In 1969, Hockenbery graduated from high school and signed on as a free agent with the
California Angels in July of that year. He was assigned to the
Midwest League in
Davenport, Iowa, by the Angels. After recovering from an injury while playing in Davenport, he pitched for the
Pioneer League in
Idaho Falls. Hockenbery then pitched for the
Bend Rainbows in
Oregon. He was then changed to the position of short reliever. Hockenbery played in the
California League in 1972 and was promoted to
AA ball at
Shreveport, Louisiana as part of the
Shreveport Captains. He was later part of the Angels 40-man roster as a pitcher in the
Arizona Instructional League in
Phoenix, Arizona. In 1973, Hockenbery continued to play AA ball by playing with
El Paso, Texas, in the
Texas League. He then played
AAA ball and played in
Salt Lake City as part of the
Pacific Coast League. He played at
Mayagüez, Puerto Rico during the winter season until he was declared as being disabled when his right elbow had a pinched nerve. In May 1975, Hockenbery joined the Major Leagues as part of the California Angels. He pitched at the
Oakland Coliseum on July 4, 1975, against
Oakland Athletics. During the same season, he pitched in relief against the
New York Yankees. The California Angels placed Hockenbery on a
waivers list in 1976. Hockenbery said that his career ended because when his manager during the 1975 season wanted him to hit an opponent in the head with a baseball during an upcoming pitch, Hockenbery refused to do so. He sat out during the 1977 season in Onalaska. In 1977, the
Seattle Mariners wanted Hockenbery to join the team, but he had to refuse because of an ankle injury. He signed to play with the Oakland Athletics, but he was
traded shortly after. Hockenbery played for
Jersey City of the Eastern League, and then he retired after briefly playing AAA ball for
Vancouver in the Pacific League. ==Later life==