Eric Hosmer

Background

Mike, Hosmer’s father, is a retired firefighter, and Ileana, his mother, is a nurse. Ileana was born in Cuba and immigrated to the United States with her family when she was seven years old to escape Fidel Castro’s tyranny. She grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Mike and Ileana met in 1979, when Mike was assigned to serve at Coral Gables Hospital in Coral Gables, Florida. Four years later, they married. Mike Jr., their first son, was born in 1985, and Eric was born four years later in Miami.

Soon after signing his contract, the Royals assigned Hosmer to the Idaho Falls Chukars of the Pioneer League’s rookie level. Before reporting to the Chukars, Royals general manager Moore informed reporters that Hosmer would not be “rushed” to the Majors, noting that he must progress through the Minor League ladder at his ‘own natural speed.’ He appeared in a few games with the Chukars before a contract disagreement with another Boras client, Pittsburgh Pirates’ second overall selection Pedro Alvarez, prevented him from participating.

Hosmer signed an eight-year, $144 million contract with the San Diego Padres on February 19, 2018, the richest contract in Padres team history. He altered his uniform number to 30 in memory of his former Royals teammate Yordano Ventura, who died a year ago. The Padres had previously retired Hosmer’s old number 35 in honor of Randy Jones. Hosmer hit .253 with 18 home runs and 69 R.B.I.s in his debut season with the Padres. As the Padres’ main cleanup hitter in 2019, Hosmer hit .265, .310, and .425 with 22 home runs and 99 R.B.I.

Hosmer represented the United States in the 2017 World Baseball Classic. He hit the game-winning home run in a second-round comeback victory over the Venezuelan squad. He was chosen to the 2017 All-World Baseball Classic squad after the tournament.