L.J. Hoes: “It was a dream come true.”

• 

  Steve Melewski

• 

  September 29, 2012 12:31 pm

• 

  0 Comments

• 
  Share

It happened in the last of the eighth inning on Wednesday night. The Orioles were well on their way to a 12-2 win over Toronto and L.J. Hoes, the Orioles minor league Player of the Year, walked to the plate for his first major league at-bat.

The crowd rose to its feet to give the 22-year-old Bowie, Maryland native a very warm welcome. It was quite a moment for the young man.

Here is what Hoes posted on his Twitter account about that:

Still shaking from last night. The “let’s go hoes”…It happened in the last of the eighth inning on Wednesday night. The Orioles were well on their way to a 12-2 win over Toronto and L.J. Hoes, the Orioles minor league Player of the Year, walked to the plate for his first major league at-bat.

The crowd rose to its feet to give the 22-year-old Bowie, Maryland native a very warm welcome. It was quite a moment for the young man.

Here is what Hoes posted on his Twitter account about that:

Still shaking from last night. The “let’s go hoes” chant was unbelievable. Thank you fans for making that such a special moment.

Hoes was still clearly touched by that ovation when he talked to me about that yesterday in the clubhouse.

“It was tremendous. I was definitely blessed to have the opportunity to have that at-bat. The way the fans accepted me was just all I could ask for. It was a dream come true. I stepped out of the box for a minute and took in the moment.

“I was very, very nervous. Shaking a little, but it was a good thing,” Hoes, who grounded out to short, said.

Hoes became the first position player born in Maryland to wear an O’s uniform since Cal Ripken Jr. made his debut on Aug. 10, 1981.

When the Orioles leave for Tampa after Sunday’s game, Hoes is expected to rejoin the Orioles instructional league workouts in Sarasota and later head to play more in the Arizona Fall League.

But his brief time with the Orioles has clearly been something he’ll never forget.

“It has just been a great experience, just to be here. I am so glad I had the opportunity to be here,” Hoes said.