Mike Hinckley

Hinckley has his second straight poor season, and there's simply no way a pitcher with a 4.79 K/9 rate as a 23-year-old at High-A can be considered a real prospect. The Nationals will give him another chance or two, simply because they have nothing to lose, but there's no reason for you to do the same.

Shoulder problems derailed Hinckley early, and he never seemed to get back on track. He's still one of the best pitching prospects in the thin Washington system, but as a 23-year-old he needs to start turning potential into performance sooner rather than later.

Hinckley made it to Double-A last year and looked good, although he has yet to post the K rate of a truly elite prospect. Clint Everts' Tommy John surgery leaves Hinckley as the Nationals' best arm in the minors -- another three months like he finished 2004, and he could find himself in the majors.

Hinckley, the third-rounder from the 2001 draft as a high school pitcher, has pitched well in the low-minors and is widely considered the team’s second best pitching prospect behind Clint Everts. The power-lefty has three pitches with a low-to-mid 90s fastball, a quality curveball with good depth, and a developing changeup. He should begin the 2004 season at high Single-A while continuing to develop the change and maybe a fourth pitch. More success and a sustained K-rate should get him to Double—A Harrisburg by season’s end.