The rankings for pitchers are broken into three parts: the top 10 prospects in order, the next 12 prospects in alphabetical order and two separate lists of pitchers worth following closely moving forward. As always, these rankings are done from a scouting perspective but with fantasy baseball in mind, generally focusing on standard 5x5 league categories, though other statistics (e.g., K/9, BB/9, K/BB) are considered.
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MLB Graduates (Alphabetical Order):
Archie Bradley, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks
Eddie Butler, RHP, Colorado Rockies
A.J. Cole, RHP, Washington Nationals
Anthony DeSclafani, RHP, Cincinnati Reds
Brandon Finnegan, LHP, Kansas City Royals
Mike Foltynewicz, RHP, Atlanta Braves
Marco Gonzales, LHP, St. Louis Cardinals
Alex “Chi Chi” Gonzalez, RHP, Texas Rangers
Andrew Heaney, LHP, Los Angeles Angels
Raisel Iglesias, RHP, Cincinnati Reds
Michael Lorenzen, RHP, Cincinnati Reds
Lance McCullers, RHP, Houston Astros
Daniel Norris, LHP, Toronto Blue Jays
Carlos Rodon, LHP, Chicago White Sox
Eduardo Rodriguez, LHP, Boston Red Sox
Aaron Sanchez, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays
Noah Syndergaard, RHP, New York Mets
Taijuan Walker, RHP, Seattle Mariners
Mike Wright, RHP, Baltimore Orioles
Rafael Montero, RHP, New York Mets
Kendall Graveman, RHP, Oakland Athletics
The Top 10:
1. Lucas Giolito, RHP, Washington Nationals (High-A Potomac, Carolina League)
2015 Statistics: 5 GS, 27 1/3 IP, 3.95 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 12.5 K/9, 2.3 BB/9, 5.4 K/BB
Giolito logged only 98 innings last year in his full-season debut, but it didn’t stop him from pacing the Low-A South Atlantic League (among pitchers with 90 innings) in ERA (2.20), strikeout percentage (28.5 percent) and opponents’ batting average (.196). Forced to adhere to a strict recovery timeline implemented by the Nationals after undergoing Tommy John surgery in late 2012, the 20-year-old Giolito opened the 2015 season pitching at the team’s spring training facility along with fellow right-hander Reynaldo Lopez before heading out to High-A Potomac in early May. Armed with a fastball that sits in the mid- to high-90s, a devastating 12-to-6 curveball and a steadily improving changeup, Giolito has all the makings of a true ace in his prime. However, don’t expect the right-hander to reach the major leagues until late 2016 at the earliest.
2. Julio Urias, LHP, Los Angeles Dodgers (Double-A Tulsa, Texas League)
2015 Statistics: 7 GS, 36 IP, 3.00 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 11.5 K/9, 2.3 BB/9, 5.1 K/BB
Urias emerged as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball last season, as the precocious left-handed pitcher dominated older hitters in the offense-heavy California League. Urias made it clear with his performance that he’s not your ordinary 18-year-old left-hander, and he’s managed to set the bar even higher this season in his first taste of the Double-A level. Urias’ arsenal is comprised of a low- to mid-90s fastball, plus curveball and an advanced changeup, while his advanced command profile makes it easy to project him as a No. 2 starter at maturity. The Dodgers will be conservative with his development - he’s currently on the disabled list after undergoing elective cosmetic surgery on his left eye - but he could see the major leagues in 2016. The sky is the limit with Urias, but don’t expect him to be rushed him to the major leagues this season, even with the ongoing concerns regarding the Dodgers’ starting rotation.
3. Dylan Bundy, RHP, Baltimore Orioles (Double-A Bowie, Eastern League)
2015 Statistics: 8 GS, 22 IP, 3.68 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 10.2 K/9, 2.1 BB/9, 5.0 K/BB
Bundy flew through the Orioles’ system in 2012, his first professional season, pitching at three full-season levels before making two appearances out of the big league bullpen as a September call-up. However, he’s yet to return to the majors after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2013. Bundy was shaky in his return to the mound last summer, as diminished velocity and spotty control led to a lackluster performance in the High-A Carolina League. On top of that, the right-hander’s season ended early due to a strained latissimus dorsi muscle. Bundy had fared much better this season through eight starts at Double-A Bowie, showing more consistent velocity and improved feel for his entire arsenal, but he’s been sidelined (7-day disabled list) since late May after experiencing shoulder soreness. While it’s yet another setback for Bundy, the 22-year-old could still return the major leagues later this season provided he stays healthy.
