Braeden Hosey is having a breakout season becoming one of the full-time starters on a Westside team that is still raw and has lots of potential to break out. Hosey has had a long history with baseball playing the game since tee ball and getting inspiration from his dad.
Dwanye Hosey who is Braeden’s father played professional baseball playing a season in the MLB with the boston red sox’s, accumulating a .274 average and four home runs along with a season in japanese baseball league the NPB where he was named an all star and hit 38 homers in his second to last season in professional baseball. He also had a stellar career in the minor leagues with over 130 home runs and 230 stolen bases which is the same style Braeden is playing with.
“It gives me a role model, somebody to look up to.” Hosey said. “I’ve always tried to impress my dad, he’s never forced baseball on me but it has been my dream personally.”
Hosey is only a junior but this is his second season on varsity with last year batting .211 in 38 at bats but mainly used as a pinch runner getting nine stolen bases using his best attribute which is his speed just like his dad. Throughout the first 15 games of his junior season Hosey has become a key part of this Westside team holding down the shortstop position for the year with his blazing speed and ability to make tough off balanced plays.
“I’m feeling very confident in my glove.” Hosey said. “I’ve been working really hard over the summer on that along with putting up better at bats for the teams”
His bat has also taken a huge boost power wise as the leadoff hitter. Hosey is batting .245 but has put more balls in play and with his speed has the ability to make singles into doubles and more. Westside is having a rough season so far going 5-8 in the first 15 games of the season but are on the right track with a home win against Bellevue East.
The Warriors have gotten the short end of the straw hitting wise with most teams throwing their aces against Westside which has stunted the Warriors offense to just over three runs a game. Hosey and the rest of the Warriors still have lots of time to get back on track as they are starting to enter the last few games of the season coming off a tough loss against millard west where they lost another one run game but beat Bellevue East again to get to the record of 6-9.
Hosey with his power speed combo wil be a great prospect to be recruited. He has no true offers as of yet but he has been in the talks with colleges along with his dad who has helped him along the journey.
“He’s definitely been a help in recruiting.” Hosey said “I’m speaking to a few colleges right now but I’m still keeping it behind closed doors.”
Hosey still has the rest of this season and next year under a new head coach to keep his trajectory on the rise and keep working on his craft before the chapter of baseball.
Hosey and the Warriors are back in action on April 21 as they play the Buena Vista Bison on the road and look to finish the season strong going into districts with five games left.
