Ben Hughes
| IP | 243 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 5.556 |
| WHIP | 1.605 |
| BB/9 | 3.222 |
| SO/9 | 6.296 |
- Full name Ben Nicholas Hughes
- Born 11/29/1989 in St. Louis Park, MN
- Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School St. Olaf College
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Drafted in the 10th round (318th overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 2011 (signed for $100,000).
View Draft Report
Ben Hughes' combination of size, stuff and polish makes him the best prospect in the state. The 6-foot-5, 227-pound righthander has an assortment of pitches, starting with an 89-92 mph fastball that touches 94. He backs up his heater with a curveball, changeup and splitter, all of which have their moments. He uses his size to throw on a downhill plane, and his crossfire delivery to create more angle to the plate, making his pitches more difficult to hit. If he goes in the first 10 rounds, Hughes will surpass Andrew Schmiesing (Twins, 11th round, 2007) as the highest-drafted player in St. Olaf history.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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Hughes recorded a 5.30 ERA in his first two seasons at NCAA Division III St. Olaf (Minn.), then boosted his draft stock in the summer of 2010. Facing stiffer competition in the collegiate Northwoods League, he had a 2.50 ERA and struck out both batters he faced in the circuit's all-star game. He earned Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference pitcher of the year honors last spring after going 7-1, 2.50 with 83 strikeouts in 58 innings. The first D-III player selected in the 2011 draft, he went 318th overall and signed for $100,000. Hughes has a big, durable frame and throws a heavy 90-96 mph fastball. His long arms and crossfire delivery create tough angle on his pitches, though he worked in instructional league to add more depth to his fastball. He got away with a lot of high heaters in D-III and probably won't be able to against better hitters. Hughes also features a splitter that can be unhittable at times. The rest of his repertoire consists of a changeup that grades as average and a curveball that's still a work in progress. After he got rocked in his pro debut last summer, Hughes will begin his first full pro season at low Class A Asheville.
