Former Oriole Hoes returns to Baltimore

BALTIMORE -- The last time he was at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, outfielder L.J. Hoes had his world turned upside down. He was traded to the Astros from the Orioles last July in the middle of a series where the two clubs were playing against each other.

Hoes, who grew up in nearby Bowie, Md., as an Orioles fan, has settled in with the Astros as a platoon starter in left field against left-handers. He left 30 tickets for friends and family on Friday and had 20 on the list for Saturday, along with a suite.

"I'm happy to be here and happy to have all my friends watch me play," Hoes said.

Hoes had just gotten called up by the Orioles when they sent him to the Astros as part of the Bud Norris trade. He was originally in the lineup for the Orioles the day the trade went down, and wound up playing for the Astros that night.

"I received the lineup that had L.J. Hoes in the lineup for Baltimore, and 20 minutes later he's traded to us and he's out of their lineup and he's in our lineup playing against Baltimore," Astros manager Bo Porter said.

Hoes has bonded with teammates Dexter Fowler, George Springer and Chris Carter in Houston, but he maintains a tight relationship with Orioles outfielder Adam Jones, who took Hoes under his swing with the Orioles.

"He's like my brother," Hoes said. "This offseason, he took me under his wing. I trained with him all offseason. I just talk to him every day. He says to keep working and that this is a grind and a great opportunity. He's a great person to look up to. He's an All-Star every year and a Gold Glove winner. Just to be able to have someone give you advice is tremendous."