Marlins’ Hood Pursues First Love

MIAMI—Destin Hood’s love for baseball began at age 4, when he would slide head first into second base.

“Baseball was intriguing,” said Hood, a 26-year-old native of Mobile, Ala. “I loved the crack of the bat. I loved to wear the cap—putting it on straight, not backward. I wanted to be professional.”

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But Hood also was a gifted all-around athlete. As a 6-foot-2, 190-pound high school football star, he signed to play wide receiver at Alabama.

This was February 2008, which was coach Nick Saban’s first full recruiting class for the Crimson Tide. That class included future Heisman Trophy-winning running back Mark Ingram, star wide receiver Julio Jones and several future NFL defensive standouts.

Hood, though, didn’t feel the same passion for football that he had for baseball, and when the Nationals drafted him in the second round in 2008, he signed for $1.1 million.

Hood, a righthanded-hitting corner outfielder, moved slowly at first. He spent two years in short-season leagues and didn’t reach Triple-A until 2014, his seventh pro season. He signed with the Indians in 2015 and Marlins in 2016 as a minor league free agent.

“Before the Marlins called (last November),” Hood said. “I thought: ‘Is this how it ends?’ ”

Fortunately for Hood, it doesn’t look like he will have to give up his passion yet. In his first 29 games at Triple-A New Orleans, he hit .266/.328/.505 and belted seven homers. He even recorded a .924 OPS against righthanders, after checking in at .700 a year ago.

The problem earlier in his career, Hood said, was that he was working too hard.

“In 2013, I lost 20 pounds because I didn’t care for eating,” said Hood, who now has his weight back up to 205. “I was a product of my football background—no one was going to outwork me.

“I would get in the cage at 10 a.m., and I would be there all day and night.”

FISH BITES

• New Orleans outfielder Kenny Wilson compiled 11 steals in 13 tries in his first 29 games. He could add a speed component to the Marlins if they look in his direction.

• Double-A Jacksonville outfielder Yefri Perez continued his basestealing exploits this season with a Southern League-leading 23 swipes through 32 games. He led the Florida State League with 71 steals last year.