4. Jon Gray, RHP, Colorado Rockies (Triple-A Albuquerque, Pacific Coast League)
2015 Statistics: 10 G/9 GS, 53 1/3 IP, 5.40 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 6.4 K/9, 2.9 BB/9, 2.2 K/BB
Gray dialed back his velocity last season at Double-A in favor of smoother mechanics and better command. While some of the results weren’t spectacular, such as his 3.91 ERA, his overall feel for locating his fastball, slider and changeup was better than expected and produced a .237 opponents’ batting average and 113/41 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 124 1/3 innings. Many expected Gray to make quick work of the Triple-A level after a strong showing in big league camp, but the 23-year-old struggled mightily during the season’s first month, going 0-3 with a 10.70 ERA and 2.26 WHIP over four starts. Thankfully Gray righted the ship in May, posting a 2.78 ERA in 35 2/3 innings (six starts), and he now appears to be back on track toward making his big league debut in 2015.
5. Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates (Double-A Altoona, Eastern League)
2015 Statistics: 6 GS, 29 1/3 IP, 2.76 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 8.9 K/9, 3.1 BB/9, 2.9 K/BB
Glasnow’s 2014 campaign at High-A Bradenton was tremendous, as he paced the Florida State League in ERA (1.74), WHIP (1.054) and opponents’ batting average (.174) while ranking second in strikeouts (157) and K/9 (11.4). The 21-year-old right-hander uses his size (6-foot-8, 225 pounds) to create excellent downhill plane, which allows him to dominate hitters with basically two pitches: an explosive mid- to upper-90s fastball and a swing-and-miss curveball that flashes plus potential. Double-A was proving to be a healthy challenge for Glasnow until he left his start on May 7 with right ankle discomfort, leading to an ongoing stint on the disabled list. The Pirates surely want to be cautious with their prized right-hander, so a 2016 debut is probably a safer bet given the organization’s track record of carefully handling young arms.
6. Robert Stephenson, RHP, Cincinnati Reds (Double-A Pensacola, Southern League)
2015 Statistics: 9 GS, 46 1/3 IP, 4.47 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 10.9 K/9, 5.8 BB/9, 1.9 K/BB
Stephenson was challenged last season in Double-A, as the 22-year-old right-hander’s inconsistent command and heavy reliance on his fastball led to an elevated walk rate (4.9 BB/9) and enabled hitters to take him deep 18 times (1.2 HR/9). However, the fact that he managed to hold opposing hitters to a .224 batting average while fanning 140 batters in 136 2/3 innings also highlighted his tremendous room for improvement. Stephenson’s command issues have persisted in his second tour of the Southern League, with a 5.8 BB/9 and 1.42 WHIP through 46 1/3 innings, but he’s still missing plenty of bats and generating weak contact. The hard-throwing right-hander is still viewed as one of the better high-ceiling pitching prospects in the minor leagues, with three potentially plus pitches and youth on his side, but it’s become increasingly clear that he still has a ways to go in terms of refining his fastball command and developing more consistent secondary offerings.
7. Jose Berrios, RHP, Minnesota Twins (Double-A Chattanooga, Southern League)
2015 Statistics: 10 GS, 63 1/3 IP, 2.84 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 10.0 K/9, 2.4 BB/9, 4.1 K/BB
Berrios, a 2012 first-round draft pick out of Puerto Rico, continued to impress last year, turning in a dominant showing in the High-A Florida State League before moving up to Double- and then Triple-A. Across all three levels, the 21-year-old pitched to a 2.76 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 140/38 K/BB ratio in 140 innings. The right-hander is a big-time strike-thrower with an above-average control profile, and while he may be just 6’0”, 187 pounds, Berrios is loaded with some serious arm strength. Berrios’ strong performance this season back in Double-A should result in a promotion to the minor league’s highest level in the coming months, setting him up for a debut with the Twins in 2016.
8. Steve Matz, LHP, New York Mets (Triple-A Las Vegas, Pacific Coast League)
2015 Statistics: 11 G/10 GS, 68 1/3 IP, 1.98 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 9.2 K/9, 3.0 BB/9, 3.0 K/BB
The Mets selected Matz in the second round of the 2009 draft, but the left-hander underwent Tommy John surgery after signing and didn’t make his professional debut until 2012. Since then, however, he has made up for the lost time with a quick ascent through the Mets system, highlighted by a dominant showing in the Eastern League in late 2014 in which he posted a 2.27 ERA with 69 strikeouts in 71 1/3 innings. The 24-year-old’s success has carried over to Triple-A this season, as Matz paces the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League in ERA (1.98) and strikeouts (70) through 68 1/3 frames. Meanwhile, the fact that the Mets recently put the southpaw on a stricter innings limit indicates that he’ll see significant time in the major leagues in 2015.
