Luke Hochevar

2013

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2012

Did the light finally come on for Hochevar in second half of 2011? After the All-Star break, he had 68 strikeouts and 24 walks with a 3.52 ERA over 79.1 innings. For those new to Hochevar, these are numbers never before seen from the righty. In the past he's had trouble missing bats, but that changed in the later half of 2011 as he may have discovered that his slider can be a very effective tool at putting batters away. It's much too soon to declare the former No. 1 overall pick's career back on track, but a sleeper candidate for the 2012 season, why not?

2011

Hochevar certainly didn't set the world on fire with his 2010 campaign, but he enters 2011 with his spot in the rotation solidified. He managed to cut down both his home runs and hits allowed last season while his K/9IP rate remained static at 6.6. His FIP indicates he was a tad unlucky in 2010, but not enough to expect a major improvement from luck alone in 2011.

2010

Hochevar simply fell apart after the All-Star break in his second full season with the Royals. He began 2009 with a 5-3 record thanks to solid run support. His second half was down right miserable as he posted a 2-10 record with a 7.35 ERA. Although his K/9IP was impressive at 8.4, his WHIP skyrocketed to 1.599 in the second half. Hochevar also fell victim to the long ball, giving up 23 home runs in 25 starts. Hochevar is a young power arm with great potential and it is common for young pitchers to struggle down the stretch as they are not accustomed to logging the amount of innings a major league starter throws during a complete season. His second-half fade is a worry, but the Royals are highly vested in the right-hander and he will enter 2010 as their No. 3 starter.

2009

We saw glimpses of potential in Hochevar in 2008, his first extended visit to the major leagues, but his season ended early because of a late-August rib cage injury. He also showed up a little late, starting the season with Triple-A Omaha, then earning a promotion when John Bale’s arm went sour. Even though his regular rookie stats weren’t great (5.51 ERA, 1.473 WHIP, 72:47 K:BB in 129 innings), he got a lot of groundball outs, which is good news for a sinkerball pitcher. He had the skills to go first overall in the 2006 draft (ahead of Tim Lincecum, Clayton Kershaw and Evan Longoria), and he should pitch from the middle of the Royals’ rotation in 2009.

2008

Hochevar's main 2007 minor league stats (4-9, 4.86 ERA, .271 BAA in 26 starts between Double-A and Triple-A) suggested that a transition to the majors may still be a year away, but his 138:47 K:BB ratio showed maybe he would be ready a little bit earlier. The 40th overall pick in the 2005 draft pitched well enough in his four September appearances for the Royals to warrant some consideration for the fifth starter's gig coming out of spring training, but odds are he will start the season in Triple-A and get the callup sometime during the summer.

2007

The No. 1 overall choice in the 2006 draft (after being the 40th player selected and not signing in 2005), Hochevar spent much of the 2006 season relaxing and waiting for Scott Boras to show him the money. The Royals came to terms with him in August and saw a glimpse of his potential when he struck out 16 in 15 innings and walking two at low-A Burlington. Shoulder tightness ended his Arizona Fall League season early, but he is expected to be fully healthy this spring and on the fast track to the majors with likely a ETA of 2008.