MLB Top 50 Pitching Prospects: Winter 2024

My first go at ranking Pitching Prospects!

Introduction

Welcome to my first ever Pitching Prospect Ranking article!

In this article I will highlight my MLB Top 50 Pitching Prospects, including a handful of honourable mentions. Each pitcher will have a graphic associated with them that includes information such as biographical data, MiLB statistics, and, most importantly, my scouting grades. These grades are on the traditional 20-80 Grade Scouting Scale and were determined through both statistical and video analysis.

As I learned through this process, the task of writing and compiling a Top Prospects list is not easy. The plethora of research required is time-consuming, and that does not consider the complexity of scouting. I have consumed countless amounts of baseball content in my life, and I would like to thank everyone that inspired and provided me the knowledge to undertake this project.

A special thanks goes out to the following:

• MLB for their library of videos in the MLB Film Room. The Film Room provided easy access to videos on each prospect covered in the article.

• MLB Pipeline for their prospect coverage.

• Tess Taruskin (Fangraphs) for their incredible work on “A Visual Scouting Primer: Pitching” on Fangraphs. All 3 parts of the primer helped me immensely while I was reviewing footage of each pitcher. I also learned a ton from their Prospect Coverage on Fangraphs.

• Eric Longenhagen (Fangraphs) for their Prospect Coverage and many articles on Fangraphs.

• Aram Leighton (Just Baseball) for their Prospect Coverage on Just Baseball. Aram is a top-notch evaluator, and his work at Just Baseball was a large inspiration for me.

• Lance Brozdowski for their indispensable pitching analysis. Lance’s video and posts are chock-full of knowledge that every baseball fan can learn from.

• Tom Tango and the MLBAM team, who maintain MiLB and MLB data and keeps it publicly accessible.

Let’s cover some important parts of my scouting process:

• I made sure to gather as much publicly available data as possible. Statcast was my best friend during this project, and if a pitcher ever made an appearance in a Statcast Park, I reviewed it. Most commonly, this included MLB, AAA, and FSL games; however, it also includes some College Games, Arizona Fall League, Spring Training, and even the Futures Game. If there was no Statcast Data available for a certain pitcher, I would read scouting reports and posts about players to fill in the blanks, for example, this tweet about Dylan Lesko from Lance Brozdowski.

• Reading scouting reports was extremely important. Outlets such as MLB Pipeline, Fangraphs, and Just Baseball helped with the structuring of my analysis. They also helped me understand what to look for in a pitcher, for example, how certain characteristics (such as delivery and size) impact their projections.

• Reviewing film via MLB Film Room helped me visualize a pitcher’s delivery and pitches and relate it back to their data.

• I used tjStuff+ to help inform my scouting grades, but did not rely on it solely.

• I used the 20-80 Scale for my scouting grades with Present Value (PV) and Future Value (FV) being separated for pitch types and command. For Overall FV, I include a “+” in some instances which indicates that a pitcher is approaching the next tier.

Some other notes:

• I am not a professional scout, and this is my first time writing an article like this. This whole project was a learning process, and I hope to continue improving in my next update.

• As always, I encourage constructive criticism! I would be happy to discuss any prospect on this list or any others that you have questions about.

• I am human. Please inform me if I made a mistake!

Now, with that out of the way, we can get to the list. Enjoy!

1) Jackson Jobe

Jobe is the complete package. He has a stacked 4-pitch mix highlighted by one of the best fastballs in MiLB and supported by improved command. Back injuries have slowed down Jobe’s ascent to the Majors, but he has been nothing short of phenomenal when healthy. His fastball sits at 96-97 mph with and can reach 20” of iVB. He’s showcased the ability to hit 100+ mph, which transforms his fastball into one of the best in MiLB. Jobe tosses two breaking balls, a cutter, and a sweeper with a ton of spin. His sweeper averages 83 MPH, and he gets a ton of late break with 17” of glove-side movement. His cutter sits between 89-91 MPH with a movement profile similar to a slider, which bridges his fastball and sweeper. Jobe rounds out his arsenal with a changeup that sits at 85-87 MPH. Jobe elevates his arsenal to #1 Pitching Prospect status thanks to his consistency to throw strikes and miss bats in the zone. He has true ace potential.