9. Mark Appel, RHP, Houston Astros (Double-A Corpus Christi, Texas League)
2015 Statistics: 9 GS, 40 IP, 5.85 ERA, 1.78 WHIP, 6.5 K/9, 4.0 BB/9, 1.6 K/BB
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 draft, Appel opened the 2014 season with a rough performance in the High-A California League, so much so that he spent a month trying to straighten things out in extended spring training. The Astros weren’t as concerned as the rest of the baseball world and promoted Appel to Double-A for the final month of the regular season. The decision potentially saved his campaign, as he posted a 3.69 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with 38 strikeouts in 39 innings. Appel hasn’t enjoyed the same success this year in his return to the Texas League, but that doesn’t mean the 23-year-old right-hander won’t make his big league debut at some point this season. Appel has the makings of a No. 2 or 3 pitcher at maturity, with the strength and durability to pitch deep in games, and three pitches (fastball/slider/changeup) that grade as at least above-average.
10. Alex Reyes, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals (High-A Palm Beach, Florida State League)
2015 Statistics: 9 GS, 44 IP, 2.25 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 13.5 K/9, 4.7 BB/9, 2.9 K/BB
Reyes was all over the place last year during the first half of his full-season debut at Low-A Peoria, but he eventually settled in and flashed his enormous upside over his final 10 starts, finishing with a 3.62 ERA, 137/61 strikeout-to-walk ratio and .207 opponents’ batting average in 109 1/3 innings. The 20-year-old right-hander has proven to be difficult to barrel and has an innate ability to miss bats, but his lack of control has been an issue early in his career, evidenced by his 4.8 BB/9 in 211 2/3 innings over the last three years. Reyes is among the most projectable pitching prospects in the minors, projecting as a potential No. 2 starter at maturity given his combination of athleticism, size and power stuff. Currently thriving in the Florida State League, Reyes could finish the season in Double-A if he can improve his changeup and develop better control and command, which would put him on track for a potential MLB debut in late 2016.
The Next 12 (Alphabetical Order):
Hunter Harvey, RHP, Baltimore Orioles (Disabled list: elbow)
Jeff Hoffman, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays (High-A Dunedin, Florida State League)
Tyler Kolek, RHP, Miami Marlins (Low-A Greensboro, South Atlantic League)
Reynaldo Lopez, RHP, Washington Nationals (High-A Potomac, Carolina League)
Sean Manaea, LHP, Kansas City Royals (Disabled list: abdomen)
Aaron Nola, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies (Double-A Reading, Eastern League)
Henry Owens, LHP, Boston Red Sox (Triple-A Pawtucket, International League)
Luis Severino, RHP, New York Yankees (Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, International League)
Braden Shipley, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks (Double-A Mobile, Southern League)
Kohl Stewart, RHP, Minnesota Twins (High-A Fort Myers, Florida State League)
Jameson Taillon, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates (Extended Spring Training)
Kyle Zimmer, RHP, Kansas City Royals (Low-A Lexington, South Atlantic League)
Pitchers To Follow at/above Double-A (Alphabetical Order):
Miguel Almonte, RHP, Kansas City Royals (Double-A Northwest Arkansas)
Jesse Biddle, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies (Double-A Reading)
Aaron Blair, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks (Double-A Mobile)
Jose De Leon, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers (Double-A Tulsa)
Nick Kingham, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates (Out for season - Tommy John surgery)
Yoan Lopez, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks (Double-A Mobile)
Alex Meyer, RHP, Minnesota Twins (Triple-A Rochester)
Lucas Sims, RHP, Atlanta Braves (High-A Carolina – Disabled list)
Blake Snell, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays (Double-A Montgomery)
Jake Thompson, RHP, Texas Rangers (Double-A Frisco)
Vince Velasquez, RHP, Houston Astros (Double-A Corpus Christi)
Matt Wisler, RHP, Atlanta Braves (Triple-A Gwinnett, International League)
Pitchers to follow below Double-A (Alphabetical Order):
Spencer Adams, RHP, Chicago White Sox (Low-A Kannapolis)
Erick Fedde, RHP, Washington Nationals (Extended Spring Training)
Kyle Freeland, LHP, Colorado Rockies (Low-A Asheville)
Max Fried, LHP, Atlanta Braves (Out for Season – Tommy John surgery)
Stephen Gonsalves, LHP, Minnesota Twins (High-A Fort Myers)
Brent Honeywell, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays (Low-A Bowling Green)
Grant Holmes, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers (Low-A Great Lakes)
Rob Kaminsky, LHP, St. Louis Cardinals (High-A Palm Beach)
Marcos Molina, RHP, New York Mets (High-A St. Lucie)
Sean Newcomb, LHP, Los Angeles Angels (High-A Inland Empire)
Lewis Thorpe, LHP, Minnesota Twins (Out for season – Tommy John surgery)
Touki Toussaint, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks (Low-A Kane County)
Previous installments from Prospect Positional series:
Catchers (5/27/2015)
Shortstops (5/20/2015)
Third Basemen (5/13/2015)
Second Basemen (5/7/2015)
First Basemen (4/30/2015)
Outfielders (4/16/2015)
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