Collin McHugh is off to a Surprising Start for The Houston Astros

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As a prospect in the New York Mets system, Collin McHugh was always an afterthought. McHugh was selected by New York in the 18th round in 2008, and he was never a highly regarded pitcher. Most analysts believed he did not have the talent to succeed in the majors, but he is beginning to prove these critics wrong. For the Houston Astros in 2014, McHugh is off to a fabulous start.

While McHugh started the season in the minors, he has quickly established himself as a key piece in Houston’s rotation. In McHugh’s first start of the year, he fired six scoreless innings and struck out 12 against the Seattle Mariners. McHugh’s ERA now stands at 3.32 through six starts, and he owns an excellent 1.02 WHIP in 38 innings pitched. While it is still a small sample size, it is hard not be impressed by his early season dominance.

Even though McHugh lacks overpowering stuff, his upside is much higher than most people believe. McHugh will not light up any radar guns, but he is an intelligent pitcher with good command. McHugh also has a solid mix of off speed pitches, which he uses to keep hitters off balanced. While this profile may not seem exciting, these skills can translate into major league success.

Skeptics will likely call McHugh’s success so far this season an aberration, but it is unfair to completely write off his performance. He has the ability to develop into a solid starter, and he has always experienced success in the minor leagues. In seven minor league seasons, McHugh’s ERA is a strong 3.36. Given his skills and success in the minors, McHugh can develop into a valuable player for the Astros for years to come.