2) Andrew Painter

Nominative determinism worked overtime with Painter as he projects to be a top of the rotation starter with bonkers stuff and great command. Painter was on the fast track to Philadelphia as he mowed through MiLB batters in his 1st full professional season while showcasing elite stuff and pin-point command. Unfortunately, Painter has had his Major League debut delayed for 2 years since suffering an elbow injury during 2023 Spring and undergoing Tommy John Surgery later that year. Painter made his return in the Arizona Fall League (AFL), where all signs point towards a return to form. Typically, command is the last thing to settle in following TJS, but Painter seems to have no issue tossing strikes and generating a ton of in-zone whiffs. His fastball is sitting at 97 MPH, matching his 2022 levels, but he hasn’t registered a pitch over 100 MPH yet. He wields 2 different breaking balls: a slider at 86-88 MPH with 7” HB and a curveball at 80-82 MPH with two-plane movement. His changeup is still a work in progress, but thanks to Painter’s command and drastically different velocity bands, the pitch should be effective at inducing whiffs. Tapping back into his fastball dominance is the focal point, and with Painter’s command looking unfazed following his elbow injury, it bodes well for a quick path to Philadelphia and a future top of the rotation projection. 

3) Bubba Chandler

Chandler has a prototypical pitcher body backed by an electric fastball and increased confidence in his changeup. Chandler was raising red flags earlier this season in AA despite the strong results, as he was up to 70% Fastball usage with his changeup essentially nowhere to be seen. Chandler started diversifying his arsenal and was rewarded with a promotion to AAA, where he continued to dominate. From an initial glance, Chandler seems to be cut from the same cloth as fellow Pirate Jared Jones. Both wield a similar 4-Pitch mix highlighted by a 4-Seam Fastball, which sits at 97 MPH and gets above-average vertical movement from a lower release. While Chandler’s slider may not be a whiff-inducing machine, his changeup has been the most encouraging development this season. The changeup sits 88-90 MPH with over 10” of vertical separation from his 4-Seam, and thanks to its running action, can get some nasty whiffs when located well. His delivery is on the aggressive side, which may limit him from making strides in the command department, but his athleticism should allow him to make the necessary adjustments to limit walks. Chandler projects to be a top of the rotation arm with a very stable floor.

4) Chase Dollander

Dollander has one of the most complete fastballs in the minors. He sits 96-97 MPH while averaging 16-17” of iVB from a 5.4 ft release height. He pairs this excellent shape with strong command to create a monster of a pitch, particularly when he locates it high in the zone. He features two breaking balls, a slider/cutter that sits at 88 MPH, and a huge two-plane curveball that sits at 78 MPH. The slider/cutter is a work in progress, with his curveball being utilized as his primary swing and miss offering. His changeup finishes up his arsenal, which he tends to lean on after multiple times through the order. He has a fluid delivery, which sometimes looks effortless. His command will elevate his deep arsenal and should make his fastball a nightmare for batters at any level. I really like Dollander’s foundation, and it makes me optimistic that he will succeed in Coors as the ace of their rotation.

5) Noah Schultz

Schultz is a behemoth on the mound, standing at a towering 6'9” while wielding arguably the best pitch in the minors in his sweeper. Schultz has consistently dominated batters since being drafted in the 1st round of the 2022 draft. He utilizes his towering presence to his advantage as he is able to get a 5.5 ft vertical release point from a lefty sidearm delivery. His arm action has the added benefit of allowing him to get a ton of glove-side movement on his high-spin sweeper. His fastball possesses some strong characteristics, including sitting 95-97 MPH with 16” HB, mirroring his huge sweeper. However, it has struggled with missing bats and allowing a lot of damage. Schultz added in a cutter and changeup to round out his arsenal, but both offerings are not polished. The results through his first 2 MiLB seasons speak for themselves, as he has consistently thrown strikes and tore through the lower minors with elite strikeout rates. His sinker may not become a dominant pitch in the Majors, but its physical characteristics portend well for further development. His prospects as a frontline starter hinge on limiting damage against his fastball and further improving his changeup and cutter, with his sweeper raising his ceiling to lofty heights. 

