SENATOBIA - After being selected in last summer's Major League Baseball Draft, a pair of former Northwest baseball players have learned their destinations for the start of the 2024 season.
Pitcher Dalton Fowler (Tampa Bay) and outfielder Caleb Hobson (Colorado) will both begin the season at the Single-A level of Minor League Baseball, with Fowler joining the Charleston RiverDogs of the Carolina League, and Hobson earning a spot on the Fresno Grizzlies of the California League.
After stints at Oklahoma and Memphis, Fowler was chosen in the ninth round of the 2023 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays organization, marking the second time the Arlington, Tenn. native has had his name called in the draft. (He was previously drafted by the New York Mets in the 27th round of the 2019 MLB Draft, but opted to return to Northwest for his sophomore season.)
Fowler spent the 2019-20 seasons with the Rangers and though his sophomore season was derailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Fowler certainly left his mark on Northwest. His freshman season was one for the books, as he finished with a 6-2 record on the mound and 88 strikeouts against 43 walks. He posted a 3.76 ERA and garnered First Team All-MACJC accolades, while helping the Rangers to a 33-14 overall record and an NJCAA Region 23 Tournament.
After spending the 2021 season at the University of Oklahoma, Fowler transferred closer to home and spent two seasons with the University of Memphis, becoming the highest draft pick for a Tigers' pitcher since Jonathan Bowlan in 2018. He was the only pitcher to start every series in 2022 and last season, he finished with 112 strikeouts, leading the American Athletic Conference.
Meanwhile, Hobson spent one season with UT Martin before being chosen by the Colorado Rockies in the 13th round. In his lone season with the Skyhawks, Hobson started in every game and posted another perfect fielding percentage, tallying 186 putouts in 187 total chances. At the plate, he batted .318 with nine doubles, six triples, six home runs and 38 RBIs. Hobson also swiped 36 stolen bases in 41 attempts, setting the new program record for most steals in a single-season.
Additionally, the Pontotoc native is the UT Martin's highest-ever MLB Draft pick.
In his two seasons with Northwest from 2021-22, Hobson filled the shoes left by Brayland Skinner (Mississippi State/Memphis) in center field, finishing with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage and 79 putouts. At the plate, he emerged as the Rangers' best hitter, batting .344 with seven doubles, three home runs and 19 RBIs, along with a .475 slugging percentage.
On the basepaths, Hobson stole a team-high 17 bases on 21 attempts and earned Honorable Mention All-MACCC recognition, helping Northwest to a 24-18 overall record and the NJCAA Region 23 Play-In series.
As a sophomore, Hobson raised his batting average to .355 with seven doubles, four triples, three homers and 15 RBIs, while also posting another perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with 64 putouts. He earned First Team All-MACCC accolades and concluded his Northwest career ranking third in the program record books for stolen bases (33), fifth in triples (4) and ninth for most runs scored in a season (55).
Hobson was the first Northwest outfielder to be drafted since Jordan Barnes in 2013 (15th round; New York Yankees). Additionally, he is the first Ranger to be drafted by the Rockies' organization and the first Northwest alumnus to play in the Colorado farm system since free agent LeeMarcus Boyd (Southern Miss) in 2018.
