LJ Hoes (Youse's Orioles '07) was rated the fourth best prospect in the Baltimore Orioles organization by Baseball America. He was rated the third best prospect in the organization by Fangraphs.

''Hoes was in the midst of a breakout season at high Class A Frederick, batting .310/.435/.416 in mid-May, when he developed a case of mononucleosis that knocked him out for more than a month. He didn't hit with the same authority when he returned to action at the end of June, as the mono seemed to sap his strength for the rest of the season,'' writes Will Lingo.

''With great balance at the plate and good command of the strike zone, Hoes is going to hit. He has quick hands and uses the middle of the field, projecting as a .300 hitter with gap power and average speed. A pitcher and outfielder in high school, he's still working on the nuances of playing second base. He has average actions and defensive tools, and he improved his fielding percentage from .939 in 2009 to .967 last season. Third base and left field are other possibilities, though his bat wouldn't profile nearly as well there.''

Of Hoes' future with the Orioles, Lingo writes: ''The Orioles are pleased with Hoes' progress and think he could be poised to consider his breakout in 2011. He'll probably spend the season in Double-A after finishing 2010 there.''

Baseball America projects Hoes as the Baltimore Orioles regular second baseman by 2014.

Hoes was the top prospect in the Ripken League in 2007 after an All-Star season. He was drafted in the third round of the 2008 MLB First Year Player Draft by the Baltimore Orioles, who signed him away from the University of North Carolina.

Baseball America also tabbed Glynn Davis (Youse's Orioles '10) as the ''Fastest Baserunner'' and Brian Conley (Youse's Orioles '06) as having the ''Best Strike-Zone Discipline'' in the Baltimore Orioles farm system.

Copyright Baseball America, 2010.