The Best 64 LHP Prospects for 2010
Showing 1 to 64 of 64. Overall SB ranking for 2010 shown in parentheses.
LHP, BAL (#7 overall)
One of the best left-handers available in the 2008 draft, Matusz is an experienced and clever strongman with four quality pitches. His fastball isn't overpowering, though, and his numbers showed some decline last season, so he won't be having a big impact on Baltimore's rotation anytime soon. It'll be fun watching his use his guile along with his stuff to go after better pro hitters, though. As a polished college candidate, his secondary pitches are very advanced for a prospect, and he should be one of the next Baltimore pitchers to break into MLB, probably this season.
More Scouting Book Info on Brian Matusz >
LHP, TEX (#8 overall)
An undrafted free agent signing from Venezuela, teenage lefty Martin Perez might be one of the Rangers' best-kept secrets. He's not close to MLB yet, but Perez is already a shining star worth following. Making 15 short starts (only 62 innings) at Rookie-level Spokane, Martin went 1-2 with a 3.65 ERA and a 53:28 ratio of strikeouts to walks. The skinny 17 year old, who's breaking down doors with a plus 92mph fastball and a polished curve, turns into a wiry 18 year old this spring, and he should graduate from dazzling rookie league hitters to stumping A-ball hitters in Hickory. He's someone to keep a special eye on over the next few years.
More Scouting Book Info on Martin Perez >
LHP, SF (#13 overall)
Such a name. Such a talent. A tall, strong lefthander, Bumgarner is the Giant pitcher most ready to follow Cain and Lincecum to glory by the Bay.
More Scouting Book Info on Madison Bumgarner >
LHP, CIN (#25 overall)
A whisper-thin lefthander with a whiplike delivery that can touch 100mph, Cuban Aroldis Chapman is one of the highest-ceiling lefties in baseball today... and also one of the riskiest. Chapman went 6-7 with a 3.89 ERA in 2008 and 11-4 with a 4.03 ERA in 2009 as a starter in Cuba's National League, after working as Holguin's closer the year before. He finished second in the vote for the league's best left-handed pitcher in 2009.
More Scouting Book Info on Aroldis Chapman >
LHP, COL (#43 overall)
The kind of big, strong lefthander that scouts fall in love with, the six-foot-six Matzek not only brings overpowering heat from the left side but flusters hitters with three different offspeed pitches to boot. A king-sized almost-ace in the making, Matzek could be the anchor of many Major League teams in the future. In Colorado, his ceiling is somewhere between Ubaldo Jimenez and Jeff Francis... but not quite yet.
More Scouting Book Info on Tyler Matzek >
LHP, STL (#44 overall)
The Cardinals stole Garcia in the 22nd round of the 2005 amateur draft on the whim of a scout who saw his curve while watching a Mexican junior national team game. His fastball never leaves the low-90s, but the plus nature of his complementary pitches give him a good career potential. St. Louis is hungry for pitching, and good at developing it, so he could be moved up quickly.
More Scouting Book Info on Jaime Garcia >
LHP, ATL (#51 overall)
A skilled lefthander from Vanderbilt, Michael 'Spike' Minor is a polished all-around pitcher who could add three above-average to plus pitches into the back end of a major league rotation sometime in 2010. His fastball tops out around 92mph, but its his breaking balls that will get him to the big-leagues anyway. He's not the uber-talent that schoolmate David Price was, but he's a product of the same system and it shows in his plus makeup and advanced feel for pitching. He should be ready to step into the Braves rotation come 2011 or so.
More Scouting Book Info on Mike Minor >
LHP, COL (#53 overall)
A smart value-pick from the 2008 draft by the Rockies, Friedrich was one of the two or three best lefthanders in the pool, as well as one of the best prep pitchers available, making him a steal at the 25th overall pick. He didn nothing but move up the charts in his first year of pro ball, either, finishing second in all of minor league baseball in strikeouts per nine innings with an obscene 12.0. In addition to crazy heat, Friedrich shows off a 12 to 6 curve and a hard, biting slider that could blossom into true plus pitches in the majors. If he has a weakness, it's his so-so changeup, but if he can refine that in the first half of 2010, he could be with the Rockies (as a backend starter or temporary relief help) before the end of the year.
