Hottman was a high draft choice of four teams in 1967–68, when the
Major League Baseball draft had January as well as June lotteries, and both primary and secondary phases. He was selected first or second by the
Kansas City Athletics,
San Francisco Giants and
St. Louis Cardinals before signing with the fourth club to pick him, the White Sox, after being their second choice in the June 1968 secondary phase. His breakout minor league season happened in 1971, when he slugged 37
home runs,
batted in 116
runs and
hit .302 for the
Asheville Tourists of the Double-A
Southern League. Called up in September, Hottman started in five games in
left field for the ChiSox, and garnered two
singles in 16
at bats; his first MLB
hit came off the Athletics' rookie phenom
Vida Blue on September 22. Hottman resumed his minor league career at the Triple-A level in 1972, and retired from professional ball after the 1974 season. He hit 117 homers in 653 minor league games, but batted only .251. ==References==