Todd Hotz helped his Riviera High team to the 1986 Texas state baseball title game win and he completed his own personal undefeated season - 20-0 - in the process, The Austin American-Statesman wrote.
Afterward, Hotz made his college selection known - The University of Texas, The American-Statesman wrote.
"Texas has a winning tradition, an out standing baseball program and I want to be a part of it," he told The American-Statesman. "They pretty well assured me I will be playing next season, and that is what I wanted to hear."
Hotz went on to play well enough at Texas to briefly play with his team in the College World Series that freshman year and, later, to turn pro. His pro career, however, proved brief. He played a single season.
Hotz' brief pro career began and ended in 1990, having been taken by the White Sox that June in the 31st round of the draft out of Texas.
At Riviera, Hotz' 1986 season earned him unanimous selection to the All-State team in his school's class.
In is freshman year at Texas, the Longhorns made Omaha. He faced one batter, walking him. He recalled the experience two years later to The Longview News-Journal, as his team readied to hit Omaha again.
"I really didn't have time to get nervous," Hotz told The News-Journal of the experience. "I figured there was no way I'd get in the game."
The White Sox then selected him in the 1990 draft. He spoke to The Fort Worth Star-Telegram about the selection and he tried to keep it in perspective, his $500 signing bonus, too.
"It's not a big thing," Hotz told The Star-Telegram, "but now I've got a job for the summer."
Hotz then went to work. He got into 27 games and started one. He had a rough relief outing in a July game, but held on for the Utica win. Overall, he saved two games, took four losses and ended with a 7.34 ERA in his only season as a pro.
His playing days over, Hotz went back to school and became a real estate attorney. In 1995, he earned his J.D. from St. Mary's University in San Antonio. In 2021, he's a partner with the Austin-based firm Metcalfe Wolff Stuart & Williams.
- Austin American-Statesman, June 14, 1986: Riviera, hot Hotz take 2A
- Longview News-Journal, June 3, 1989: Texas veterans recall first CWS experience in 1987
- Fort Worth Star-Tribune, June 7, 1990: Sports Briefly
Made the Majors:1,247-34.6%
Never Made Majors:2,359-65.4%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors:520
10+ Seasons in the Minors:306
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