The Baltimore Orioles have re-acquired outfielder L.J. Hoes from the Houston Astros in exchange for cash considerations, according to a report from Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com on Wednesday afternoon.
In order to clear a spot on the club's 40-man roster, Baltimore has designated infielder Andy Wilkins for assignment. Wilkins spent the 2015 season in the Toronto Blue Jays organization while playing with the team's Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo.
Hoes was initially acquired from the Orioles back in 2013 alongside LHP Josh Hader, in which RHP Bud Norris was sent out of Houston where he had been for the entirety of his career up to that point in time.
Hoes had spent parts of three seasons in Baltimore before joining the Astros where he finished the 2015 season having hit .267/.313/.267 having picked up a single RBI in a total of 333 plate appearances.
For his career, Hoes owns a slashline of .237/.289/.328 with four home runs, 22 RBI's and seven stolen bases over a total of 337 plate appearances.
Hoes has had much success at the Minor League level which led to his quick advancement to the big league stage, in which he has only continued to prove himself worthy of a starting spot with a team going forward.
Hoes is likely to start the season as a platoon option in the event of which a left-handed hitting corner outfielder is acquired.
In a statement from team president Dan Duquette following the acquisition, he said, "We are glad to have L.J. Hoes back with the O's, he's versatile, a dependable outfielder with good on-base ability and is good teammate."
Hoes was the Orioles’ Minor League Player of the Year in 2012 following a season in which he hit .287/.372/.388 with five homers, 54 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 133 games between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk.