Eric Hosmer

Lore & Background

A highly touted prospect coming out of American Heritage High School in Florida, Hosmer was described as a 'left-handed hitter with raw power' by scouts. The Royals selected him with the third overall pick in the 2008 MLB draft, and he received a $6 million signing bonus. He advanced in Minor League Baseball before debuting in MLB during the 2011 season. He finished third in the Rookie of the Year balloting after the 2011 season after hitting .293 with 19 home runs in 128 games. Hosmer won consecutive Gold Glove Awards from 2013 through 2015 and again in 2017, when he also won the Silver Slugger Award. He was the MVP of the 2016 MLB All-Star Game, and was a member of the 2015 World Series champion Royals. After the 2017 season, Hosmer became a free agent, and signed an eight-year contract with the Padres. During the 2022 season, the Padres traded him to the Red Sox. The Red Sox released him after the season, and he signed a one-year contract with the Cubs.

In Their Own Story

The October night air at Kauffman Stadium in 2015 tasted like cold beer and possibility. Hosmer stood in the on-deck circle, the red helmet strapped tight, watching the Mets' pitcher wind up. He could hear the crowd—a sea of red and white, 40,000 strong, the kind of noise that vibrates in your chest. He'd been at first base for four years now, through the 2014 heartbreak, through the long summer of 2015 when the team was supposed to be good but wasn't quite there yet. He'd seen the doubt in the press, the questions about whether this group could actually do it. Now, in the bottom of the 8th, two outs, the game tied, he felt the bat light in his hands and the diamond stretching out before him like a promise. He stepped in. The pitch came. He swung. And for a moment, the whole city held its breath with him.

Reader's Guide

Eric Hosmer is a former MLB first baseman known for his Gold Glove defense and power hitting. He spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Kansas City Royals, winning a World Series in 2015 and an All-Star Game MVP in 2016. He later played for the Padres, Red Sox, and Cubs.

Did You Know?

• Hosmer finished third in the 2011 AL Rookie of the Year voting.
• He won the 2016 MLB All-Star Game MVP.
• Hosmer won four Gold Glove Awards (2013–2015, 2017) and one Silver Slugger Award (2017).
• He helped Team USA win its first World Baseball Classic gold medal in 2017.