Hotchkiss has some of the best power and bat speed in the 2027 college class with big time exit velocities and feel for the barrel. Coming off a breakout sophomore year where he hit .339 with 20 home runs at the University of Washington, Hotchkiss transferred to the University of Arizona for his draft-eligible campaign.
Hotchkiss has a clean, quick right-handed swing that's easy to fall in love with. It's geared up-hill with a naturally lofty path. Like most with a similar bat path, Hotchkiss can get beat against velocity towards the top of the strike zone, as well as spin off of the plate. His whiff and strikeout rates throughout his college career have also been considerably higher than what you would want to see from a right-handed hitting outfield prospect. There's strides to be made here with the hit tool, likely the biggest glairing hole in the profile for the moment. Hotchkiss tends to spray the ball all around the yard, and he does use the opposite field frequently. Most of Hotchkiss's contact does come in the air, even if his feel for getting to his pull-side isn't anything exceptional.
Hotchkiss looks like a corner outfielder at the next level. He's a solid runner with enough arm strength to be suitable in a corner, though he did play some center field throughout his years at the University of Washington.
