Features

We can spend all the time in the world trying to predict just how effective Phil Hughes is going to be as a major league pitcher, but in the end the proof will be in the proverbial pudding. Any number of things could happen between now and the end of his career.

For the remainder of Spring Training, Project Prospect will be taking notes on how top pitching prospect are faring in their spring appearances.

Each Monday for the rest of Spring Training Project Prospect will be taking notes on how the best young hitters are faring in their Spring Training at-bats.

Each Friday for the rest of Spring Training Project Prospect will be taking notes on how the best young arms are faring in their Spring Training appearances.

While year-to-year leagues remain an interesting challenge of draft rankings, waiver-wire work, and successfully dodging injuries, more and more fantasy owners are curious to try a keeper or dynasty set-up.

Nick Adenhart was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the in the 14th round of the 2004 draft out of high school.

After being drafted by the Houston Astros in the 2nd round of the 2004 draft, Pence, 23, moved from the Southland Conference at Texas-Arlington to the New York-Penn League.

Drafted in the third round of the 2004 MLB draft by the Toronto Blue Jays, Adam Lind has risen to the top of the Jays farm system in two and a half years.

The young phenom out of the Dominican Republic has thus far, lived up to the $1.4 million that the New York Mets paid for him in 2005.

As amazingly talented as Carl Crawford and Delmon Young are – not to mention Evan Longoria, B.J. Upton, Reid Brignac, and Elijah Dukes – their future emergence will not determine whether Tampa Bay ever makes the playoffs.

No one in the minors can hit like Billy Butler can. No one.

The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Royal farmhand has made a name for himself since being drafted in the first round of the 2004 draft. He has flat out mashed the ball from day one on his ascension to becoming one of baseball’s top prospects.

Originally drafted to be a third baseman, concerns about Butler’s defense have forced him to move to the outfield where he has had a fair shot at both corner positions.

Jason Hirsh, the towering right-handed pitcher sent from Houston to Colorado on December 12th, has worked his way from being a non-scholarship pitcher at Division III Cal Lutheran to a top prospect in baseball poised to make a splash in 2007.

Once billed as the next great shortstop prospect, B.J. Upton has yet to be become an everyday player for the Devil Rays.

Ryan Braun has quickly become a top 25 prospect in baseball, top 5 third base prospect and top 2 prospect in the Brewers system.

After signing for $1 Million less than teammate Ian Kennedy out of the 2006 draft, Nebraska’s own Joba Chamberlain has positioned himself near the top of the New York Yankee prospect watch list.

Every time a prospect demonstrates elite ability one of the first questions everyone asks is: who’s in front of him?

From what we’ve heard, the level of competition in the Hawaii Winter Baseball League was around High-A. So players who stood out on the island may be on the fast track to Double-A and could even jump straight to it.

Historically known as a prime locale for the best hitters in the minors to come and showcase their abilities, the Arizona Fall League initially promised a potentially course reversal in 2006.

John Mayberry Jr. isn’t the only prospect in Hawaii who has really elevated his game to a point where he is all of a sudden on prospect radars everywhere.

In the second to last week of the Hawaii Winter Baseball League, Joba Chamberlain brought his WHIP down to 0.77 through 33.2 innings.

The Devil Rays shut down their two marquee names this week as rosters continue to shrink.

The Seattle Mariners 2006 Minor League Player of the Year, 24-year-old first baseman Bryan LaHair, has vaulted from a draft and follow pick to a player who stands a good chance of helping the big league club as soon as 2007.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Last week, Nick Christie wrote about three talented outfielders who will be 23-years-old in 2007. He continued along the line of 23-year-old breakout studs this week by taking a look at some young lefties.

Pitchers are in charge in Hawaii.

Another week saw the withdrawals of top talent because of injury concerns, although a Houston outfielder was yanked as a disciplinary measure.

They are set to turn 23, but are they ready to blossom into the all-stars they’re expected to become?

It’s not quite Halloween yet, but I already showed off my costume during the night scene last Saturday.

This week saw some very big names withdraw because of injury concerns, although both appear to be minor fatigue issues, rather than any serious damage.

What a difference a week makes. Maybe the hitters got comfortable, maybe the pitchers got scouted, who knows… but the week began roughly, Monday, for some high caliber guys.

An earthquake occurred of the western shore of the main island in Hawaii at 7:07AM local time on Sunday, October 15. The earthquake resulted in no reported deaths – only minor injuries such as broken bones.