Two years ago today, Kansas City made Luke Hochevar the first pick in the major-league draft. After two months of negotiations, the former Fowler High School and University of Tennessee star signed a four-year contract with the Royals, including a $3.5 million signing bonus.
With just one full season of minor-league baseball under his belt, Hochevar is in Kansas City’s starting rotation and living up to the expectations of a No. 1 pick.
“I was a little surprised to be the first player taken in the draft because of the circumstances and all the things that had gone on before,” Hochevar said, referencing his decision to turn down a $2.98 million signing bonus from the Los Angeles Dodgers a year earlier. “I just tried to keep the thought process of showing them what I could do.”
Luke’s father, Brian, remembered his son refusing to sign.
“He (Luke) was a young guy and not really experienced with those kind of negotiations,” he said. “I think he was getting a little antsy as the summer went on. But everything worked out for the best.”
Luke Hochevar played summer baseball on Cherry Creek coach Marc Johnson’s teams. The summer program provided his first exposure to major-league and college scouts.
Now Hochevar is trying to figure out big-league hitters.
“I’m still in the process of learning how to control my nerves and adrenaline,” Hochevar said. “You’re playing in front of big, big crowds. You have to concentrate and stay focused all the time. I’m making good strides, but there are going to be lumps along the way.”
The 6-foot-5 right-hander is 3-5 with a 5.13 ERA. He has added some muscle and weight since he left Tennessee, and his fastball regularly clocks in the mid-90s.
With his ties to Colorado, Hochevar had hopes of being drafted by the Rockies.
“It would have been great if he was in Colorado, but it didn’t work out,” Brian Hochevar said.
With baseball’s draft here again, Hochevar remembers well the excitement he experienced.
“Anytime that you’re on the brink of getting a chance to do what you dream about, it’s exciting,” he said. “I had dreamed all of my life about playing in the big leagues.”
Brian Hochevar, who coached his son at Fowler, saw the determination even before Luke joined his team.
“In the eighth grade, he built an indoor pitching mound so the pitchers could work in the gym during the winter,” Brian Hochevar said. “He built it to exact specifications. I think they still might use it at Fowler High School.”
Hochevar’s ties to Colorado have loosened. Brian Hochevar has left Fowler and is coaching basketball and baseball at Christian Academy of Knoxville (Tenn.). Dylan Hochevar, Luke’s younger brother, is on the Tennessee baseball team, but is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery on his pitching-arm elbow.
With Denver as his birthplace, Hochevar stands along side a short list of Colorado natives who have pitched in the big leagues, joining the likes of Roy Halladay, Hall of Famer Goose Gossage, Mike Trujillo, Tippy Martinez and Stan Williams.
“It’s a blessing to be able to put on a big-league uniform,” Hochevar said. “I’m doing everything in my power to be successful here.”
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
