He’s got a shot to win a job out of Spring Training, but more realistically, Ackley will arrive in Seattle around mid-season. But judging by his first professional season during which he actually improved his numbers after being promoted to Triple-A, it won’t take Ackley long to adjust to MLB pitchers. This kid has future star and batting champion written all over him.

The southpaw was filthy good at High-A, striking out 12 per nine in four starts before forcing a promotion to Double-A, where his results were more modest, but still solid. Blessed with an ideal pitcher’s build (6’5”, 180), Montgomery is a future front-of-rotation starter on a team that has a boatload of such options.

His long-term future will be in the rotation, but his ability to pitch in late innings – as he did in his first taste of the majors last year – makes him a very intriguing player for 2011. Sale first burst onto the scene with a brilliant showing in the 2009 Cape Cod League, a performance which prompted the Sox to take him 13th overall in last year’s draft. He’s been on the fast track since, tearing through the minors last year and arriving in the Show after just 11 appearances between High-A and Triple-A. And in looking at what he did in Chicago, Sale clearly wasn’t rushed, as he adjusted to each jump with ease and even improved his numbers after arriving in the majors. He may not have as much upside as some of the players above him, but Sale came into the professional ranks about as MLB-ready as a prospect can be.

He was brought up to the big leagues as a reliever last year, but was sent back down to stretch out his arm as a starter, however, he developed a shoulder issue. From the sounds of it, he’s fine now and will compete for a rotation spot this spring, but is more likely targeted for the Triple-A rotation. In his first taste of the Show, the youngster had some serious control problems, an issue that’s cropped up from time to time in his professional career. I also worry about the young righty’s frame (6’0”, 162), but there’s no denying he has upside as a No. 1 starter. The Mets believe they have a real gem on their hands with Mejia, so hopefully they will stop screwing with him and keep him as a starter for the foreseeable future. He probably could use at least a half-season in the Triple-A rotation to hone his control before he’s ready to come back to New York – this time to stay, I assume.