Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Marlins’ Destin Hood has no regrets.
KISSIMMEE — Whether it was catching a football on the gridiron or tracking down a deep fly ball at the warning track, Miami Marlins outfielder Destin Hood had success waiting for him on whichever route he took after finishing high school.
But as coach Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide won BCS titles in 2009, 2011 and 2012, the athlete committed to the 2008 Alabama football recruiting class traded his chance for bowl games and title rings to be being happy. He was comfortable exchanging a pair of wide-out gloves for a new bat, cap and mitt.
“If I was a football player, I would play football,” Hood said before Saturday’s game against the Atlanta Braves. “You couldn’t give me three rings and say, ‘Be happy.’ You couldn’t say, ‘Win a Super Bowl and be happy,’ because I wouldn’t be happy. National championship, wouldn’t be happy. I mean, this is what I wanted to do and this is what came of it and I couldn’t be happier.”
The nine-year minor league veteran has repeatedly fallen short of making the big leagues despite a short tenure in the 2016 campaign. But even with the knowledge of where he is now years later, he would still choose the baseball diamond over the football field.
“I feel like [the motivation] is just trying to be the best ball player I can be, be the best teammate I can be,” Hood said. “Somewhere, there’s a remedy for [making the big leagues] and I’m just trying to figure it out.”
Hood had arguably his best year in the minors last year, playing Triple-A ball in New Orleans. He put up 15 home runs, drove in 80 RBI and stole 11 bases. Managing to earn 25 at-bats during 13 games in the majors last year, he reminded himself of why he chose baseball, disregarding the pressure for success with the swing of his bat against the Cleveland Indians in September.
“It’s surreal,” Hood said of his first major league hit. “This is what and where you wanna be. I think the biggest surprise for me was how the game of baseball doesn’t change and it’s just a matter of the type of pressure you put on yourself and the lights getting brighter.”
Hood, with his big year behind him, now has turned his focus to trying to be the best player he can be. After Saturday’s game, his batting average rose to .308. He added three RBI and a homer, the latest product of his push to improve.
“Before I came here, they had a set team, a set roster,” Hood said. “I think if I go into it trying to win a job, that’s not really my goal. My goal is to be a better ball player and I feel like if I can be a better ball player, then it will work out how it should regardless of what takes place.”
That mindset and Hood’s playing ability has gotten the attention of Don Mattingly.
“Destin is probably on the outside looking in, honesty,” Mattingly said. “I still think he’s got room to grow in Triple-A. Probably had his best year last year . ... He’s a guy that’s growing and, you know, he’s a guy that we know is there and is on the way. If we have an injury, then he’s a guy that’d be ready.”
Mattingly isn’t the only person who has noticed Hood.
“[Dee Gordon’s] taken me under his wing to work like a professional, to be a professional,” Hood said. “To see somebody of his caliber take it so seriously, I wanna do the same thing. “That’s what I aspire to be. He’s been there for me, talked to me in the minors. Every time he felt like something was going wrong, he called me and said, ‘What are you doing?’ and kind of snapped me back.”
Gordon, who hit a leadoff homer in Saturday’s game while playing in
Marlins vs Astros
Where: Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter When: Sunday 1:05 p.m. Marlins pitcher: LHP Wei-Yin Chen Astros Pitcher: RHP Mike Friers Broadcast: 940-AM, 710-AM Saturday’s game: The Marlins beat the Braves 8-6 at Champion Stadium. Dee Gordon, playing in his hometown, smashed a homer to deep right field to open the game up. With the help of a double by Brandon Barnes, the Marlins led 4-0 after the first. Barnes finished the day 2 for 3 with two RBI and Destin Hood increased the Marlins lead from five to eight in the fifth inning with a bomb to left field that bounced off the scoreboard. The Marlins saw action from six different pitchers, with starting right-hander Severino Gonzalez throwing two easy innings and allowing one hit while walking two. Left-hander Dillon Peters then threw a similar two frames, allowing one hit as well and keeping zeros on the board. Gonzalez earned the win, bringing his record to 1-0.
Upcoming games Monday – vs. Mets (Jupiter), 1:05 p.m.; Tuesday – at Cardinals (Jupiter), 1:05 p.m.; Thursday –at Nationals (Jupiter), 1:05 p.m.
front of a hometown crowd, admires Hood’s character and motivation to better himself.
“We talk all the time about being able to look in that mirror when you’re done and knowing that when it’s over, knowing you gave it all you got and I think he’s doing a great job with it,” Gordon said.
“Somewhere, there’s a remedy for [making the big leagues] and I’m just trying to figure it out.” Destin Hood