When Park Hill South baseball won their conference title earlier this spring, it was the first time they had done so since the Panthers’ inaugural graduating class won their first over ten years ago. That team was led by one of the area’s most successful and talented athletic products in recent memory, Tommy Hottovy, who still holds strikeout, earned run average, and batting average records at South.
Nearly eleven years after walking out the doors of Park Hill South High School to pursue a baseball scholarship at Wichita State in what he hoped at the time would be a chance to later accomplish his dream of playing professional baseball, he was able to see it come true earlier this month when he made his major league pitching debut for the Boston Red Sox. It was a journey that faced obstacles, but the 29 year-old rookie now finds himself a member of a storied baseball franchise at the top of the standings and sure to be eying another playoff run come October.
The standout Panther football, basketball, and baseball player helped hang some of the school’s earliest title and championship banners when all three teams made deep runs into the playoffs including football and basketball final four appearances. Hottovy, who attended Park Hill his freshman and sophomore years before Park Hill South opened in 1998, found it bittersweet to leave Park Hill, but was also energized to be a part of the first group of seniors at the new school.
“It was exciting, but also kind of sad because you had a lot of friends that were now expected to be your rivals. When you get the chance to be the first class at a new school, you get to set your own history and traditions. Having a brand new school was a really neat experience,” Hottovy said.
A highly decorated, all-everything multi-sport athlete, Hottovy had several options to choose from before finally deciding he wanted his future to be in baseball. What tipped the scale was not only his love for the game, but also the chance to play it everyday.
“What it boiled down to was what I had the best chance in making it. Football would have taken me to a bigger school, but I loved baseball and the game. I loved Friday night games, but didn’t like practicing all week for just one game. I would rather play every day and have multiple games in a week. I wanted to be a big league baseball player which is something I’ve dreamed of since I was a little kid.”
Although talented since an early age, there was certainly no lack of commitment or hard work put into the game. Hottovy family vacations often revolved around out of town baseball tournaments or were scheduled in the offseason, but the pitcher who was also an all-state centerfielder in high school says that making it such a high priority led him to where he is.
“There was definitely a lot of good development in high school. I had a really good curveball at a young age. My velocity and command came along as I got older. I became more consistent in college,” Hottovy said. “In high school, it was about growing stronger and learning things. When you get to college, you’re polishing things up and in the minors you add even a little more.”
After graduating from Wichita State in 2004, the Red Sox drafted Hottovy in the fourth round. He began what was considered a fast progression through the minor leagues. By 2006 he had already made it to the AA level in Boston’s system where he won pitcher of the week awards twice that season. But it was 2007 when Hottovy’s arm started giving him trouble. Trying to work through the pain, he found himself on the disabled list several times. Rehab wasn’t working, so if his dreams of one day making it to the big leagues were to remain within reach he would have to have Tommy John surgery, an arm operation requiring nearly a year of rest and rehab. Before making the decision to move forward in 2008, there was a moment of reflection on whether baseball was something he and his family should continue pursuing.
“I was 26, about to turn 27 right after surgery. I was getting married that year. I called my (soon-to-be) wife and asked her if this was something we wanted to do because it was going to be a long road to get back. She said, ‘I think you owe it to yourself to get healthy and see what you can do. You’ve put so much time into this game to just be done.’ It would’ve been very unsatisfying to walk away. She was 100% behind me and we haven’t looked back,” Hottovy said.
With 2008 and 2009 spent rehabbing at the team’s spring training facility in Fort Myers, Florida, Hottovy is said to have taken a part-time job at a pizza restaurant to fill the time he had available with his absence from baseball. The fresh start that 2010 brought was more than just jumping back into the game. His fully rehabbed arm essentially had to be retooled and the over-the-top motion Hottovy had grown up using didn’t feel comfortable the way it had before. This led Red Sox coaches to begin working with him on a side-armed motion that, as a left-hander is especially helpful against left-handed hitters, his specialty focus.
“I’ve dropped down to more of a side-arm. Being left handed allows me to be effective against left-handed hitters. I knew that in order to make it I had to get lefties out and be effective. That was my goal, to get as good as I could and make that my number one focus,” Hottovy said.
Hottovy was playing once again at the familiar AA-level to start the 2011 season, but was feeling the best he had since 2006 and confident he was back on the right track to the majors. That opportunity would come at the detriment of friend and fellow side-armed pitcher, Rich Hill, who after considerable early season success tore a ligament and will now require the same Tommy John surgery Hottovy was forced to undergo three years ago.
“It was more of a surprise, but I had a good feeling it could happen. I was feeling good and pitching really well. I was doing what I needed to do to be successful. When I saw he got hurt, it was in the back of my mind that this could be a really good opportunity,” Hottovy said.
His first appearance came in Boston against Oakland’s David DeJesus on June 3 in the top of the sixth inning with a runner in scoring position. It only took three pitches to get him to ground into an inning ending put-out. Oddly enough it was DeJesus again in a similar situation the next day that Hottovy forced into an inning ending double play. This will become a familiar scenario for Hottovy who says he will be asked to come into games late for a batter or two at a time.
“The role I’m going to be in is when they need to get an out or two against lefties with runners on to set it up for our late inning guys. My job is to bridge that gap. Most of the time I’ll just face one or two hitters, so I’ll have a lot of appearances, but not a lot of innings,” Hottovy said.
While he says it’s impossible to ignore the amplified stage the major leagues offer, the game is the same he’s been playing his whole life.
“Right away you notice you’re in a different situation. You’re in front of a bigger crowd, better hitters, everything’s bigger and better,” Hottovy said. “We try to stay focused on the scouting report, what works for you, how to approach them. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t know who I was facing, but once the first pitch is thrown it all goes away. You have to stay positive and focused on what you need to do. You can’t get caught up with who you’re facing and where you’re at.”
Hottovy’s spot on the roster isn’t permanently in stone yet as he says there will likely be times where he’ll be optioned to the AAA level in order for the organization to respond to certain needs caused by injuries and to see how other prospects perform, but it’s a positive confirmation his hard work has produced dividends that are now paying off. The long road to the big leagues required perseverance for the former Park Hill South Panther, but the Parkville native who had a dream can now be seen dueling against some of baseball’s best hitters on the game’s highest stage.