6) Brandon Sproat

Sproat took Hi-A and AA by storm this season, exhibiting top-end velocity and a wide array of secondaries. Sproat altered his slot to be more ¾ which has translated his pitches to be more North-South, particularly his fastball. This change has also added depth to his trio of breaking balls. His 4-Seam Fastball sits 96-97 MPH with the ability to reach 101 MPH on whim. Its shape isn’t ideal, especially for his slot, as it demonstrated dead-zone-like movement in AAA. His outings in AA and Futures Game showed a better fastball shape, which may indicate that Sproat’s effectiveness dwindled as the season progressed. Sproat wields 3 breaking balls: a cutter, slider/sweeper, and a curveball. Each offering has its own distinct movement profile at varying velocity bands. His changeup is the pitch to watch as Sproat readies up for his MLB debut. It sits at 88-90 MPH with 15” of arm-side movement and reaching over a foot of vertical separation from his fastball. It is currently a plus offering and has the potential to be one of the best changeups in baseball. Sproat struggled immensely in AAA but seeing that he was placed on the developmental list near the end of the season, it seemed to be fatigue-driven. Despite the struggles, he maintained his improved ability to throw strikes and locate his secondaries in the zone.

7) Kumar Rocker

Rocker rocked the boat in 2024, launching his way through the minors to an eventual MLB debut on the heels of his devastating slider and seemingly improved command. Rocker made his return to pro baseball following his 2023 Tommy John surgery, and he looked stellar. Rocker’s calling card is his deathball-like slider, which simply drops below bats as hitters swing right over it. He wields two fastballs, a 4-Seam and a sinker. Both offerings sit at 96-98 MLB, which is further supported by his elite 7-foot extension. The 4-Seam shape is decidedly dead zone, which may be enough to offset the benefits of its elite velocity. His sinker has a more ideal shape, reaching up to 17” of run. The sinker seems to be the more polished offering with characteristics that should allow it to limit damage. His delivery is noticeably smoother, which is encouraging as his improved strike rate may not be a mirage. The last piece of the puzzle is getting a better feel for his changeup, which he shied away from in his short MLB stint. I found myself being bearish on Rocker during the summer, and while I still have concern about his command and lack of changeup, he finally looks healthy and the stuff looks great.

8) Alejandro Rosario

Rosario was K-BB% King in MiLB during 2024. He wields a 3-pitch mix consisting of a sinker, slider, and splitter. He has a good feel for each of the offerings and ran an excellent 68.2 Strike% across A and Hi-A. His sinker won’t miss many bats due to its shape, but it sits at 96-98 MPH and lives in the zone. His slider has two-plane movement at 83-84 MPH. His splitter sits at 88-92 MPH with a ton of arm-side movement and over a foot of vertical separation from his fastball. Rosario doesn’t have a deep arsenal, but each of his pitches is easily average-to-plus, and that is without considering his knack for throwing strikes. He has the foundation to be a mid-rotation starter, and the improvements to his command are very encouraging. 

9) Hagen Smith

Hagen Smith was my #1 pitcher entering the 2024 MLB draft thanks to his ability to generate whiffs in the zone with his fastball. He was eventually picked #5 overall by Chicago as the 2nd pitcher off the board. His fastball gets a ton of movement from a lefty slot at a 5.5’ release height, averaging 17” iVB and 13” HB. Its sheer amount of break makes it a whiff-generating machine, which he elevates with his tendency to locate it up and arm-side. He also throws a slider, which has tight two-plane movement and sits in the mid-80s. It’s combination of sweep and drop makes it fantastic whiff pitch and leads to many groundballs. He rounds out his arsenal with a high 80s changeup, which has shown flashes of promise. It is heavily underutilized and will be key in Smith’s path as an MLB starter. Smith is a deceptive lefty whose fastball/slider combo makes me very optimistic that he can be a top of the rotation starter in the future. His stuff doesn’t pop the same as his counterpart Burns, but the command is the driver in Smith’s higher ranking. 