More Scouting Book Info on Christian Friedrich >
LHP, KC (#54 overall)
A flamethrowing lefthander, Montgomery was grabbed early by the Royals in the 2008 draft. So far, he's looking pretty legitimate, as he's assembled a 2.19 ERA and a 0.85 WHIP in 30 minor league starts, with a 48:132 ratio of walks to strikeouts. He's only 20 years old as 2010 begins, and he's a long way away from the Bigs, but any lefthander who throws 96mph is worth keeping tabs on.
More Scouting Book Info on Mike Montgomery >
LHP, CLE (#56 overall)
A big, strong lefthander, Nick Hagadone was the Red Sox first draft pick (a sandwich pick) in 2007. Hagadone's fastball is hard for a lefty: it ticks as high as 96mph and shows good movement. He complements it with a good slider and an above-average straight change. He was Tim Lincecum's closer in college, also making a few spot starts for the Huskies, but the Red Sox were grooming him as a starter as recently as 2008, at least until he was shut down for TJ surgery in June. Now an Indian thanks to the trade that sent Victor Martinez to Boston, he spent most of 2009 on the shelf, but came back at the end of 2009 to start nine games at Class AA Greenville. He posted a solid 2.86 ERA, striking out 30 in 22 innings. He's not yet showing his pre-surgery stuff, but as far as high risks and high ceilings go, Hagadone's name has to be right on top of the actuarial chart.
More Scouting Book Info on Nick Hagadone >
LHP, BAL (#65 overall)
Selected by the Orioles in 3rd Round (85th overall) of the 2006 amateur draft, lefty Zach Britton is a slightly-built starter who went 9-6 with a 2.70 while pitching for High-A Frederick in 2009, striking out 131 in 140 innings of work. A ground-ball pitcher with a plus changeup, Britton is a sneaky, thinking man's pitcher who can outsmart even the best hitters and leave many looking foolish. He gets little attention in Baltimore thanks to the rich and deep farm system, but he could be the number one prospect on a lot of other ballclubs.
More Scouting Book Info on Zach Britton >
LHP, TB (#87 overall)
How many scary-good pitching prospects does any franchise need? If you're Tampa Bay, the answer appears to be 'all of them', and lefty Matt Moore fits right in with that master plan. After blowing through rookie ball while learning how to shave, he finally found enough competition to provide some traction last year, when he went 8-5 with a 3.15 ERA in the Sally League. Of course, he also struck out 176 opponents in only 123 innings, so maybe he hasn't found his level just yet. Moore works with easy 93mph heat that has been clocked as high as 96, but it's the plus curve that makes hitters look foolish. Even his third and least mature pitch, a fading change, is much better developed than any changeup A-level hitters are accustomed to dealing with. The Rays don't usually push their prospects very hard, but until someone manages to figure out Mr. Moore, they're going to be forced to promote him further. Look for him to spend at least a large chunk of 2010 as one of the youngest players in AA.
More Scouting Book Info on Matt Moore >
LHP, DET (#92 overall)
The rare kind of power lefty who can hit the upper 90's, Tigers prospect Casey Crosby has been blossoming in the shadow of super-prospect Rick Porcello, who gets most of the attention. Crosby has a live curve and a developing change, but his command isn't ready for the majors just yet. If he sharpens it a bit, he could step in as a strong number two or three in the Tigers rotation. He has good mound presence, great baseball smarts and instincts, and the competitiveness to succeed.
More Scouting Book Info on Casey Crosby >
LHP, PHI (#97 overall)
A scrawny Dominican lefthander who enhances his average stuff with good deception, Bastardo was almost a Phillies fill-in last season before shoulder problems ended his season early. A changeup specialist in the Jamie Moyer fashion, he could have success frustrating slower-handed NL hitters. With Kyle Drabek out of the way and only Phil Aumont to now contend with, he could break into the MLB club by midseason.
