Corwin

Malone

None of the prospects are considered ''can’t-miss,’' though Malone’s stock was very high after his 2001 Single-A season. He fell off with control problems at Double-A in 2002. This year, he’s been equally bad, with a 17/24 K/BB rate and 7.16 ERA for Double-A Birmingham.

On the plus side, he has struck out 13 in 7 2/3 innings. Malone, once one of the White Sox’s top pitching prospects, had a 4.53 ERA in 13 starts and 20 relief appearances for Double-A Birmingham this season. Injuries have turned him into a longshot to contribute, but there’s some hope that he could still develop into a useful lefty reliever.

Malone has a 7.64 ERA in two starts and five relief appearances. He’s struck out 17, but he’s also walked 12 in his 17 2/3 innings.

Malone was once a top pitching prospect, but had Tommy John surgery on his elbow last season. He has a long road back, but is getting closer.

Malone was once a top prospect, but will spend this season recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Malone has battled shoulder and elbow problems since establishing himself as one of the top left-handed pitching prospects in baseball during 2001. At least there’s a good excuse for last season’s poor performance, as he probably spent most of last year pitching with a partially torn elbow ligament. Still, his stock is at an all-time low.

Malone struggled in his first start, but he’s allowed four runs over 13 innings his last four times out. A top prospect five years ago, Malone lost most of his luster even before missing 2004 due to Tommy John surgery. He was 9-11 with a 4.43 ERA, 141 H and 121/94 K/BB in 154 1/3 IP for Double-A Birmingham last season. Although he’s made some progress, he’s a long shot to have any success in the majors.