So, you likely missed the wire on Phil Hughes getting called up. We did, too. Darn it. We get paid to not be that guy.

But the thing to do now is sign up the next potential Hughes call-up in your Fantasy leagues and tuck him away.

Before we outline who's got next ...

The Hughes file
Born: June 24, 1986
Height/Weight: 6-5/220
Drafted: No. 23 overall (2004)
Current Triple-A stats
W-L ERA BAA
2-1 3.94 .200
GS IP K-BB
3 16 17-4
Minor-league totals ('04-'06)
W-L ERA WHIP
21-7 2.13 .860
GS IP K-BB
45 237 1/3 269-54

Hughes, who makes his big-league debut Thursday night vs. the Blue Jays, is currently owned in 63 percent of CBS SportsLine Fantasy leagues. He is the most-added pitcher in our leagues and the second most-added player overall leading up to his major league debut. If you're in one of the 37 percent that has him still sitting on the waiver wire, what are you waiting for?

The 20-year-old right-hander is the most hyped young arrival since that of King Felix Hernandez, who was still 18 at the time. Pitching for the Yankees, and it likely won't be just for one start, they say, makes Hughes a potential immediate impact pitcher. He makes the Chase Wright(s), Jeff Karsten(s), Darrell Rasner(s) and Kei Igawa(s) of the world look like waiver fodder.

Hughes might be the best Fantasy rookie pitcher to arrive this season. Even if he does get sent back down after a few starts, he should be back, barring injury. And, like we always say, anyone getting starts behind that potent Yankees lineup is intriguing in all Fantasy leagues.

Top next wave ...

1. Jon Lester, Red Sox
Ownership on CBS SportsLine: 19 percent
Blocked by: Julian Tavarez

He should be stashed in all leagues that allow DL spots at this point. His rehab assignment is moving to Triple-A and will expire soon. Current Red Sox No. 5 starter Julian Tavarez, who was roughed up in his last start, will get one more start Sunday and might give way to the cancer survivor. Lester is clear of lymphoma and has proven healthy and effective to date. Like Hughes, anyone getting starts for the Red Sox will be intriguing in Fantasy leagues.

2. Tim Lincecum, Giants
Ownership on CBS SportsLine: 24 percent
Blocked by: Russ Ortiz

How in the world is he owned in more leagues than Lester? OK. Perhaps it is because of the recent hype and numbers. The 2006 first-rounder's last outing was Matt Cain-like: 6 1/3 innings and no hits. He was pulled because of pitch count, which was run up by six walks. He has averaged eight strikeouts per start thus far.

3. Homer Bailey, Reds
Ownership on CBS SportsLine: 17 percent
Blocked by: Eric Milton or Matt Belisle

A guy we have billed as the next Josh Beckett failed to impress in spring training -- much like Hughes did (didn't?). He is still one of the best pitching prospects in baseball who is doing well in Triple-A for a team that sorely needs another good arm to back up Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo.

4. Yovani Gallardo, Brewers
Ownership on CBS SportsLine: 9 percent
Blocked by: Claudio Vargas

Another player we have made lofty comparisons with, considering him a candidate to be the next Francisco Liriano. His strikeout rate reminds us of Liriano, but we have to admit his command isn't as good. His strikeout rate in Triple-A has been on par with that of Lincecum and Gallardo has been a similar darling in our new most-scouted players feature.

5. Andrew Miller, Tigers
Ownership on CBS SportsLine: 9 percent
Blocked by: Chad Durbin

He is only in high Class A right now, but he was the class of the 2006 draft, even though Luke Hochevar went No. 1 overall. Miller is the better arm and -- most important -- Durbin is awful. The Tigers are not afraid of moving prospects up quickly, so Miller could be a factor as a No. 5 starter well before the original mid-summer prediction made this spring by manager Jimmy Leyland.