More Scouting Book Info on Antonio Bastardo >
LHP, FLA (#105 overall)
A tall and lanky power pitcher in the Jon Lester mold, Chad James was a first round selection who signed with the Marlins in 2009. In addition to moving fastball that he commands well, James has a fantastic (if erratic) curve and a developing change that will dictate his future as he matures. He signed too late to sample pro ball in 2009, but he'll be a bright dot to follow on the radar in 2010.
More Scouting Book Info on Chad James >
LHP, KC (#113 overall)
With all the focus on Aroldis Chapman, will anyone remember Noel Arguelles? Like Chapman, Arguelles is a young Cuban lefthander who signed a surprise contract with a smaller market club. In Noel's case, the deal was a five-year, $7 million contract with the KC Royals. A 6-foot-4 athlete from head to toe, Arguelles came to international attention pitching the gold medal game for Cuba in the Pan American Junior Championships in 2007.
More Scouting Book Info on Noel Arguelles >
LHP, TB (#115 overall)
With three plus-pitches, one of them a plus-plus curve, this is a left-hander with a very bright future. While you probably did not hear his name much, McGee led his AA league in strikeouts in 2006, adding six double-digit strikeout finishes to the morning papers. He slid a bit in 2007 and spent most of 2008 recovering from surgery, but he's still a smart money bet for the future. There is some concern over his stamina, however, so he may be in line for the bullpen in TB this year. Still, a left-handed strikeout artist is a nice pickup, no matter which inning it is when he takes the mound. If Tampa uses him as a five-inning starter too soon, he won't be worth much in fantasy play, but if he's brought up as a setup man, watch out: he could be a super-LOOGY or exceptional setup man very quickly.
More Scouting Book Info on Jake McGee >
LHP , TEX (#120 overall)
A first-round selection by the Giants in 2006, Kiker has been up and down during his development as a Ranger. He has a real plus fastball, which once touched 97 but today lives closer to 94, and a better than average changeup. His conditioning has been a question in the past, but he seems to be showing a new commitment to taking care of his body enough to put in the long season. The Rangers want to see him focus and sharpen his command before promoting him, but that shouldn't be seen as a sign of ill-confidence.
More Scouting Book Info on Kasey Kiker >
LHP, DET (#121 overall)
The son of offensive lineman and ESPN commentator Mark Schlereth, Daniel is a power lefty with a strikeout curve who most see as a relief specialist. Acquired by the Tigers during 2009's Winter meetings, he could be converted to starting duty. Either way, he's a young power arm with a bright future.
More Scouting Book Info on Daniel Schlereth >
LHP, SD (#132 overall)
A late first round pick in 2007 out of the University of San Francisco, Padres lefty Aaron Poreda is a favorite of ours here at Scouting Book. The big, 240-pound hurler boasts one of the best fastballs in the minors (up to 97mph and sinking) with an improving slider that may grow to be his best pitch if he can learn to control it more effectively.
More Scouting Book Info on Aaron Poreda >
LHP, LAD (#143 overall)
If it seems like lefty Scott Elbert has been a prospect since the Golden Age, that's because he's been up and down the chart as much as he's been in and out of the doctor's office. But the Dodgers passed up Phil Hughes for Elbert (maybe foolishly, maybe not), and they did it for some good reasons. Still one of the minors' best left-handed pitchers, the first round pick Elbert has power stuff with an exploding 93-95 mph fastball and a sinker/slider that's best in class.
More Scouting Book Info on Scott Elbert >
LHP, NYM (#157 overall)
One of Japan's premium lefthanders, Hisanori Takahashi is an experienced pitcher with a good mix of stuff and guile. The Yomiuri Giants #1 draft pick back in 2000, Takahashi has a 3.80 career ERA earned across 159 starts in Japan, including a 10-6, 2.94 season in 2009. Like new Met Ryoto Igarashi, Takahashi turned down a chance to move to another NPB team in favor of MLB-eligibility at the end of the 2009 season. He was courted by several teams before signing with the Mets. While he's always been a starter in Japan, the Mets will try him out as a reliever. Of course, with the way the old strength and condition department operates in New York, he'll probably be called upon to take over in the rotation before the year is up.
