opener against the Phillies. He singled in a run in the fifth and doubled in another in the ninth as he reached base five times and finished with the first four-hit game of his career.
Hosmer went 4 for 5 with three RBI in a 13-4 victory. He is hitting .357/.500/.429 through the first four games of the season.
Eric Hosmer notches base hit, stolen base
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (4/1/2013) Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer had a decent performance on opening day in Chicago Monday. Batting sixth, Hosmer went 1 for 3 with a walk as he reached base twice in the game.
Hosmer singled, struck out and stole a base in the 1-0 loss to the White Sox.
The 23-year-old stole 16 bases last year as he also hit .232 over 152 games. He is looking to get his bat back to where it was in 2011 when he hit .293 over 128 games as a rookie.
Eric Hosmer likely playing outfield Thursday
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (3/27/2013) Royals manager Ned Yost revealed Wednesday that first baseman Eric Hosmer is likely to play the outfield Thursday in preparation for upcoming regular-season games in Philadelphia, according to the Kansas City Star. Hosmer will likely appear in right field while Jeff Francoeur sits, which could become the regular arrangement when the Royals visit a National League park so that Billy Butler can play first base.
Eric Hosmer gearing up for opener
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (3/26/2013) Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer went 0 for 2 with two walks in an 8-2 Cactus League victory over the Dodgers on Monday night. Hosmer returned to the lineup after missing the past two games to test his sore right quadriceps in minor-league outings. He was the only Royals starter not to have a hit as his batting average slipped to .359 this spring.
"Basically what we wanted to do was be sure we got a full day of treatment in, so it was good to get those at-bats in nice and quick and then get a full treatment on it," Hosmer told MLB.com. "I'm feeling good. I can start playing every day and start getting ready for opening day."
Eric Hosmer nursing sore quad
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (3/23/2013) Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer is dealing with a sore right quadriceps, reports the Kansas City Star Saturday. Hosmer did not appear in Saturday's Cactus League lineup and is not on the travel roster for Sunday's game against the White Sox.
The 23-year-old Hosmer should be fine for the regular season. He's hitting .378 this spring over 37 at-bats with two home runs, 13 RBI and a .649 slugging percentage.
Hosmer homers, stays red-hot
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (3/2/2013) Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer turned in a productive performance in Saturday's Cactus League contest against a split-squad Giants team. Hosmer went deep for his first home run of the spring and slapped two doubles as he finished 3 for 3 in a 9-5 victory. Hosmer is now batting .471 (8 for 17) in Cactus League play.
Hosmer seeks return to royalty
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (2/19/2013) Once hailed as an elite prospect while ascending through the team's minor-league system, Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer is now labeled a rebound candidate following his disappointing sophomore season. Hosmer, who turned just 23 after last October, stumbled greatly in 2012 and posted a slash line of .232/.304/.359 -- well below his impressive averages during his rookie campaign. The team is counting on him to recover quickly and become the powerful threat in the middle of the lineup it envisioned. "It’s extremely important, but I don’t even question his bounceback," manager Ned Yost told the Kansas City Star. "It’s not like, 'I hope he bounces back.' I’m pretty firm in my mind that it’s a done deal. He’s bouncing back. He’s going to have a tremendous year."
