Chart Observations: ARI @ KC

• Dan Haren came from an over the top release. His fastball had good run and some sink. His split had solid diving action and is his out pitch. His cutter shows some cut and sink and his curveball was slurvy and inconsistent and was a 1-8 pitch. His fastball was the best I have seen it, but this also caused his curve to flatten out. Borderline ace.

1st: FB (91-92), Split (89)

2nd: Gameday Issues

3rd: FB (90-94), CB (80-81), Split (87), Cut (86-89)

4th: FB (92-94), CB (78-81), Split (86), Cut (89)

5th: FB (90-92)

6th: FB (91-95), CB (79-80), Split (86-87), Cut (86-91)

7th: FB (89-92), CB (79), Split (86)

• Luke Hochevar is a 6-5, 210 pound righty. The 25 year old has a big frame that can get up to at least 225. He comes from a 3/4 release with a drop and drive delivery. His fastball is a sinker with some run and sink. His slider is a 2-7 pitch with above average bite and serves as his out pitch. His curveball is a big breaking 12-6 with good depth. His change has some good fade and sink. Will throw the curve from a high 3/4, almost over the top release and believe he tips the pitch with this. Hochevar generates very few swings and misses and operates on a small margin of error. He has the tools to be a good # 3, but he is still struggling with his command. I think he is a # 5 right now.

1st: FB (90-93), SL (82-85)

2nd: FB (88-92), SL (82-83), CB (76)

3rd: Gameday Issues

4th: FB (90-93), SL (83-84), CB (73-76)

5th: FB (91), CB (73)

• Jamey Wright is a 6-5, 225 pound righty. The 34 year old has a big frame that can add more muscle. He comes from a high 3/4, almost over the top release. His fastball shows good run and a little sink. His curveball is a 1-7 with good depth and can be a strikeout pitch. His splitter has a little dive and his cutter has some cut, but it can flatten out. His command can be inconsistent. Solid middle reliever.

5th: FB (88-94), Cut (89), CB (74-79), Split (86)

• Juan Cruz is a 6-2, 165 pound righty. The 30 year old has a medium frame that can add a lot more muscle, but it looks the exact same as it did when he first debuted so I wouldn't count on it. He comes from a 3/4 release. His fastball shows good run. His slider is a 2-7 with good bite. He has added a cutter and that had some cut to it, but it was inconsistent. He only threw 1 slider and the rest of his pitches were FB/Cut.

6th: FB (94-97), Cut (89-91), SL (82)

7th: FB (91-96), Cut (89-91)

• Ron Mahay comes from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run, a splitter that had a little sink, but was fairly straight and a 11-4 slider with good bite.

8th: FB (91-92), SL (82-83), Split (84-87)

• Clay Zavada came from a high 3/4 release and showed a fastball with some run, a straight change and a 10-4 cutter with some bite.

8th: FB (87-90), CU (79-82), Cut (81)

• Joakim Soria is a 6-3, 205 pound righty. The 25 year old has a medium to big frame that can get up to at least 215. He comes from a 3/4 release. His fastball has some run. His curveball is a big breaking 12-6 with good depth. His change has excellent late sink and fade and he will throw it to righties. Above average closer who is beginning to have some durability questions.

9th: FB (90-91), CB (67), CU (84-86)

• Chad Qualls comes from a 3/4 release and showed a fastball with excellent run and sink and a 2-7 slider with excellent bite. He is an above average closer as well, as his stuff is very impressive.

9th: FB (92-94), SL (84-89)

• Luis Hernandez is a 5-10, 180 pound 24 year old. The switch hitter, righty thrower has a small frame that is maxed out. From the righty side, he has a very slightly open stance with a little bat wiggle and a trigger of a double step and a cocking of the bat. More of a gap hitter and can play anywhere on the field. The problem is the Royals have quite a few of these and he doesn't project to be much of a hitter. Organizational player.
• Tug Hulett is a 5-10, 185 pound 26 year old. The lefty hitter, righty thrower has a small frame that can add a touch more muscle. He has a slightly open stance and stands straight up with the bat 45 degrees over his shoulder. His trigger is a moderate leg kick and a cocking of the bat. Similar to Hernandez but doesn't appear to be as fast, but has a little more power. Hulett also may not be able to handle shortstop. He is a 4-A player.