Eric Hurley

Hurley's season ended in early January with a torn rotator cuff, continuing a career-long problem of staying healthy. His control had waned prior to this latest shoulder injury, so there's obvious concern on how he’ll rebound from the latest in a long string of injuries. He'll enter spring training with a chance to earn a rotation spot, but will be well behind the competition given his injury woes.

Hurley's control improved in 13 starts at Triple-A Oklahoma City compared with his debut there in 2007, earning him a promotion to the majors where he made five starts before hamstring and shoulder problems sidelined him in late June. His career-long struggles with the longball continue to persist, as demonstrated by a ghastly .34 G/F ratio in 24.2 major league innings and 15 homers allowed at Triple-A. He's too young to give up on, having just turned 23, but he's a poor fit for hitter-friendly Texas given his flyball tendencies. He'll get a shot to crack the rotation this spring, but he still has several issues to iron out before he can be counted on every fifth day.

Hurley made 13 starts at Triple-A Oklahoma City after a nice early season at Double-A Frisco (88.2 innings, 71 hits, 27 walks, 76 K). His numbers at Triple-A dipped a bit (73.1 innings, 65 hits, 28 walks, 59 K), but were solid for a Triple-A debut at the age of 21. He hasn't done a good job of keeping the ball on the ground (.54 G/F rate at Triple-A), which could result in some struggles in the majors, but that's fixable given his decent control as he matures. He'll likely begin the year in the minors, but could see the majors by July if he pitches well.

Hurley was limited to just six starts at Double-A Frisco due to an oblique injury after a decent 18-start stint at High-A Bakersfield (100.2 innings, 92 hits, 32 walks, 106 Ks). At Frisco, Hurley pitched very well (37 innings, 21 hits, 11 walks and 31 Ks) and figures to start there again in 2007. He'll join the ranks of the Danks-Volquez-Diamond troika as solid pitching prospects with Texas, and figures to trail only Danks by year's end.

Texas' second pick in the 2004 draft, Hurley ended up leading the Low-A Midwest League in strikeouts in 2005. He should split time between high-A Bakersfield and Double-A Frisco in 2006 and ranks among the better lower-level pitching prospects in baseball.

The hard throwing 18-year-old from Jacksonville needs to further develop his repertoire and might wind up a closer candidate as the years unfold. He has increased his velocity to the mid 90s leading some to believe he might be able to continue to go beyond as he matures.