His ISU Junior Grand Prix debut came in the 2009–2010 season. Hochstein won silver in Budapest and placed fourth in Dresden, earning qualification to the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final, where he placed 5th. After finishing 7th on the senior level at the 2010 U.S. Championships, he was assigned to the 2010 World Junior Championships in The Hague, Netherlands. He placed first in the short program, 7th in the free skate, and 5th overall.