GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Right-handed prospect Gabriel Hughes (Rockies' No. 16 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline) performed in Major League camp like a pitcher who may be seen in the Majors before long.

Hughes threw 6 1/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts and three walks in Cactus League play before being reassigned to Minor League camp on March 9. He’ll have another chance to throw before a broader audience on Sunday, during the Spring Breakout between Rockies and White Sox prospects at Camelback Ranch in Glendale.

• Here's the Rockies' Spring Breakout roster

The 10th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, Hughes, 23, missed the 2024 Minor League season while recovering from Tommy John right elbow surgery at midseason 2023. While Hughes had an 8.31 ERA in six back-in-the-swing Arizona Fall League appearances, the Spring Training performance was a better account of the talent the Rockies saw when Hughes came out of Gonzaga.

The likely plan is for Hughes to begin the year at Double-A Hartford -- where he was pitching when the elbow injury occurred. As long as he makes regular turns, he will have a chance to keep honing his pitches and intensify his signals on the Major League radar.

Hughes made one Cactus League start and relieved in the next two. In Hughes’ last game before the reassignment, March 5 against the Padres, he replaced Antonio Senzatela and in two innings, he allowed one hit and one walk in an outing that he controlled.

“That was my second outing piggybacking -- I came in after a great start by ‘Senza,’ and was working through the routine of coming out of the bullpen and still being able to hold similar to my pre-start, pregame routine. I was just going out and facing competition -- facing the heart of the order – and continuing to find ways to get the job done.”

The plan, though, is to have Hughes work his way to the Majors as a starter.

“It’s early, but he’s showing a live arm,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “The secondary pitches at times show up really solid, but there’s a little inconsistency there. Overall, he is feeling good about his stuff and making every appearance here in Spring Training.

“He's off to a good start here in spring. And hopefully, that will spring for him into a good start to his Minor League season.”

Hartford pitching coach Dan Meyer will be an excited man as long as the plan to send Hughes to Hartford holds.

“I was in Major League camp until Minor League camp started, so I’ve seen him a good amount,” Meyer said. “He’s a very intelligent young man who knows what he wants to do. He’s a guy you want to work with but at the same time you want him to be himself, be an athlete.”

It’s easier for Hughes to be an athlete with increased confidence in the health of the elbow.

“The consistency on the spin of the breaking pitches is usually the last thing that comes after Tommy John surgery -- that feel and that consistent break on the slider and the curveball,” said Flint Wallace, the Rockies’ pitching strategist. “We’re seeing that this spring.”

Spring Breakout pitching plans
Wallace said Hughes and righty Jack Mahoney (Rockies' No. 30 prospect) are scheduled for two innings apiece, with one inning apiece planned for lefty Welinton Herrera (No. 23), right-handed 2024 second-round pick Brody Brecht (No. 5), right-hander Jordy Vargas (No. 14, after undergoing Tommy John surgery around the same time as Hughes), righty Zach Agnos (No. 28) and righty Jaden Hill (No. 19).

Agnos and Hill are competing for Major League jobs but will work the Breakout to stay on schedule. Right-hander Chase Dollander (Colorado's No. 1 prospect, No. 25 overall), who also is competing for an Opening Day spot, will be present, but the game does not fall on his scheduled turn.