MiLB.com has a profile on Nats LHSP prospect Mike Hinckley’s recovery from shoulder surgery. Hinckley was the Nats top prospect entering the 2005 season “but after suffering a strained shoulder in Spring Training, Hinckley didn’t make his first start until May, and even then it was obvious that his very valuable left shoulder was not acting the way it should.”
His 2004 numbers painted a picture of an up-and-coming 21-year old (156IP 1.10WHIP 7.6K/9 2.4BB/9 0.6HR/9) while splitting time between Brevard County and Harrisburg. His 2005 numbers clearly reflected the shoulder issues (127.2IP 1.58WHIP 5.6K/9 3.6BB/9 0.7HR/9) all in Potomac.
The shoulder problems presented Hinckley with the opportunity to change the grip on his changeup, making it more effective. This would give him a third pitch to complement his 90+ mph fastball and a 75-80 mph curveball with bite.
Another spring with Randy St. Claire should go along way towards getting Hinckley’s career back on track. Rather than wasting time and money on guys like Pedro Astacio, it would be much wiser developmentally to give Hinckley increased exposure this Spring. Hinckley is likely to start the season in Double-A Harrisburg though a quick promotion to New Orleans is not out of the question. Look for Hinckley to get his first legitimate opportunity at making the Nats in 2007.
Nate | 23-Feb-06 at 6:54 am | Permalink
Seems to me that one of the scant benefits of zero pitching depth is that we could spend Sammy Sosa’s erstwhile $1M on Astacio and still give Hinckley a long look this spring. Of course, with Billy Traber around, who needs Hinckley anyway?
NFA_Brian | 23-Feb-06 at 8:48 am | Permalink
Perhaps Nate. But knowing a certain manager’s fascination with veteran presence, I’d imagine Hinckley would quickly be relegated to the field where Chad Bowden was fielding grounders