More Scouting Book Info on Hisanori Takahashi >
LHP, LAA (#159 overall)
An Angels' steal in the 8th round of the 2007 draft, pitcher Trevor Reckling is a deceptive lefty with strong 'pitchability' and baseball smarts. His low 90's fastball is nothing special, at least not until he follows it up with his very good changeup or the plus curve that might be the best deuce in the entire Angels' system. He's a very young talent who's still learning to work with his great stuff, of course, so don't expect immediate results, but if he keeps moving up the system at his current pace, he'll be lighting up the 'A' in no time.
More Scouting Book Info on Trevor Reckling >
LHP, DET (#162 overall)
The Tigers second round pick in 2009, lefty Andy Oliver fits the pattern of big, intimidating power pitchers so loved by the Detroit brass. In his three years at OSU, he went 18-9 with a 4.02 ERA, striking out 235 hitters while walking 96. Oliver works with a 96mph fastball that blows away lesser hitters, with an above-average change to keep them honest. His breaking pitches aren't quite ready for prime time yet.
More Scouting Book Info on Andy Oliver >
LHP, BAL (#166 overall)
A very big, sturdy lefthander from California, Hobgood is a fastball-curve pitching machine who projects as an innings-eating workhorse someday. He's a few years away, though, and he'll definitely need to develop a changeup before he can be set loose on advanced hitters.
More Scouting Book Info on Matt Hobgood >
LHP, COL (#170 overall)
A strikeout machine with plus movement and superior velocity, lefthander Rex Brothers gets scant attention in a system with so many live lefty arms. But he should: the Shelbyville (TN) native chewed up A-ball in 2009, striking out 28 while walking only 8 in 22 innings. And lest you worry about the small sample size, that's in line with his NCAA performance, where over three seasons he struck out 322 college hitters over 286 innings while walking only 142 of them. He's a bit behind some of the other Rockies talent developmentally, but he's definitely got the stuff to be a front-line starter someday. Don't forget about him.
More Scouting Book Info on Rex Brothers >
LHP, SD (#195 overall)
Pick number 63 in the 2007 Draft, Cory Luebke went 11-4 with a 2.78 ERA and a shimmering 1.10 WHIP at two levels of play in 2009. His 112-32 strikeout to walk ratio is another number worth some yellow highlighter. A tall, lanky pitcher who lives in the low 90s with great two-seam movement, he leans on a reasonable change and a real plus slider as his strikeout pitch. He also shows off one of the best pickoff moves to first base seen in the minors since the days Andy Pettitte pitched at Columbus. He lacks some of the explosive upside of other Padre starters, but his mix of quality pitches and overall polish probably put him closer to the Bigs. He'll open 2010 in AA ball but could see at least a look-see start in San Diego before the end of the year.
More Scouting Book Info on Cory Luebke >
LHP, KC (#208 overall)
The next phenom, or another phizzle from the KC draft department? One thing is for sure, the very talented Daniel Duffy certainly gets people's attention when he takes the mound.
More Scouting Book Info on Danny Duffy >
LHP, NYM (#209 overall)
A wiry left-hander with a deadly curve, Jon Niese is a dark-horse pitching prospect who has a shot at the Mets rotation in 2009. A graduate of the same high school as Chad Billingsley, Niese looked strong in AA last year, but was shellacked when he dipped his toes into the majors. Still, he has the maturity and guile to recover quickly. Niese features a nice fastball and a heavy sinker, but he needs another year, really, to refine his other pitches. If the Mets can be patient enough to let him develop a bit more, he might be a front-of-rotation starter, though they may be tempted to plug him into the bullpen or back-end immediately instead.
More Scouting Book Info on Jon Niese >
LHP, NYY (#216 overall)
With a nickname that sounds like something out of Radical Feminist Manifesto, Manny Banuelos is a young and tiny lefthander signed out of Mexico who's already being heralded as a shining success story for the Yankee's international scouting team. Man-Ban's fastball is an easy 92mph, while his changeup already looks like a plus pitch, remarkable in such a young player. He's been working on adding a curve and/or slider to his mix, but even his existing two-pitch arsenal has been effective so far: as an 18 year old in the Sally League in 2009, Buenolos more than held his own, going 9-5 with a 2.67 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP, not to mention 104 strikeouts in 108 innings of work. He'll be brought along slowly, as the ever-conservative Yankees have no need to rush him, but if his next year is as good as his last, he'll have to be considered one of the top young arms in the minor leagues.
