Dennis Lee Hocking...is married, Venetta (Dorlis), and has
twin daughters, Penelope and Iliana (12/29/99)...a 1988 graduate of West
Torrance (CA) High School where he played basketball and earned all-league
honors in baseball...attended El Camino C.C. where he majored in journalism
and was all-league in baseball...grandfather Frank Hocking played football
at Penn State University and aunt Pamela Arndt was an alternate on USA track
and field relay teams at 1964 Pan-American games...was the 2000 recipient of
the Carl R. Pohlad Award recognizing outstanding community service
throughout the Upper Midwest...2001 Twins representative for the Roberto
Clemente Award...designates time and effort in support of the Children's
Hospital Cancer Kids Fund, Garth Brooks' Teammates for Kids Foundation and
participates in TwinsCare, a ticket program for underprivileged
youth...signed by Earl Frishman.
2003
Was on Minnesota's Opening Day roster for the sixth
consecutive year...failed to play in at least 100 games for the first time
since 1996...made 10 appearances at first base, 26 at second base, 24 at
third, 17 at shortstop and 8 in the outfield...posted a .988 combined
fielding percentage at all seven positions...went on the disabled list from
April 29-May 9 with a spur in his right elbow. Postseason: Saw action in one
playoff contest, as a defensive replacement during Game 3 of the Division
Series vs. New York.
Career:
Hocking has made major league starts at first base (10),
second base (141), third base (48), shortstop (191), left field (40), center
field (22) and right field (60)...in 2000, he became first player in major
league history to play 7 different positions at-least 10 times in the same
season...after making his ML debut in 1993, he became the Twins' lowest
draft pick (52nd round) ever to play for the club.
2002
Season-high 3 rbi, May 17 at New York ... hit safely in 7 consecutive games, going 12-27 (.444), May 21-29 ... tied season-high 7-game hit-streak, going 10-21 (.476), June 27-July 7 ... had 500th career hit, July 23 at Chicago ... tied season-high 3 hits, August 24 at Kansas City ... was 6-18 (.333) in 6 games, August 24-September 15 ... started 68 of 102 games ... made 7 appearances at first base, 55 at second base, 16 at third base, 25 at shortstop and 5 in the outfield ... had .968 (311 TC, 10 E) fielding percentage at 5 positions.
2001
Had 8-game hit-streak, going 13-33 (.394), May 25-June 2 ... game-winning rbi triple in 11th inning, May 29 at Anaheim ... hit safely in 6 of 7 games, June 23-29 ... game-winning 2-rbi double in 9th inning, June 26 vs. Chicago ... tied season-high 3 hits, August 2 at Toronto ... was 8-17 (.471) in 7 games, August 10-16 ... had game-winning pinch-homer, September 2 vs. Anaheim ... hit safely in 7 consecutive games, going 12-28 (.429), September 29-October 7 ... started 73 of 112 games ... made 11 appearances at first base, 17 at second base, 6 at third base, 47 at shortstop and 16 in the outfield ... had .984 (318 TC, 5 E) fielding percentage at 7 positions.
2000
Had 50-game errorless-streak, April 8-June 15 ... was 14-22 (.636) in 8 games, May 16-26 ... tied career-high 5 hits, May 18 at Oakland ... game-winning 2-run single in 10th inning, July 1 at Cleveland ... career-high 10-game hit-streak, going 17-36 (.472), August 5-18 ... game-winning rbi single in 10th inning, September 3 at New York ... tied season-high 3 rbi, September 12 at Oakland ... was 31-111 (.279) with 2 homers vs. lefthanders and 80-262 (.305) with 2 homers vs. righthanders ... started 85 of 141 games ... made 12 appearances at first base, 47 at second base, 16 at third base, 15 at shortstop and 51 in the outfield ... had .985 (5 E, 331 TC) fielding percentage at 7 positions ... became first player in major league history to play 7 different positions at-least 10 times in the same season ... established career-highs in batting, runs, hits, doubles, rbi and walks.
1999
Set American League record for most consecutive errorless games by a second baseman (113 games, 257 TC), September 16, 1993-September 13 ... had 107-game errorless streak (as starter and defensive replacement), September 18, 1998-August 14 ... first career grand slam off Mike Hampton and career-high 4 RBI, June 4 vs. Houston ... was 20-51 (.392) in 19 games, June 6-July 2 ... career-high 5 hits, June 27 at Detroit ... game-winning RBI single in 9th inning, July 7 vs. Cleveland ... leadoff homers in consecutive games, July 17-18 ... started 84 of 136 games ... made 61 appearances at shortstop, 56 at second base, 41 in outfield, six at third base and two at first base ... had .992 (3 E, 385 TC) fielding percentage at 5 positions ... was 30-85 (.353) with runners in scoring position ... was 11-18 (61%) in stolen base attempts ... established career highs in games, at-bats, home runs and stolen bases ... was third on club in games.