Some others to consider from contending teams:

Rookie watch

Here are the top rookies in Fantasy to date (stats through April 25):

Top 5 AL Fantasy Rookies
Position, player, team Rotisserie stats to date
1 SP Daisuke Matsuzaka, BOS 2-2, 4.00 ERA, 31 K, 1.240 WHIP, 0 SV
Knew he could handle pitch counts; K rate better than we thought.
2 RF Delmon Young, TB .279 AVG, 3 HR, 13 RBI, 14 R, 1 SB
Alex Gordon's struggles are making it easy on D.Y. so far.
3 3B Akinori Iwamura, TB .339-1-5-15-3
Great start spoiled by recent 4-to-6 week trip (oblique) to DL.
4 SP Dustin Moseley, LAA (2-0)-1.17-7-0.933-0
Relegated to middle relief now, but still could be spot start option.
5 LF Adam Lind, TOR .313-0-4-6-0
We have a hunch he will hit well enough to stick around all year.
Honorable mentions: RP Joakim Soria, KC; 2B Alexi Casilla, MIN; SP Dallas Braden, OAK; SP Kei Igawa, NYY; SP John Danks, CHW; OF Elijah Dukes, TB; 3B Alex Gordon, KC; OF Travis Buck, OAK; 2B Dustin Pedroia, BOS; RP Sean Henn, NYY.
Top 5 NL Fantasy Rookies
Position, player, team Rotisserie stats
1 OF Josh Hamilton, CIN .298 AVG, 6 HR, 12 RBI, 11 R, 1 SB
Sure doesn't look like a rookie or like he has been out of baseball.
2 SP Jason Hirsh, COL (2-1), 3.16 ERA, 23 K, 1.130 WHIP, 0 SV
Dice-K is the only rookie SP you can argue over him right now.
3 C Carlos Ruiz, PHI .296-1-8-8-1
Steady numbers have ownership up to 30 percent, and rising.
4 C Miguel Montero, ARI .241-2-5-2-0
Still not a full-time backstop, but Chris Snyder is struggling.
5 SP Micah Owings, ARI (1-1)-2.93-14-1.174-0
Will likely come off DL and regain rotation spot next week.
Honorable mentions: RP Henry Owens, FLA; OF Jeff Baker, COL; SP Chris Sampson, HOU; SP Mike Pelfrey, NYM; CF Felix Pie, CHC; OF Chris B. Young, ARI; OF Alejandro De Aza, FLA; SS Troy Tulowitzki, COL; UTL Alberto Callaspo, ARI; C Chris Iannetta, COL; 3B Kevin Kouzmanoff, SD; RP Dustin Nippert, ARI; RP Joe Smith, NYM.

On the verge

Here are some of our favorite prospects who are in the minor leagues and are worth tracking closely. Note: the Brandon Wood of the Angels and the Yankees' Phil Hughes were called up Thursday, April 26.

Minor league hotlist
Position, player, team Minor league stats
1 SP Jon Lester, BOS Low A: (0-0)-2.08-15-1.000
Rehab assignment ends soon, so he could return late next weekend.
2 SP Tim Lincecum, SF Triple-A: (3-0)-0.36-32-0.800
Left with no-hitter thru 6 1/3 last time because of pitch count.
3 SP Yovani Gallardo, MIL Triple-A: (3-1)-2.35-33-0.913
We've said he could be next Francisco Liriano with less command.
4 3B Ryan Braun, MIL Triple-A: .338-7-14-16-3
There's no question his bat is ready -- if only his glove was, too.
5 SP Kevin Slowey, MIN Triple-A: (3-0)-0.96-20-0.536
Outstanding start with just nine hits, one walk in 18 2/3 innings.
Honorable mentions: RF Billy Butler, KC; SP Adam Miller, CLE; SP Matt Garza, MIN; SP Andrew Miller, DET; SP Homer Bailey, CIN; OF Lastings Milledge, NYM; C Jeff Mathis, LAA; SP Dustin McGowan, TOR; SP Jason Hammel, TB; 3B Ian Stewart, COL; 1B/OF James Loney, LAD; 3B Andy LaRoche, LAD; SS Reid Brignac, TB; SP Luke Hochevar, KC; SP Philip Humber, NYM; 3B Evan Longoria, TB; OF Hunter Pence, HOU; 1B Daric Barton, OAK; SP Scott Elbert, LAD; SP Clayton Kershaw, LAD; C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, ATL; 1B Joey Votto, CIN; 3B/OF Josh Fields, CHW; SP Nick Adenhart, LAA; OF Terry Evans, LAA; OF Adam Jones, SEA; SS Sean Rodriguez, LAA.

