Wes Hodges

Wes Hodges was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Mike and Tracie Hodges. He began playing baseball in his early childhood, growing up as an Atlanta Braves fan and idolizing outfielder Dale Murphy. As a teenager, he was a standout on the Baylor School baseball team.{{cite web|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/blog/national-pastime/2008/jul/6/prospect-qa---wes-hodges-indians4dee2/ |title=Prospect Q&A – Wes Hodges, Indians |work=Washington Times |date=2008-07-06 |accessdate=2013-11-12}}

Hodges played college baseball at Georgia Tech, and in 2004, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/college/summer/stats.asp?Y=2004&T=Yarmouth-Dennis%20Red%20Sox |title=2004 Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox |publisher=thebaseballcube.com |date= |accessdate=May 6, 2020}} As a junior in 2006, Hodges was a Preseason All-American selection, batted .337 (69-205) with 49 runs scored, 19 doubles, 11 home runs and 64 RBI in 54 games while being named to the Atlantic Coast Conference 2nd Team. Wes later graduated from Georgia Tech with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a Finance concentration.Joey Weaver, [http://www.fromtherumbleseat.com/2014/12/13/7387669/georgia-tech-athletics-31-student-athletes-earn-bachelors-2-earn "Georgia Tech Athletics: 31 Student Athletes Earn Bachelor's, 2 Earn Master's Degrees"], fromtherumbleseat.com, December 13, 2014

Hodges was selected to play for the United States national baseball team in the summer of 2005, when he was the MVP of the USA vs Italy series.[http://web.usabaseball.com/events/events.jsp?ymd=20090204&content_id=36155 "2005 U.S. National Team Roster"], web.usabaseball.com, February 4, 2009

Hodges was drafted by the Cleveland Indians as the 69th pick of the 2006 MLB Draft. The Cleveland Indians agreed on July 21 to a contract with Hodges, giving him a signing bonus of $1 million.[http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=1304 "Draft 2006: Signing Bonuses, First 10 Rounds"], perfectgame.org, May 15, 2009 At the time, Hodges was one of only 17 players to sign a seven figure bonus in the second round.Allan Simpson, [http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=240 "Top 10 Largest Signing Bonuses, 2nd-Round Picks"], perfectgame.org, April 24, 2007Jim Callis, [http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/draft-dish-july-27-2036/#SooCMkg5SHeHpWSS.97 "Draft Dish: July 27"], baseballamerica.com, July 27, 2006

Hodges played for the Kinston Indians hitting .288, 15 HRs, 71 RBI's in 104 games. He was named to the 2007 Carolina League Post-Season All-Star Team.[https://www.mlb.com/player/wes-hodges-453238 "Wes Hodges #68"], m.mlb.com,

In 2008 Wes earned Rookie of the Year honors in the Eastern League.Lisa Winston, [https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-426712 "Eastern League announces All-Star rosters"], milb.com, He finished T1st in the Eastern League and led the Indians organization with 97 RBI (tying the Akron Aeros’ franchise record with Manny Ramirez). His 18HR were 9th in the league and 2nd among Tribe minor leaguers. His .466 slugging % was 11th in the EL and his 146 hits were 5th. He was a mid-season and post-season Eastern League all-star selection.

Wes was selected to play in the 2008 Futures Game at Yankee Stadium and hit a double.Anthony Castrovince, [https://web.archive.org/web/20170213163945/http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/print.jsp?ymd=20080713&content_id=3130598&fext=.jsp&c_id=cle "Tribe prospects suit up in Futures Game"], cleveland.indians.mlb.com, July 13, 2008 He was ranked as the 16th best prospect in the Eastern League by Baseball America. He had an 11-game hitting streak from June 5–17 and reached base in 23 straight games via hit or walk from June 3–27. He went 3 for 4 w/3RS, 2HR & 7RBI on April 15 vs. Binghamton...Best months were May (.347, 21RBI) &June (.314, 21RBI)...For the season he hit .300 (110-367) off RHP with 17HR & 76RBI (.872OPS)...Also hit .296 (77-260) with runners on base. After the season, he was named to the Arizona Fall League's 2008 Top Prospects Team.[http://www.indiansprospectinsider.com/blog/hodges-and-mills-named-to-afl-s-rising-stars-roster-8237 "Hodges and Mills Named to AFL's Rising Stars Roster"], indiansprospectinsider.com, October 22, 2008 Wes hit .349 (38-109) with the Surprise Rafters with 8 2B, 6HR & 26 RBI in 25 games (.587SLG, .956OPS)...His 26 RBI ranked tied for seventh in the league while playing in the Arizona Fall League’s Rising Stars Game.Conor Glassey, [http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/third-annual-afl-rising-stars-rosters/#qFRk5bxvIBggTckE.97 "Third-Annual Afl Rising Stars Rosters"], baseballamerica.com, October 23, 2008

Wes was limited to 86 games with a sprained right wrist, suffered sliding into 2nd base on May 12 vs. Lehigh Valley. He was on the DL from May 13-July 3 and spent 5 games in A Lake County from June 26-July 2 rehabbing the injury. He was added to the Cleveland Indians 40-man roster on Nov 20.

Hodges spent the entire 2010 season in the International League (AAA) for the Columbus Clippers. He hit .270, 15 HR's, 60 RBI's. He was a member of the Indians 40 man roster until he was designated for assignment on July 27, 2010.[http://mlb.mlb.com/content/printer_friendly/col/y2010/m08/d03/c12967672.jsp "Rockies claim infielder Wes Hodges off waivers from Cleveland"], mlb.mlb.com, August 3, 2010

On August 3, 2010, Hodges was claimed off waivers by the Colorado Rockies.[http://mlb.mlb.com/content/printer_friendly/col/y2010/m08/d03/c12967672.jsp Rockies claim infielder Wes Hodges off waivers from Cleveland] On August 5, 2010, Hodges was re-claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Indians. Hodges was outrighted to Triple-A Columbus on November 3, 2010, removing him from the 40-man roster.

Hodges was released by the Indians on June 7, 2011, and signed a minor league contract with the San Francisco Giants on June 14, 2011. He elected free agency after the season and later re-signed with the Giants on December 22, 2011.

Hodges spent most of the 2012 season on the disabled list. He was offered a contract by the Giants for 2013, but chose to retire from baseball in order to focus on his family and earn his degree in Business Administration and Finance from Georgia Tech.

Hodges retired from baseball in 2012 to finish his degree from the Scheller College of Business at Georgia Tech. In 2015, he was hired as Player Financial Consultant by the San Francisco Giants to counsel the organization's players by conducting seminars during spring training and the offseason.

Hodges lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife and daughter.

{{reflist|2}}

• [http://www.chattanoogan.com/2006/2/8/80013/Crawley-Baylor-s-Wes-Hodges-Living.aspx Crawley: Baylor's Wes Hodges Living Baseball Dream At Georgia Tech – 02/08/2006 – Chattanoogan.com]
• [http://www.ohio.com/sports/wes-hodges-sees-future-and-past-1.110836 Wes Hodges sees future and past – Sports – Ohio]

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Category:1984 births

Category:Living people

Category:Akron Aeros players

Category:Columbus Clippers players

Category:Kinston Indians players

Category:Lake County Captains players

Category:Richmond Flying Squirrels players

Category:Augusta GreenJackets players

Category:Baseball players from Chattanooga, Tennessee

Category:Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets baseball players

Category:Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox players

Category:United States national baseball team players

Category:Surprise Rafters players