1998
Had 71-game errorless streak (as starter and defensive replacement), May 5-September 8 ... was 9-19 (.474) hitting safely in 6 of 7 games he had an at-bat, June 12-July 1 ... was 1-3 (.333) with bases loaded ... started 48 of 110 games ... had .982 (4 E, 224 TC) fielding percentage ... was 6-18 (.333) in interleague games ... made 48 appearances at second base, 28 at shortstop, 24 in outfield, 11 at third base and 2 at first base ... tied for second on club in sacrifice hits (3).
1997
Game-winning RBI single in 10th inning, third career 3-hit game and second career 3-RBI game, April 17 vs. Anaheim ... had 42-game errorless streak, August 1-September 23 ... was 26-84 (.310) with one home run vs. left-handers and 39-169 (.231) with one home run vs. right-handers ... had .985 (4 E, 274 TC) fielding percentage ... made 32 starts at shortstop, 8 at third base, 7 in right field, 5 in left field and 2 at second base and center field ... tied for second on club in triples.
1996
Disabled after suffering lacerations to tongue and lips, losing one tooth and loosening three others on wicked hop by Jose Canseco in spring training game, March 22-April 30 ... began rehab assignment at Salt Lake, April 4 ... career-high 3 RBI, April 30 vs. Kansas City ... first major league home run, off Paul Quantrill, May 26 at Toronto ... disabled with small tear to lateral meniscus in left knee, June 2-29 ... surgery to repair tear, performed by club physician John Steubs, June 6 ... began rehab assignment at Salt Lake, June 21 ... game-winning RBI single off Bill Simas, July 17 vs. Chicago ... disabled with rib cage strain, July 31-September 8 ... played for Salt Lake on rehab assignment, August 24-September 8.
1995
Began season at Salt Lake ... was 11-23 (.478) with one home run and 9 RBI, July 28-August 3 ... Twins' Minor League Player of the Week, going 10-27 (.370), August 4-10 ... led league shortstops in fielding percentage (.966) ... rated Best Defensive Shortstop in Pacific Coast League by
Baseball America ... recalled September 16 ... made 6 starts at shortstop, 2 appearances as pinch-hitter and one as pinch-runner.
1994
Began season at Salt Lake ... had 13-game hit streak, going 20-49 (.408), April 11-25 ... was batting .270 with 3 home runs and 37 RBI in 71 games when recalled, June 28 ... first career 3-hit game, July 6 vs. Toronto ... optioned July 16 ... had 13-game hit streak, going 18-50 (.360), July 25-August 9 ... hit .396 (40-101) vs. left-handers and .234 (66-282) with all 5 home runs vs. right-handers ... rated Best Infield Arm in league by
Baseball America.
1993
Fractured left ankle in spring training game, March 6 vs. Boston ... disabled April 8-29 ... had 13-game hit streak, going 22-56 (.393), June 1-12 ... recalled September 10 ... made major league debut as pinch-hitter in first game of doubleheader, and singled off Charlie Leibrandt for first hit in second game, September 10 at Texas ... became lowest Twins' draft pick (52nd round) ever to play for club ... played 12 games at shortstop and one at second base.
1992
Had 5 consecutive 3-hit games, going 15-22 (.682), June 20-24 ... Twins' Minor League Player of the Week, June 22-28 ... had 15-game hit streak, going 25-66 (.379), July 23-August 8 ... hit safely in 27 of 29 games, going 48-129 (.372), July 23-August 23 ... Twins' Minor League Player of the Month for August, going 42-114 (.368) with 31 runs, 23 RBI and 15 stolen bases ... led minor leagues in hits and was second in runs ... led league in at-bats, tied for second in games, was third in total bases (255), fifth in batting and doubles, tied for fifth in stolen bases and was ninth in on-base percentage (.415) ... rated Best Defensive Shortstop by league managers and was member of league All-Star team ... rated Best Infield Arm in league by
Baseball America ... named to Topps' and
Baseball America's Class A All-Star teams ... rated Twins' sixth-best prospect by
Baseball America.
1991
Led team in triples and was second in runs.
1990
Fourth in league in on-base percentage (.422) and fifth in runs and walks ... rated 10th-best prospect in league by
Baseball America.