Baby talk

Black: I want to pick up Clayton Kershaw in our long-term keeper league, as he is the buzz in many columns, and he is not even in the CBS SportsLine database. I was wondering why that is?

Emack: Unless yours truly requests a low-level prospect specifically, the CBS SportsLine Fantasy database comes from players who are or have been on a 40-man roster. I have put in a request for Kershaw. He's pitching well, but he is still in low Class A, so he has a lot of hoops to jump through before he makes a Fantasy impact. He should appear in your leagues in the coming days, if you want to get a jump on him in long-term keeper leagues.

Keith in Cary, NC: Mike Pelfrey or Adam Wainwright? Which would you drop to get Bartolo Colon into your rotation next week in a Head-to-Head non-keeper league? Right now it is early and I have only a little data to base the decision on. Who do think will have more wins and Fantasy points at the end?

Emack: We have to admit Pelfrey has looked nothing like the next Justin Verlander. He is unable to throw his secondary pitches for strikes and his fastball was hammered last time out. Wainwright has more potential for 2007. Pelfrey, though, shouldn't be given up on entirely. He still can establish himself in the big leagues with the contending Mets.

Alfonso Peniche, Guadalajara, Mexico: I'm in a Head-to-Head 14-player keeper league and I took Delwyn Young with my first pick, hoping he would remain eligible at 2B. However, since he is now slated to be an OF, is he worth holding on to?

Emack: Probably not. He has pop, but his 12-15 homer potential in the big leagues played a lot better when he was an infielder. He might be the next Victor Diaz, another hitter who made the move from being a stud 2B prospect to merely being a Triple-A outfielder.

Andy Smith, Eugene, Ore.: We have a position eligibility question for our Alien League. When Brandon Wood is activated, is he a shortstop, third baseman or both? He played shortstop in the minors last year and has played only third base this year. Thanks for your input.

Emack: Per your league's rules on CBS SportsLine: "Players are eligible at their primary position, plus positions they've played 20 games last year or one game this year. Everyone is eligible at DH." So, Wood is SS eligible on the day of his call-up (Thursday) and gets 3B eligibility after his first game played at the position in the big leagues.

Monte: I have Felix Hernandez in a keeper league. Should I drop him because of his injury and pick up another player or keep him?

Emack: Uh. Are you serious? How did that keeper league even let you get him? Next question.

Dain Williams, Old Bethpage, N.Y.: I was wondering what the ETA is for Homer Bailey getting called up? Since he's considered one of the best pitching prospects, is it worth it to add him? The same question goes to Matt Garza.

Emack: Bailey and Garza look like June call-ups, but circumstances could make it a more immediate thing. You should definitely stash those guys, Bailey then Garza if you can.

Paul, Houston: Please give me some indication where Yovani Gallardo ranks on the starting pitcher radar. I know Philip Hughes and Homer Bailey are at the top and Adam Miller isn't too far back, but where does Gallardo fall?

Emack: Right now Gallardo might be the hottest of the bunch. See above.

You can e-mail Emack your Fantasy Baseball questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Prospects Report in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state. Be aware, due to the large volume of submissions received, we do not guarantee personal responses to all questions.