10) Chase Burns

Burns may have the best stuff of any pitcher on this list, and the Reds believed in his tools to select him 2nd overall in the 2024 draft. Burns is the definition of a flamethrower, sitting in the high 90s with his fastball, which exhibits a ton of ride. Due to his delivery and high release point, the pitch approaches the plate at a steeper angle, which may inflate damage against the offering. His breaking balls, a slider and a curveball, boast high velocity and have a good amount of depth. His slider sits in the high 80s and is difficult to pick up from his high slot. His curveball sits in the low 80s with more two-plane movement than his slider. He rounds out his arsenal with an unpolished changeup. His explosive delivery and over-the-top release are high effort, which makes his ability to make drastic improvements to his command seem unlikely. His stuff screams frontline ace, but without an improvement in the command department, he will likely settle in as a mid-rotation arm.

11) Caden Dana

Dana became the youngest pitcher to debut in 2024, tossing his first MLB pitch 3 months before his 21st birthday. He warranted the late-season cup of coffee after a season in AA where he posted a pristine 2.52 ERA and 3.16 FIP across 135.2 IP on the heels of a polished 5-pitch mix and smooth mechanics. He stands at 6'4", which bodes well for his long-term projection as an innings eater. His fastball exhibits average characteristics ranging from his velocity all the way to its extension. This pitch may be his weakest, but the lack of velocity may be a function of the massive jump in innings for him this season. His slider is a plus offering, sitting in the mid-80s with tight horizontal movement and varying depth. He commands it well, which makes it effective against either handedness. He doesn’t have the greatest feel for his changeup, resulting in inconsistencies in location and movement, but it grades out above average on a stuff basis. He also employs a slow-moving and big-dropping curveball and a cutter to bridge everything together. Dana has an ideal frame, and he has a refined repertoire for such a young pitcher. He is MLB-ready and projects as a high-volume mid-rotation starter.

12) AJ Smith-Shawver

Smith-Shawver made waves in 2023, storming through 3 MiLB levels before making his debut mid-season at just 20 years old. His MLB stint was short-lived, only throwing 25.1 innings.  The Braves opted to let him develop in AAA during 2024, where he pitched 87.0 IP with mixed results. Smith-Shawver threw more strikes in 2024, raising his Strike% from 60.3% to 63.3%. In the process, he started throwing his changeup a lot more often. While it got hit hard, it was an effective put-away pitch, posting a 44.6 Whiff%.  His fastball lives in the mid 90s with a above average ride from a 5.8’ release point. The rest of his arsenal features 3 breaking balls. He opts for his slider against RHH, which has cutter-like movement and is his most effective option at inducing weak contact. His two-plane curveball is his breaking ball of choice against LHH, acting in a similar fashion to his slider in terms of damage mitigation. His sweeper is a new addition to his arsenal, boasting more drop than a typical sweeper. Smith-Shawver just turned 22, which is crazy for a pitcher with a full season’s worth of innings at AAA. He is very athletic, which indicates that he has the capability to make the necessary changes to unlock his ceiling. While the results weren’t great in 2024, he ticked a lot of boxes which indicate that he is on the right track. 

13) Rhett Lowder

Lowder enjoyed his cup of coffee at MLB this season, with a very productive 30.2 IP. Lowder won’t knock the socks off batters, but he has a reliable 4-pitch mix and elevates it with above-average command. He throws two distinct fastballs: a 4-Seam and Sinker, which he trades off usage depending on the batter’s handedness. He leans on his 4-Seam against LHH, painting the offering on the outer third. It sits at 93-95 MPH with 15” iVB from an average 5.7’ release. His sinker is his go-to option against RHH early and behind, where he attacks the inner-half of the zone. His slider is his best offering, sitting in the mid-80s with tight movement. His tendency to locate the pitch in ideal spots elevates the pitch to plus status. He rounds out his arsenal with a late-breaking changeup, which he commands well against either handedness. Lowder has a great feel for his 4-pitch mix and solid command. His fastball effectiveness will likely dictate his upside, and he has one of the safest floors as a mid-to-back-end rotation option of any pitching prospect. 

