Date published: 6/22/2006


By TODD JACOBSON

Mike Hinckley's fastball touched 90 mph, his curveball had its old bite and
his changeup stopped hitters dead in their tracks. For the first time in a
long while, the Nationals' left-hander felt like the top prospect he once was.

"Everything just came together and it was fun," said Hinckley, who was named
Carolina League Pitcher of the Week after allowing two hits, no runs and
striking out five in 8 innings for Single-A Potomac Friday. "That's the way
it used to be."

That was 2004--when Hinckley breezed through stops at Single-A Brevard County
and Double-A Harrisburg with an 11-4 record and a 2.77 ERA. But 2005 brought
a nagging pain in his right shoulder and a 3-9 mark.

He had hoped to make it to the big leagues. Instead he languished at Potomac
all season, and after the year found out why: He needed surgery to release
the posterior capsular in his left shoulder.

Hinckley had the surgery, but struggled again early this season.

"I expected to be pretty good, but even though it was a 20-minute procedure,
it's still surgery," Hinckley said. "In the offseason, it was kind of a
roller coaster. I would feel really good and then it would go downhill."

His season was more of the same.

He pitched to one batter in his first start of the year before rain ended the
game and his night and he struggled the next time around, allowing six runs
in 4 innings. The fastball that had once touched 94 hovered in the mid-80s,
and after seven starts, his ERA stood at 5.65.

Washington, which once viewed Hinckley as close to major league-ready, called
up Mike O'Connor and Shawn Hill from the minors--but not Hinckley.

"I was basically learning all over again how to pitch," Hinckley said. "You
can get away with mistakes when you are throwing 92 and 93 and when you are
throwing 84 to 87 you have to pitch low in the zone. It's really helped me
coming back."

But in a crucial year for the 23-year-old 2001 third-round draft pick, he's
turned things around. He's allowed just three runs in his last 19 innings,
striking out 10 batters. He is 4-3 on the season, and he's lowered his ERA to
3.98.

He didn't get the win Friday, but it was the first time he'd ever pitched
into the ninth inning. He touched 90 mph on the radar gun for the first time
all year, and for the first time in a while, he sensed he was making
progress.

"Obviously my goal is to make the major leagues this year just like it was
last year. That is still within reach," Hinckley said. "I just want to keep
being consistent. All I can really do is keep pitching well and force their
hand to move me."


Date published: 6/22/2006