Royals tab Hochevar as No. 1 pick  —  Right-hander has ability to arrive in Majors quickly  —  The Kansas City Royals surprised no one by selecting a pitcher with the franchise's first ever No. 1 pick of the draft Tuesday.  But the Royals threw a curve by selecting not Andrew Miller …

Draft Blog: Day One  —  Throughout the first day of the draft, Baseball America's reporters will keep you updated with an ongoing draft day blog.  —  Last Second Top 10 Projection  —  12:57 p.m.: Our last-second projection for the Top 10 . . .  1. KC—Luke Hochevar  —  2. Col—Greg Reynolds

All Apologies  —  The New York Mets would like to apologize to the Los Angeles Dodgers for taking a series-opening win from them Monday night.  It was just, they swear, their way of soothing the hurt feelings of San Francisco Giants reliever Steve Kline who was critical of Lastings Milledge's momentary lapse …

It's a Broadway stage for Pauley in Act 2  —  NEW YORK — Until Thursday night in Toronto, David Pauley had never pitched above Double A. Until Sunday night, he had never set foot in New York City.  In fact, until he was dealt to the Red Sox by San Diego in December 2004 …

Beckett collapses — Yankees apply pressure  —  NEW YORK - The Red Sox parted with two of their top minor league prospects to land Josh Beckett from the Florida Marlins last November because the team believed it was receiving a big-game pitcher in return who would not wilt under pressure.

Padres-Brewers Preview  —  The San Diego Padres will welcome back ace Jake Peavy on Tuesday.  Given how they fared against him last month, the Milwaukee Brewers may not feel so hospitable.  —  After missing a start with tendinitis in his shoulder, Peavy and the Padres will face the Brewers …

Clemens set for Class A start before return to Astros  —  LEXINGTON, Ky. — Roger Clemens knows better than to look past the Lake County Captains.  —  Clemens takes the first step in his return to the Houston Astros when he pitches Tuesday night for the Class A Lexington Legends …

The Extra Innings Are No Bonus for the Bullpen  —  LOS ANGELES, June 5 — In this enchanted season, in which the Mets sit atop their division and seem to win every one-run game, they share a distinction with the worst team in baseball.  —  Though the Mets have 20 more victories than the Kansas City Royals …

Brewers tab high school pitcher at No.1  —  Right-hander Jeffress clocked in triple-digits on radar  —  MILWAUKEE — Apparently undaunted by the organization's past struggles drafting high school pitchers in the first round, the Brewers took Jeremy Jeffress with the 16th overall pick in the 2006 First-Year Player Draft.

Nationals Win Fifth Game in a Row  —  Cordero Escapes Trouble in the Ninth: Nationals 5, Braves 4  —  ATLANTA, June 5 — About three hours earlier, Washington Nationals Manager Frank Robinson sat in a small office in his team's clubhouse at Turner Field.  Asked if he worried …

2006 Draft: Washington Nationals  —  TOTAL PICKS:  —  2 (College: 0, High School: 2, Juco: 0, Other: 0)  —  Position Players: 1 Pitchers: 1  —  Players signed indicated in Bold  —  Round  —  Overall  —  Player  —  Position  —  3b  —  Monsignor Pace HS, Miami  —  FL

1 chance, 1 pitch, 1 dream deferred  —  'Back then, I thought, 'Well, there'll be other days.' I didn't realize that that was the only day.  Thus spoke Dr. Archibald "Moonlight" Graham, or at least a whimsical version of him brought to life by Burt Lancaster in the 1989 baseball—some would say cornball—film "Field of Dreams."

Prospectus Hit List  —  Week of June 4  —  Who doesn't love a rookie?  Whether it's a highly touted prospect making his not-so-long-awaited arrival, a green stopgap fresh off the turnip truck, or a lifer finally catching a break, nobody grabs our attention like the new guy.