More Scouting Book Info on Manny Banuelos >
LHP, CIN (#221 overall)
Travis Wood is a rising lefty in the Reds system. He won the Southern League's Most Outstanding Pitcher award in 2009 by dominating AA hitters to the tune of a 9-3, 1.21 ERA and a 0.98 WHIP, he was moved up to AAA Louisville to finish the summer. He held his own at the highest level, and looks ready to take a shot at the Reds rotation sometime in 2010.
More Scouting Book Info on Travis Wood >
LHP, SF (#229 overall)
A ninth-round pick back in 2007, pitcher Dan Runzler has zipped right up the Giants' prospect chart on the strength of his 97mph buzzer. Starting 2009 in low-A Augusta and making four stops before landing in San Francisco, the lefty reliever's worst ERA came with the giants, when he posted a 1.04 mark in 11 appearances. Used mainly as a LOOGY but capable of multiple-inning work, Runzler is a favorite to land a spot in a depleted 2010 Giants bullpen.
More Scouting Book Info on Dan Runzler >
LHP, PHI (#230 overall)
Drafted by the Phillies in the first round of the 2007 Draft and signed with a $1.4M gift basket, Savery made 24 starts for high-A Clearwater in 2008. His line wasn't impressive (9-10, 4.13 ERA) but he did strike out 122 in 150 innings. His control was iffy (he walked 60) just as it was during his college career, but his composure and command were good. Assuming he avoids serious injury and refines his control a bit, he could join the pitching-thin Phillies rotation as early as 2010.
More Scouting Book Info on Joe Savery >
LHP, ARZ (#247 overall)
A big lefty from Boston College, Arizona's Mike Belfiore was selected 45th overall by the Diamondbacks in 2009. A closer and first baseman in college, he combines easy heat with a plus slider: the perfect combination for a closer. While his big body and strong bat could play in the field, the Diamondbacks are looking at Belfiore as a starting pitcher first: he went 2-2 over 11 starts for Rookie Missoula in 2009, striking out 55 while walking 13.
More Scouting Book Info on Mike Belfiore >
LHP, LAD (#249 overall)
A big, strong lefty, Aaron Miller was a power-hitting outfielder as well as an overpowering pitcher during his time at Baylor, but the Dodgers are thinking of him as a pitcher and nothing else, according to the exec who selected him, Dodger scouting AGM Logan White. He looked awfully good in 30 innings of A-level ball, but he'll need a lot more than that before he's ready to join his old high school buddy Clayton Kershaw as a front-line Dodger starter.
More Scouting Book Info on Aaron Miller >
LHP, TOR (#250 overall)
The Blue Jays didn't give up when 22nd round pick Brad Mills failed to sign in 2006. Instead, the drafted him again in 2007's fourth round, and this time the lanky pitcher signed on the dotted line, becoming one of Toronto's best lefty prospects overnight. He moved all the way to AA in his first full season of pro ball, striking out 159 batters with a confusing array of curves, changes, and 90mph fastballs all coming from the same awkward-looking delivery. While he slipped a bit in 2009, he still has solid #4 starter potential.
More Scouting Book Info on Brad Mills >
LHP, CIN (#264 overall)
A minor leaguer best known for being traded for Kyle Lohse at 2007's deadline, Matt Maloney is a promising ex-Phillies lefthander now in the Cincinnati Reds system. As a 24-year old, Maloney went 11-5 with a 4.68 ERA for AAA Louisville in 2008. Impressively, he struck out 132 while walking only 39, a rate he'll have to maintain if he's going to succeed as the fly-ball pitcher he appears to be. He could be one of the next wave of young Reds' pitchers given a shot at the bright lights and scary fences at Great American.
More Scouting Book Info on Matt Maloney >
LHP, MLW (#267 overall)
Once a tip-top prospect, lefthander Chuck Lofgren hit a wall in AAA last year after dominating AA hitters in spring. Still, Lofgren is an increasing-polished lefthander who could bring some solid innings-eating ability to the big leagues as early as 2010.
