Where's the love for Luke Hochevar?

[B-Chad]

He was selected 1st overall in the 2006 draft, so he has the pedigree. He was mediocre/bad last year in over 120 innings, but he also only had about 12 prior innings in the bigs, so that was to be expected. He's a groundball machine, and Sir Sidney currently occupies a spot in the Royals rotation, so I've gotta ask, where's the love? He was the cover boy tonight on MILB.com so I had to check out his numbers this year, and they are lights out. He's also putting together an absolutely dominant start tonight (http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb ... pid=460024). How soon can he be expected back up, and is the Royals infield defense good enough to take advantage of all his ground balls? Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[hett2333]

I personally think we'll see him get the call within the next month.

[Field]

I don't think he's in the class of other top prospects we've seen come up in recent years. His road to this point has set him back.

[J35J]

He'll be up within 2-3 weeks. With that said he's pretty much Jair Jurrjens or Armando Gallaraga...top end being Derek Lowe. Low K's and mediocore WHIP more than likely. He'll be one of those guys that are better in real life than what he will give you in fantasy.

[hett2333]

He'll be up within 2-3 weeks. With that said he's pretty much Jair Jurrjens or Armando Gallaraga...top end being Derek Lowe. Low K's and mediocore WHIP more than likely. He'll be one of those guys that are better in real life than what he will give you in fantasy.

If he can be as effictive as Gallaraga then he's going to be a great add at this point in the season.

[B-Chad]

I see he had a decent K/9 in AA a couple years back, any chance he's able to strikeout more hitters then we are giving him credit for? I know he has a filthy sinker which is why he induces such an insane ground ball rate, but what else does he throw? I unfortunately don't have last year's BA Prospect HB to reference right now (I have this years and lent a friend last years), but it seems if he is learning how to pitch and figuring out how to use an out pitch, he might be able to ring up some somewhat respectable k numbers. J35J, I know you are by far the best source for Royals info on the cafe, so I'm curious if you could further enlighten me. I'll add that I play in leagues that go well beyond typical 5x5 stats, hence the interest in the first place. I love his respectable walk rate, and the fact that as a ground baller who attacks the zone, he should go deep into games. I'm also intrigued by the K's he's currently put up in AAA this year. Finally, I'm not looking at him as a savior, but given his college experience, his minors expierence, and the 120+ Major League innings last year I have to believe he'd be useful to fill out rotations. Thanks in advance.

[kickureface]

He'll be up within 2-3 weeks. With that said he's pretty much Jair Jurrjens or Armando Gallaraga...top end being Derek Lowe. Low K's and mediocore WHIP more than likely. He'll be one of those guys that are better in real life than what he will give you in fantasy.

If he can be as effictive as Gallaraga then he's going to be a great add at this point in the season.

whats so special about gallaraga? isnt he kinda new, and he got smoked today

[hett2333]

Well he made his case to be called up even stronger after last night's performance.
8 IP 0 ER 5 H 0 BB 9 SO
I'd say he's ready...

[jjs]

Him and H. Bailey will both be up in the next two weeks. Can't decide who to take the shot on. Really like that he got the 9k's.

[Yanks_Baby]

Don't look for much fantasy upside here. His ceiling is prob around 140 k's in 200 IP, and KC, while not as bad as it once was, isn't good enough for him to rack up the wins like some other ground ball pitchers. I guess he could turn into a solid #4 or #5 SP to round out your ratios, but that's about it.