Luke Hochevar

The Dodgers selected Hochevar again, this time in the first round (40th overall) of the 2005 draft. After initial negotiations between the Dodgers and Hochevar and his agent Scott Boras, Hochevar switched agents to Matt Sosnick and accepted a $2.98 million signing bonus from scouting director Logan White.[7] However, the next day Hochevar changed his mind on switching agents, returning to Boras and reneging on the deal.[7] Several months of lukewarm talks continued, but amidst much bitterness, the two sides never came close to reaching a new agreement.[8] Hochevar signed with the Fort Worth Cats of the American Association of Professional Baseball, an independent baseball league.[9] He had a 1–1 win–loss record and a 2.38 earned run average (ERA) in four games started with Fort Worth.[10]

Hochevar entered the draft yet again in 2006 and was selected first overall by the Kansas City Royals. On August 3, nearly two months after the draft, Hochevar signed a four-year major league contract worth $5.25 million guaranteed with the Royals.[8] He received a $3.5 million signing bonus with the ability to earn as much as $7 million over the four years. After he signed, the Royals assigned Hochevar to the Burlington Bees of the Class A Midwest League.[11]

Hochevar began the 2007 season with the Wichita Wranglers of the Class AA Texas League.[12] He was chosen to appear in the 2007 All-Star Futures Game.[13]

Hochevar made his major league debut September 8, 2007 in a game against the New York Yankees. In four appearances, Hochevar had a 0–1 record and a 2.13 ERA.

In 2008, he had the lowest run support of all pitchers, with an average of 2.8 runs per game started, finishing with a record of 6–12. His ERA though, was a high one, finishing at 5.51 in 22 starts.

Following the Royals' 2009 spring training, he was optioned to the Triple-A Omaha Royals to learn to "use both sides of the plate with more consistency" and to stay away from big innings.[14] He was called up to the Royals starting rotation on May 10.[15]

In his 2009 debut, Hochevar lasted just two innings and surrendered eight runs. On June 12, 2009, Hochevar pitched an 80 pitch complete game, only allowing 3 hits and 1 run; this was a feat that had only been accomplished by 5 pitchers in American League the previous 20 years.[16] On July 25, 2009, Hochevar recorded a career high 13 strikeouts in 7 innings in a 6–3 win over the Texas Rangers. On September 18, 2009, Hochevar threw his first career shutout in an 11–0 win over the Chicago White Sox.

Despite these accomplishments, Hochevar struggled with his consistency through the '09 season, posting the highest ERA of AL starters (6.55) while going 7–13.

In his first start of the year on April 7, 2010, Hochevar threw 72⁄3 scoreless innings in a 3–2 win in 11 innings over the Detroit Tigers. Through June 2010, Hochevar was 5–4 with a 4.96 ERA. He was on the Disabled List with a right elbow strain from mid-June until September. He finished the year at 6–6 with a 4.81 ERA.

Hochevar with the Royals in 2011

Hochevar was the Royals' opening day starter in 2011. At the All-Star break, he had a win–loss record of 5–8 with a 5.46 ERA. He fared significantly better after the break, ending the season with an 11–11 record and a 4.68 ERA. Also notable was his 1.28 WHIP.

Hochevar's strong finish in 2011 suggested that he might emerge as a top-quality starting pitcher in 2012. Instead, he experienced a disappointing season, finishing with an 8–16 record and a 5.73 ERA.[17] He allowed more earned runs than any other major league pitcher, and his -1.7 WAR (Wins Above Replacement) was the worst of his career.

On January 15, 2013, Hochevar filed for salary arbitration, the only Royals player to do so in the off-season, and the second year in a row that he has done so. In 2012, he and the team settled on a $3.51 million one-year deal.[17] The Royals announced on January 18, 2013, that they had reached agreement with Hochevar on a one-year contract worth $4.56 million, thus avoiding arbitration.[18]

On March 13, 2013. Royals manager Ned Yost announced that Hochevar would not begin the season in the starting rotation. Hochevar was instead assigned to the bullpen for middle relief duties. In that role, he performed effectively for the Royals, posting a 1.92 ERA in 70.1 innings. He also struck out 82 batters while walking only 17.

During a Spring Training game against the White Sox on March 3, 2014, Hochevar suffered an elbow injury and left the game. An MRI the following day showed a tear of the UCL in the right elbow. On March 7, 2014, Royals officials confirmed the injury and stated Hochevar would be undergoing Tommy John surgery to repair the damage.[19] The surgery caused Hochevar to miss the entire 2014 season.[20]

On December 3, 2014, Hochevar signed a 2-year, $10 million agreement with the Kansas City Royals.[21] He made 49 appearances in the 2015 season, with a record of 1–1, 1 save, and an ERA of 3.73.[22] Hochevar was the winning pitcher in the deciding Game 5 of the World Series. It was the Royals' first championship in 30 years.

In 2016, Hochevar made 40 appearances, finishing the year 2–3 with a 3.86 ERA. On November 5, 2016, the Royals declined their 2017 option on Hochevar, making him a free agent for the first time of his career.[23]

On August 13, 2018, Hochevar announced his retirement.[24]