More Scouting Book Info on Chuck Lofgren >
LHP , WAS (#269 overall)
A smart control lefty with a 91mph fastball and better than average change, McGeary is committed to Stanford through 2010, but he's already signed with Washington and will continue to work in their minor league system whenever classes are out. McGeary won't overpower anyone, but he has shown advanced, Glavine-like command of his pitches and can add and subtract with professional acumen. He's a tasty tease to debut in the Washington rotation come 2012.
More Scouting Book Info on Jack McGeary >
LHP, OAK (#282 overall)
A nasty lefty with stuff to spare, Dominican Pedro Figueroa is looking to break into the rich ranks of top Oakland pitching prospects. He's struck out 145 hitters in 152 minor league innings to date, though he's been doing that without much finesse, as his 1.46 WHIP and high walk rate demonstrate. A couple of more years of careful coaching should coax some discipline from the young firebrand, and thanks to the depth of the Oakland system, he should have that time to develop.
More Scouting Book Info on Pedro Figueroa >
LHP, ATL (#283 overall)
The Braves very last draft-and-follow player, Rohrbough is a sturdy lefthander with a moving fastball and a deadly hammer curve that shuts down left-handed hitters. Rohrbough's still developing both his command and control, and needs to add a third quality pitch to be viable as an MLB starter. If he stays healthy he could be a lights-out lefty reliever for the Braves in the near future, or a solid starter a little later down the road. He should play in AA this year, and if the Braves fail to restock their rotation before Opening Day 2010, Rohrbough will once again have good odds as a midseason callup.
More Scouting Book Info on Cole Rohrbough >
LHP, Japan (#285 overall)
The highest paid pitcher in Japan last year, Iwase became a free agent after the 2007 season, and is probably the best relief pitcher available from Japan. While he's a very strong closer candidate, many teams may look at him in a setup role due to his left-handedness.
More Scouting Book Info on Hitoki Iwase >
LHP, TEX (#289 overall)
A Kentucky-grown pitcher stolen in round two of the 2008 amateur draft, Texas lefty Robbie Ross is one of the lesser-known prospects on a pitching-rich Texas farm. Ross works both sides of the plate with a 92mph that can sniff 95mph from time to time, and his complementary pitches (a hard slider and a mature change) come to him with near-effortless command. He can work the entire strike zone, and his five-to-one ratio of strikeouts to walks is one of the best in the Texas system. His 2009 year at low-A Spokane (2.66 ERA / 1.14 WHIP) looks like enough to earn Ross a ticket to high-A Bakersfield in 2010, though perhaps not right away.
More Scouting Book Info on Robbie Ross >
LHP, MIN (#294 overall)
A ground ball pitcher who seems to handle lefties just as well as right-handed batters, Robertson is just one of another out-machine to come from the Twins pitching factory. While some bemoan his awkward delivery, nobody minded the way he used his 92mph fastball, nasty curve and excellent slider to finish second in league ERA for the low-A Beloit Snappers in 2007. Since then, he's continued to refine and polish his pitches while solidifying his workhorse reputation. The combination of his strong K-BB ratio, nasty repertoire and odd delivery have gained him a few 'left-handed Lincecum' comparisons, but nobody will mistake his 6-5 frame for the diminutive Giant. After holding his own through a 26 start, 8-8 season at Ft. Myers last year (1.33 WHIP, 3.33 ERA), he's looking for the next challenge. He's a couple of years away from threatening for big league time, but as he's not getting any younger, a bullpen might be calling rather than a rotation by the time he arrives.
More Scouting Book Info on Tyler Robertson >
LHP, BAL (#323 overall)
Yet another in a wide field of pitching prospects developed by the Astros before being shipped elsewhere, Patton has demonstrated remarkable consistency, maintaining a 2.75 ERA in almost 300 minor league innings with very few blowouts or meltdowns. His walks are a bit high, but during stretches last year he showed improved command and an ability to adjust mid-game. If he maintains that ability this season, expect Baltimore to give him a hard look for the rotation.