14) Quinn Mathews

Mathews was one of the biggest risers this season after he flew through all 4 levels of MiLB, posting an elite 26.8 K-BB% across 143.1 IP. Mathews had a slight velocity bump to start the season, sitting at 93-96 MPH, but the workload of a full season seemed to catch up to him as his pitch grade suffered following his promotion to AAA. He generates a good amount of ride from a 5.5’ release height, which has led to plenty of whiffs. He has a great feel for his changeup, and thanks to its late break, it has been extremely effective at shutting down RHH. He wields two breaking balls: a mid-80s slider with moderate sweep and a two-plane curveball. His slider is a very effective put-away offering and grades out well, while the curveball may be limited to an early count pitch to steal strikes. It will be key for Mathews to retain his improved velocity over the course of a full season and maintain his pitch shapes. He has the frame to be a workhorse and the command to be a strong mid-rotation arm.

15) Jarlin Susana

Susana was one of the pieces acquired in the trade that sent Juan Soto from Washington to San Diego. Susana has always had very raw stuff, flashing elite velocity as a teenager without a lick of command. In 2024, Susana flipped that script, posting improved Strike% and BB% after his promotion to Hi-A. His ability to limit home runs is exceptional, allowing just 2 across 103.2 IP in 2024. Susana wields two fastballs, a 4-Seam and a sinker, which average 100 MPH and 99 MPH, respectively. He averages 15” iVB on his 4-Seam, which is slightly below average for his ~6’ release, but that hardly matters when he can reach 103 MPH. One downside to his 4-Seam is its steeper approach, which limits the offering’s swing and miss potential. His sinker gets more arm-side run with ~15” of arm-side movement. Susana’s secondary of choice is his slider, which features more 2-plane movement than a typical 88-90 MPH slider. Thanks to its downward movement, he is able to miss under bats often and use the pitch to induce weak contact. His changeup looks to be developing well as a whiff-induing offering, but he has struggled to generate strikes with it. Susana has the stuff of an elite closer, and the strides he made in the command department this season have buoyed his floor and elevated him into the upper echelon of pitching prospects. 

16) Tink Hence

Hence is an athletic pitcher who possesses very enticing upside with a 4-pitch mix. His changeup is nasty, and he improved his strike throwing ability greatly this season. His fastball sits 93-96 MPH, which is about a tick lower than his Low-A debut in 2022. He generates 16” of iVB with 10” of run from a 5.4’ release point. Without its higher velocity, the pitch is not nearly as effective and struggles to miss bats. He tosses a gyro slider and a deathball curve, which grade out about average. His bread and butter is his changeup, which gets 16” of arm-side movement from a mostly over-the-top delivery. Hence had a much better feel for the offering this season, and batters whiffed at it at an absurd rate. Hence hasn’t thrown a full-season workload due to injuries, but when he’s been healthy, he has looked the part of a mid-rotation starter. 

17) Cade Horton

Horton has a peculiar season, which was unfortunately cut short due to a shoulder injury shortly after his promotion to AAA. His fastball has cut-ride shape and sits in the mid-90s, which was lower than his 2023 velocity. We have seen the Cubs be effective with these types of fastballs, which focus more on contact suppression, employing it with pitchers like Steele and Assad. The pitch likely won’t grade out well in pitch models due to its lack of high-end velocity, but it should remain effective. He typically throws a sweeper and curveball, but it seemed like they were morphed into a slider this season, which sits in the mid-80s with a wide range of glove-side movement. His last pitch is a changeup, which gets over a foot of horizontal separation from his fastball. It flashes plus, but it remains inconsistent as he leaves too many well below the zone. Horton started throwing more strikes later into his AAA stint but was never able to replicate his increased velocity from 2023. 2025 will be key for Horton as he refines his arsenal and builds up to a starter’s workload. His secondaries give him a solid floor as a mid-rotation arm. If his fastball returns, he has the potential for a very solid 4-pitch mix.

