Phil Hughes

Orange County has three prep righthanders with first-round potential, and the 6-foot-4, 215-pound Hughes has emerged as the best prospect. He has the complete package, including a power arm that can generate 93-95 mph heat. He also has excellent body control for a pitcher his size, a fluid delivery and an advanced feel for his craft. Some scouts say he's ahead of Mark Prior at the same stage of development. In a seven-inning perfect game this spring against Laguna Hills High, Hughes struck out 13 and threw just 74 pitches; his first and last pitches were clocked at 95. On the year, he went 8-1, 0.78 with three walks and 75 strikeouts in 54 innings. Hughes isn't a big strikeout pitcher because his fastball lacks movement, and he was more concerned with tightening his mechanics and developing his offspeed stuff, which ranges from a tight slider to a slurvy breaking ball. But he throws all his pitches for strikes and is projectable. Hughes has committed to Santa Clara, just like Jared Hughes (no relation), who was one of the top pitching prospects in Orange County a year ago but fell to the 16th round amid concerns about signability. Philip is considered less likely to attend college, paving the way for his selection in the middle of the first round.