More Scouting Book Info on Troy Patton >
LHP, PIT (#332 overall)
The latest in a long line of lefthanders grown on the Atlanta farm, willowy Jeff Locke's 94mph fastball is a definite plus pitch, with late movement that he can command at will. His curve ball is also well under control and projects as a second plus pitch. Acquired by the pitching-poor Pirates in June 2009, 'The Redstone Rocket' has a terrific opportunity to step up as a rotation candidate in the very near future.
More Scouting Book Info on Jeff Locke >
LHP, CLE (#345 overall)
Kelvin de la Cruz is a skeletal left-handed strike machine buried in the Indians' farm system. A fastball specialist who rose through three levels of minor league play in one season,he's expected to be a mainstay of the AA Akron rotation again for 2010, and his track record certainly suggests he can be an anchor: he's struck out more than a batter per inning in his young minor league career. While he does walk a few too many, he also surrenders only the rare long bomb. The recently-reloaded Indians system is deep in pitching, which means de la Cruz should be left alone to develop further in 2010.
More Scouting Book Info on Kelvin de la Cruz >
LHP, PIT (#351 overall)
A big hardthrowing lefty in the Randy Myers vein, Moskos was drafted fourth overall by the Pirates in 2007, despite concerns about whether he'd be able to stick as a frontline starter. He's a quality arm with great stuff, including a 94mph heater and plus slider, but he still has quite a lot to learn about pitching, based on his so-so 2009 results. If Moskos ends up in the bullpen, the Pirates are going to spend a lot of time thinking how they might have better spent that draft pick: catcher Matt Wieters was still on the board when the team selected Moskos.
More Scouting Book Info on Daniel Moskos >
LHP, MLW (#360 overall)
Big Fred, a huge lefthander in the CC Sabathia mold, comes from the same school that produced White Sox phenom Aaron Poreda, and he's almost as exciting a prospect. A fastball-slider guy with a 94mph heat, his control has been an issue until now, and that's what the Brewers will be working on for the next while.
More Scouting Book Info on Evan Frederickson >
LHP, WAS (#362 overall)
One of the top high-school pitchers available, Smoker was an unexpected first round supplemental pick by the Nationals in 2007. His long arm and easy, slinging action let him throw a low to mid-90's fastball with the same apparent motion as his slider, splitter and change. The net result of all that? Filthy.
More Scouting Book Info on Josh Smoker >
LHP, PIT (#363 overall)
Not yet recovered from labrum sugery and showing no signs of the curve that once made scouts rave. Add in the fact that he's a one-pitch flame-thrower who did most of his development under the 'care' of the Cubs trainers, and you have a recipe for a very fantastic, and very short, major league career.
More Scouting Book Info on Donald Veal >
LHP, TEX (#366 overall)
Drafted in the supplemental first round of the 2005 draft, the Braves considered Jones to be the best prep left-hander in the country. He was acquired by the Rangers as part of the package of prospects that netted the Braves Mark Teixeira in 2007.
More Scouting Book Info on Beau Jones >
LHP, LAA (#378 overall)
A lefthander snatched up by the Angels in 2009's first round supplemental, the wiry Tyler Skaggs projects as a lanky starter once he grows into his 6-4 frame. His fastball, a low-90's offering with good lateral movenment, is already polished enough for action, but his secondary pitches (a sharp curve and an iffy change) need work. He only had time for a few innings of rookie ball in 2009, (a 1.80 ERA in 10 innings of autumn work) but he'll be back for a full season of development in 2010. He's several years away from deployment.
More Scouting Book Info on Tyler Skaggs >
LHP, ARZ (#389 overall)
Playing for a less-known school caused Miley to slide to the 2008 draft's second round, but the lefthander was one of college ball's leading strikeout artists last season. Among second-round pitchers from the last few seasons, he's one of the most likely to outperform his slot.
More Scouting Book Info on Wade Miley >
LHP, DET (#397 overall)
The first Chinese professional to jump to MLB, Taiwanese lefthander Fu-Te Ni led the CPBL in 2008 with 132 strikeouts last season with the China Trust Whales, and has struck out a total of 257 in his 267 pro innings to date. He's best known for one-hitting Canada in the 2008 Olympics, the highlight of his 1-2, 4.09 ERA tournament.
