Scott Hodges

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Washington Nationals #13 prospect in 2004
  Hodges has been battling colitis for a couple of years, which has made it difficult for him to maintain his strength. He managed a full season in 2003 and showed improvement later in the year. His hitting actions are good but he needs more patience at the plate if he's going to provide enough offense for a third baseman. He should develop more over-the-fence power once he learns to turn on balls and drive them. Drafted as a shortstop, Hodges moved to the hot corner after signing and now displays Gold Glove-caliber skills. He has fluid fielding actions with quick hands, good range and lateral movement with a quick first step, and a lot of body control. Hodges has above-average arm strength, plus the ability to get rid of the ball quickly and make accurate throws. Though third base opened up when the Expos let Fernando Tatis go, they opted to sign Tony Batista rather than turn the position over to Hodges.
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  Ranked Washington Nationals #9 prospect in 2003
  Hodges' weight dropped from 220 to 178 in six weeks and he missed the last 51 games of the 2001 season because he had colitis, an inflammation of the large intestine. That came on the heels of a breakout 2000 performance. He didn't regain form last year as he continued to return to full health. Hodges has a smooth, compact lefthanded stroke and above-average bat speed. He's an aggressive hitter but makes decent contact, driving the ball hard from gap to gap. He projects as a legitimate middle-of-the-order threat with plus power. Defensively, he has a strong and accurate arm and solid hands. Hodges still hasn't regained all his strength and wore down in the second half last year. He needs to do a better job of not lunging at pitches. His range is just adequate at the hot corner. Hodges has drawn criticism at times for his lack of hustle, but he has improved in that area. The Expos would love to dump Fernando Tatis, but his $6 million salary makes that difficult. After gaining Triple-A experience, Hodges should be ready to take over for Tatis in 2004.
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  Ranked Washington Nationals #16 prospect in 2002
  Hodges lost considerable weight and missed the last 51 games of last season after it was discovered that he had colitis. That came on the heels of a breakout 2000 campaign that saw him earn a spot on Baseball America's Class A all-star team. Hodges is one of the best pure hitters in the system. He has a smooth lefthanded stroke with above-average bat speed and good top-hand extension. Hodges is an aggressive hitter but makes decent contact, driving the ball hard from gap to gap. He projects to be a legitimate middle-of-theorder threat with plus power. A shortstop in high school, he immediately was switched to third base upon signing. Defensively, he has an above-average arm, solid hands and adequate range. Hodges should be healthy and ready to go for the start of this season. He'll make a return visit to Harrisburg, with Fernando Tatis eventually standing between him and a big league job.
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  Ranked Washington Nationals #7 prospect in 2001
  Hodges is yet another member of Montreal's vaunted 1997 draft bonanza who asserted himself as a bona fide prospect last year. He set career highs across the board while earning a spot on Baseball America's postseason high Class A all-star team. Hodges' best tool is his bat, which is one of the best in the system. He has above-average bat speed with quiet hands to the ball when he strides. He has a smooth, level swing with good top-hand extension and follow-though. Hodges is an aggressive hitter with plus power potential. He's a solid third baseman with an average arm and speed. Hodges shortened his stroke in 2000 and abandoned the high leg kick that had triggered his swing. The changes kept his head still and increased his ability to make contact. He still needs to develop physically and work on the mental aspects of his game. With Michael Barrett back behind the plate, Hodges appeared to be the third baseman of the future until the Expos traded for Fernando Tatis. He should begin the 2000 season at Double-A, with a chance for a promotion to Triple-A.