Corpus Christi Hooks Media Guide 2018 Corpus Christi Hooks Media Guide | Page 18

AKEEM BOSTICK RHP BORN May 4, 1995 in Florence, SC OPENING DAY AGE 22 HEIGHT 6’6 WEIGHT 215 BATS Right THROWS Right HOMETOWN Florence, SC ACQUIRED Via trade from Texas for C Carlos Corporan on January 21, 2015 Career Highlights: 2017 – Went 8-7 in 22 games (16 starts) between Buies Creek and Corpus Christi. Recorded 74 strikeouts and 26 walks in 99 2/3 total innings. Fared better against left-handed hitters (.236 BA, 144 AB) than against right-handed hitters (.298 BA, 245 AB). Earned Buies Creek’s Opening Day start on April 6 vs. Winston-Salem, allowing just 2 hits over 5 scoreless innings. Began campaign with a trio of scoreless outings (14 2/3 IP, 5 H). Made AA debut with Corpus Christi on April 29 vs. Frisco, tossing 5 innings and allowing just a pair of solo homers. Threw 6 scoreless innings on May 21 at Frisco, allowing just 3 hits. Put together a string of 5 solid appearances (3 starts) from June 16-July 12, tossing 22 1/3 innings while striking out 15 batters and allowing just 5 walks. Posted a 3.68 ERA (29 1/3 innings) before the Texas League All-Star break as compared to a 5.12 ERA (51 IP) after the break. Allowed 6 runs twice in second half of season on July 24 vs. San Antonio (4 1/3 IP) and August 20 at Springfield (2 1/3 IP). Dominated in Corpus Christi’s regular season finale with potential playoff implications on September 4 vs. San Antonio, twirling a season-high 7 2/3 scoreless innings with a season-high 7 strikeouts in a 2-0 victory. 2016 – Earned Lancaster’s Opening Day start at San Jose, spreading 1 run and 6 hits over 3 innings. Made 2 more appearances before being sidelined due to a groin injury. Returned to the JetHawks in late-June after making a pair of rehab appearances with Tri-City of the New York-Penn League. Permitted 1 hit while striking out 6 over a season-best 7 innings for the July 10 victory at Inland Empire. Surrendered just 3 earned runs over the next 3 assignments, covering 16 frames. Wrapped up this run by fanning a season-high 8 batters in 4 innings July 30 at Bakersfield. Beat Inland Empire September 2, allowing 1 unearned in 6 innings. Marked final regular-season appearance. Was the winning pitcher in the decisive Game 3 of the California League Mini-Series, scattering 4 runs and 7 hits over 6 2/3 innings. The JetHawks went on to drub Rancho Cucamonga, 21-6. Tabbed by MLB.com as Houston’s No. 24 prospect entering the season. 2015 – Went 9-5 with a 4.15 ERA in 21 games (18 starts) between Quad Cities and Lancaster. Logged 1 complete game and 1 save while striking out 81 against 21 walks in 106 1/3 innings. Started the season in extended spring training. Joined Quad Cities on May 8 and hurled 5 shutout innings for the win vs. Wisconsin in debut as an Astros farmhand. Held the Midwest League to 1 earned run in 5 of next 6 appearances, closing out his Quad Cities tenure. Named the River Bandits’ Pitcher of the Month for May. Went the distance June 15 vs. Great Lakes, fanning 7 while permitting 5 hits and 3 runs (1 ER). Promoted to the California League at the end of June. Was 1-2 in first 4 Lancaster appearances (3 GS) despite a 1.74 ERA and .222 opponent batting average. Rocked for 8 runs and 9 hits (1 HR) in 4 innings July 21 at San Jose. This began a 7-start stretch in which he posted a 10.92 ERA. Rebounded by winning his final 2 regular season starts, yielding 1 run each time out. Lost the decisive Game 3 of the Cal League Mini-Series vs. High Desert, allowing 5 runs (4 ER) on 3 hits and 2 walks while recording 1 out. Career Notes: Originally selected by the Rangers in the 2nd round of the June 2013 draft out of West Florence High School in Florence, SC. Had committed to Georgia Southern University to play baseball and football (wide receiver). Was a 3-sport student athlete at West Florence, and went 10-0 with a 0.62 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 59 innings as a senior. His cousin, Brandon Bostick, is an NFL tight end. YEAR CLUB 2013 AZL Rangers (R) 2014 Hickory (A) 2015 Quad Cities (A) Lancaster (A) 2016 Tri-City (A) Lancaster (A) 2017 Buies Creek (A) Corpus Christi (AA) Career Totals W-L ERA G GS CG SO SV 4-1 2.83 14 6 0 0 1 5-6 5.17 21 20 0 0 0 3-1 1.50 8 6 1 0 1 6-4 5.88 13 12 0 0 0 1-1 3.27 2 2 0 0 0 5-3 4.98 14 13 0 0 0 2-1 1.86 4 3 0 0 0 6-6 4.59 18 13 0 0 0 32-23 4.34 94 75 1 0 2 IP H R ER BB K 41.1 42 16 13 12 33 92.1 98 59 53 28 64 42.0 29 10 7 3 33 64.1 77 50 42 18 48 11.0 10 4 4 0 7 68.2 79 45 38 42 48 19.1 10 4 4 6 16 80.1 97 42 41 20 58 419.1 442 230 202 129 307 18