[Herky]

Name: Sean Gallagher
Position: Right handed pitcher
DOB: 12/30/1985
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 210lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R

History: Apparently Gallagher was a bit impatient. After a nice stint in the Arizona Rookie League his first season an injury allowed Gallagher to get a taste of Lo-A ball. It was supposed to be a taste anyway, like the guy in the grocery store who makes the sample tables his lunch Gallagher gorged himself on Lo-A hitters, rattling off 36 straight innings without giving up an earned run, and didn't stop there, going 14-5 with an ERA under 3.00 before a one game promotion to Hi-A Daytona. All he did there was throw five innings of one run ball, striking out seven without giving up a walk.

Pitches: Apparently all that 'raw' talk went out the window after the '04 season. Of his fastball/curve/change arsenal only the curveball sticks out. Command is key for Gallagher, who's fastball is low 90s at best and change is still a project. That lack of velocity is the reason he stays in the 20s on this list, though a full season at Hi-A next year would prove us gleefully wrong.

The change up might be the key to future success for Gallagher. In '05 it was inconsistent, but he rarely got hurt on it because the curveball was dominating. As hitters learn they can sit on the curve because he is unable to blow the fastball by them the changeup will become more and more important.

"He was incredible in the Midwest League," a scout who watched the league says, "but he's got to learn to keep that change up down to get lefties out at higher levels. If he does that he could turn into a right handed Barry Zito."

Prediction: Gallagher has two very big things going for him, command and a head start. Since he won't turn 21 until the after the '06 season the Cubs will make every effort to keep him at each level a full season, and work on the change. Since spotting the curveball isn't a problem, it also allows him to put the majority of the work in on the change. But there is one other thing that could come to his aid.

"I'm not convinced he's done growing," our scout says, "and if he adds another tick or two to the fastball, all of a sudden he could turn into a front of the rotation starter. It's not so much about the velocity on the fastball as it is the difference between the fastball and change, if he can get that different to 10MPH then the sky's the limit, because that curveball is going to devastate hitters at every level unless they go up there looking for it."

ETA: Youth is served. The Cubs instincts will tell them to leave him at each level for a full season, but that was the plan last year as well. It stands to reason that if an injury opens a spot in Double-A his name will at least be in the conversation to fill it, based on the success of last year when he skipped ahead. We're not willing to make the Greg Maddux/Barry Zito comparison's yet, but if he saw any time at Double-A next year and survived we'll be changing our tune like a jam band in the middle of their finally.