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Saturday, December 16, 2023

Steve Hoeme picked up confidence at AA, saw nine pro seasons

Steve Hoeme 1990 Baseball City Royals card

Kansas native Steve Hoeme made his home-state AA Wichita Wranglers in 1992 and ran into problems, The Wichita Eagle wrote.

He thought he had to overdo everything, he told The Eagle. But he returned in 1993 and found success, The Eagle wrote that May.

"My confidence right now is so much higher now than it was last year," Hoeme told The Eagle. "That's the difference."

Hoeme spoke that year in his seventh season as a pro season. He saw two more. He topped out at AAA.

Hoeme's career began in 1987, taken by the Royals in the 29th round of the draft out of Pratt Community College in Kansas.

After his selection, Hoeme told The Madison County Record what he hoped to do after signing.

"I am going to take it one step at a time," Hoeme told The Record. "I am going to try and get more movement on my fastball. I am going to try and improve my curveball."

Hoeme started with the Royals in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He saw 15 relief outings and had a 5.70 ERA.

He moved to short-season Eugene for 1988, then single-A Appleton for 1989. He went 4-5, with a 3.32 ERA at Appleton.

He then split 1990 between Appleton and high-A Baseball City. He made it back to Appleton by early August and ran into some trouble his first time out, but got out of a jam, The Appleton Post-Crescent wrote.

"I was a little rusty. I hadn't pitched in a long time," Hoeme told The Post-Crescent. "I was overthrowing in the beginning, but then I settled down and stayed within myself."

Hoeme moved to the Padres system for 1991 and played at single-A Charleston, then single-A Waterloo, high-A High Desert and AA Wichita in 1992. 

He saw Wichita again for most of 1993, seeing 44 relief outings and saving 19, with a 2.42 ERA.

Hoeme played 1994 with the Expos at AA Harrisburg, then 1995 with the Red Sox between AA Trenton and AAA Pawtucket to end his career.

Steve Hoeme 1990 Baseball City Royals card

1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:4,275
Made the Majors:1,389-32.5%
Never Made Majors:2,886-67.5%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:565
10+ Seasons in the Minors:347

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