Pre-Game Pitching Notes

Twins righty Kevin Slowey has been posting very good strikeout and walk numbers and for the most part pitching well with just his two fastballs. It will be interesting to see if he brings anything else to the table tonight - like his curveball - and can pitch into the 6th inning or beyond. Something he's failed to do in his last 3 starts.

The Royals send out prospect Luke Hochevar who has an interesting honor in baseball history. He's the only player to be drafted with the first pick in the amateur draft. Twice. After being drafted first in 2005 by the Dodgers, Hochevar and super-agent  Scott Boras held out for money that the  Dodgers never ponied up. Hochevar switched agents, accepted a deal with the Dodgers, then reneged after bringing Boras back on-board one day later. This prompted Dodgers General Manager Ned Colletti to publicly vow that he'd never work with Boras again.

He was back in the draft the next year and this time the Royals managed to lock him down ponying up huge money for the kid, with a contract that gave him a 3.5 million signing bonus and incentives that could bring his four year Major League contract up to 7 million dollars.

Hochevar own a 4.13 career ERA in his two minor league seasons, but moved quickly through the system, posting good strikeout and walk rates at every step except for AAA.During his last start, Hochevar did his best Boof Bonser impersonation, allowing a first inning grand slam to Brad Wilkerson.

Colletti went on to renege on his own vow, signing Boras client Andruw Jones this winter. Jones has been predictably miserable during his time with the Dodgers.