More Scouting Book Info on Fu-Te Ni >
LHP, BAL (#398 overall)
Another of many development projects undertaken by the Seattle Mariners, Butler was been an on-again/off-again hot prospect since he was drafted by the Ms in the 3rd round (81st overall) of the 2006 draft. Traded to the Orioles as part of the package that brought Erik Bedard to Seattle in 2008, Butler's chance to break into the starting rotation will now happen in Baltimore Orange.
More Scouting Book Info on Tony Butler >
LHP, Japan (#409 overall)
35 year old lefthander Koji 'Kit-kat' Mitsui was 36-19 over the past eight seasons with Japan's Seibu Lions, with a career 4.41 ERA overall. Once a top-flight starter, he's been used exclusively in relief since early 2005, and in the two years 2006 and 2007, his all-bullpen ERA was under two.
More Scouting Book Info on Koji Mitsui >
LHP, ATL (#410 overall)
A high-school lefty drafted by the Braves for his 'pitchability', DeVall is a project being developed inside the secret mountain labs of the Braves Brain Trust. He won't be ready for display for a couple of years.
More Scouting Book Info on Brett DeVall >
LHP, NYY (#415 overall)
A 2008 supplemental pick for the Yankees, this Stanford lefthander was the team's ace before being derailed by an elbow strain, which helped him slide in the draft. He's not a big kid, but he's got a nasty selection of breaking stuff that could play well in a relief role a few years from now.
More Scouting Book Info on Jeremy Bleich >
LHP, KC (#426 overall)
Hughes, a lefthander who was once ranked very highly, before requiring midseason Tommy John surgery in 2006. He's still well-regarded, if a bit behind schedule. Depending who you listen to, The Kid from Tupelo is either the next Tom Glavine, or destined for sixth-starter status. His performance as he works back from his injury will say a lot, and his cup of coffee in 2009 didn't show much of anything pro or con. He'll need another year to find his effectiveness.
More Scouting Book Info on Dusty Hughes >
LHP, TB (#429 overall)
A soft-tossing lefty with plus control, the aptly-named Lobstein is a nice complement to the usual flame-throwing Rays prospects. His most likely route to the majors is as a reliever, but he could play his way into a starting role if he keeps up the superior results.
More Scouting Book Info on Kyle Lobstein >
LHP, FLA (#432 overall)
The Gatorade Minnesota Player of the Year for 2008, lefty Brad Hand is a smallish pitcher with a big strikeout punch. He'll be brought along slowly in the very good Florida system.
More Scouting Book Info on Brad Hand >
LHP, SD (#437 overall)
Another of the endless parade of Padres pitching prospects, Steve Garrison came to San Diego in the same deal that landed Will Inman and Joe Thatcher. In some ways he's a notch above either of those pitchers right now thanks to his superior command of deceptive breaking stuff. He handles the entire strike zone with ease, and uses his plus curve and change with confidence and intelligence. A veteran mind inside a rookie body, Garrison could be a part of the Padres rotation as early as mid-2010, though he's looking up at a few hotter arms in the mean time.
More Scouting Book Info on Steve Garrison >
LHP, SF (#442 overall)
A sixth-round pick for Milwaukee out of Long Beach State in 2005, Steve Hammond posted an ERA under three in every stop he made in the Brewers farm system until he took a nosedive in 2007 (4.69 at AA Hunstville). He looks to be running out of chances, but he could still have value as a lefty setup specialist.
More Scouting Book Info on Steve Hammond >
1 to 64 of 64
1. Brian Matusz
2. Martin Perez
3. Madison Bumgarner
4. Aroldis Chapman
5. Tyler Matzek
6. Jaime Garcia
7. Mike Minor
9. Mike Montgomery
10. Nick Hagadone
12. Matt Moore
13. Casey Crosby
14. Antonio Bastardo
15. Chad James
20. Aaron Poreda
21. Scott Elbert
22. Hisanori Takahashi
23. Trevor Reckling
30. Manny Banuelos
34. Mike Belfiore
36. Brad Mills
38. Chuck Lofgren
39. Jack McGeary
40. Pedro Figueroa
42. Hitoki Iwase
44. Tyler Robertson
46. Jeff Locke
