Eric Hurley

Here is the book comment on Eric Hurley, obviously written before the news that he is out for 2009 with shoulder problems.

Eric Hurley, RHP, Texas Rangers                                               

Bats: R    Throws: R     HT: 6-4      WT: 195   DOB: September 17, 1985

 I think my biggest weakness as a prospect evaluator is that I’m sometimes too reluctant to lower the rating on a guy that I’ve liked in the past. Hurley’s weaknesses were exposed last year, and I don’t think I paid enough attention to the warning signs that were popping up in 2007, namely his excessive home run rate and fly ball tendency at Oklahoma. I gave him a Grade B+ last year, but I think B- would have been a better grade. In any event, Hurley continued to give up too many homers and fly balls in ’08, and this hurt him at the major league level. He was also hampered by hamstring and shoulder problems, doesn’t throw as hard as he used to, and enters 2009 as a huge question mark. Hurley is still young, and still has enough arm strength and movement on his pitches to be an effective major league moundsman. I don’t think conditions in Texas are really ideal for him; a change of scenery may be necessary for him to thrive. Grade C+.