Sign of things to come? O's introduce Hobgood

Affable first-round pick gets $2.42 million signing bonus, standing ovation from Camden Yards crowd

Orioles top draft choice Matt Hobgood looked like a young businessman when he arrived Saturday at Camden Yards to sign his first professional contract. He was wearing a conservative black suit, much in contrast to the "Cali look" that got him a playful earful from Adam Jones and Aubrey Huff the day before.

And the ribbing wasn't quite over, since it was a little warm for black when he came out to watch batting practice before the late-afternoon signing ceremony and news conference in the auxiliary clubhouse.

"I guess I'm going to need somebody to teach me to dress East Coast," said Hobgood, who hails from Norco, in Southern California.

Of course, the Orioles could care less whether their 2009 first-round draft choice looks like he belongs on the cover of Thrasher magazine or GQ. They are a little more interested in what he's going to look like in his Bluefield Orioles uniform when he joins the Rookie-level team tomorrow.

"It's time to go to work," director of amateur scouting Joe Jordan said.

True, but first impressions tend to linger, and - Friday's Cali-chic skater dude outfit notwithstanding - Hobgood seemed to make friends everywhere he went during his weekend in Baltimore ... even with a certain Hall of Fame pitcher and broadcaster who is not easily impressed.

"When I met him, I asked him, 'Aren't you going to wait and sign at midnight on Aug. 15 like everybody else,' " Jim Palmer said. "He said: 'I want to play. Getting one more million isn't important. It's about going out and competing.' I said, "Boy, did you get the wrong agent.' "

Palmer went on to recount how impressed he was with Hobgood, echoing in advance the comments that Jordan would make during the news conference. This is a young pitcher who is mature beyond his 18 years, even if he did need his mom to co-sign his contract.

"He just asked all the right questions," Palmer said.

Hobgood agreed to a signing bonus of $2.42 million, pretty much in line with where major league teams slot the No. 5 overall pick. He wanted to sign quickly, and he made it clear that he wanted to sign with the Orioles, which has endeared him to the club's fan base.

Between the second and third inning of Saturday night's game, the Orioles brought Hobgood out on the field while the video board showed footage of him celebrating with family and friends as commissioner Bud Selig announced his name on draft day. The crowd of an announced 39,633 gave him a standing ovation.

It took a lot less to bring a tear to the eye of Becky Hobgood, who misted up just watching her son interacting with major leaguers before the game. She said there was never much question that he would sign quickly and report to the minor leagues.

"I think that's always been his attitude," she said. "It's never been about money to him. ... We used to joke that Matt would pay you to let him play."

Jordan has made no secret of his affection for the kid, and he tried to explain the process that led the team to choose this particular high school pitcher out of the large group of quality prep and college candidates.

"Sometimes you go through this process and guys start to run together," he said. "I just think that what you do when you get that late in the process is look for separators, like Matt's ability to look you in the eyes and talk to you like a man. He was never intimidated by the process. He was comfortable. You just pick up on things."

For the Hobgood family, the decision to sign rather than honor a letter of intent to baseball powerhouse Cal State Fullerton came down to something much more basic.

"I think the biggest thing is they've been really welcoming to us," Becky Hobgood said, wiping her eyes. "That's what's important to us. It makes it easier to leave him here. Tomorrow, we go home without him, Tomorrow, he gets to start his dream career."

Listen to Peter Schmuck weeknights at 6 on WBAL (1090 AM).