Orioles Top Prospect No. 13: L.J. Hoes

Coming into the 2008 season, Jerome Hoes was a UNC commit, with a very strong verbal agreement to play with the Tar Heels. He was part of a stellar recruiting class that included flame-throwers and fellow top draft picks Tim Melville and Jason Knapp. Luckily for the Orioles, all it took was $490,000 to sway Hoes away from the collegiate ranks and to a professional career. Hoes was a two-way player at St. John's College, featuring a upper 80's fastball on the mound, and flashing multiple tools in the field and at the plate. Prior to the '08 draft, Hoes was 47th ranked player available and the 8th ranked outfielder. Hoes has done very little in his one and a half years with the organization to diminish the Orioles view of him, and if he continues on his current pace, he could find himself replacing a soon-to-be Orioles legend. Begin Slideshow (link)