18) Thomas White

White took Single A by storm this season and forced the Marlins hand with a promotion to Hi-A. White wields a solid 3-pitch mix highlighted by a mid-90s fastball and a big, sweeping curveball. His fastball is a plus pitch thanks to the ride he can generate on the offering. He can hit up to 98 MPH and averages 17” iVB. His slurve is his lone breaking ball with solid depth and over a foot of glove-side movement. It is effective at generating whiffs, and he isn’t afraid to throw against opposite-handed hitters. He rounds out his arsenal with an average-to-plus changeup, which sits at 85-87 MPH. His control metrics have been encouraging, including a drop in BB% following his promotion. His longer arm action tends to get in the way of his consistency, which may limit his command as he develops. White’s results were excellent for a teenager, and his frame and tools bode well for him as a future mid-rotation starter. 

19) Noble Meyer

Meyer has a lot going for him. He stands at an ideal 6’5”, sits in the mid 90s, throws two plus-breaking balls, has a solid off-speed offering, and gets above-average extension. Meyer’s velocity has lagged since his draft, with his fastball sitting at 93-95 MPH with tailing action, averaging both 14” of iVB and HB. His breaking balls are easily plus offerings. His slider sits at 83 MPH with a foot of glove-side movement with a wide range of vertical deviation. He also weaves in two-plane curveballs, which sit in the high 70s. His 4-pitch mix is completed with his changeup which averaged 16” of arm-side movement with good separation from his fastball. Meyer’s walk rate is scarily high, but his command should sharpen up as he develops and grows into his frame. A very encouraging aspect of his results is his ability to limit contact. He hit a home run speed bump in Hi-A, but struggles like that are expected from teenage pitchers. Meyer is a raw talent who checks most of the boxes for an ideal pitching prospect. The risk is present like any other teenager pitcher, but his physical traits quell concerns. 

20) Jacob Misiorowski

Misiorowski stands at a towering 6’7” and has the firepower to be a dominant force in the Majors but is hampered by worrying BB% and inconsistent command. His fastball has a near-ideal combination of velocity and ride from a lower slot. He can consistently hit 100 MPH and has a near 7.5’ extension, which helps him get a 5.3’ release height. It is an elite at generating whiffs. His primary breaking ball is a 2-plane curveball that sits in the mid-80s and tunnels well with his fastball. It is his primary put-away pitch and an absolute nightmare for batters when he can hit his spots. He throws a slider/cutter, which sits at 91-95 MPH. The harder variations get minimal horizontal action, with the softer sliders getting ~6” of sweep. He has a changeup but seldomly throws it, which makes it tricky in projecting its value. Misiorowski’s range of outcomes vary greatly, with his floor being one of the best bullpen pieces in MLB and his ceiling being a 1/2 starter. His high-powered arsenal is a function of his explosive delivery, which makes me cautious that he will make meaningful improvements to his command. Nevertheless, his upside warrants a high ranking, and his floor is still a very good outcome. 

21) George Klassen

Klassen is a prime example of a team trusting a pitcher’s stuff and letting the command find its way. It was no surprise that Klassen was seen as a RP out of college. He greatly struggled with his command and issued walks at will as a function of his very aggressive and long delivery. The command struggles continued into his first pro season, but Klassen was overwhelmingly dominant that he easily got back on track. Klassen's fastball sits at 97-98 MPH. Its shape is not ideal, as it hovers in the dead zone, but due to its elite velocity and moderate arm-side movement, the pitch grades out well. He wields two breaking balls, including a power two-plane curveball and an extremely hard bullet slider. His curveball sits at 86-88 MPH, with his slider living in the low 90s. Both pitches are comfortably plus offerings and I would call his slider one of the best pitches in MiLB. The lack of an off-speed pitch and his wavering command puts a damper on his future as a starter. His stuff is nasty. He just needs to keep throwing strikes. 

22) Luis Morales

Morales’s arsenal oozes with stuff carried by his lightning-quick arm speed, but his lack of command poses a long-term risk for his future as a starter. He has an electric fastball that sits in the high 90s, which he gets above average ride for his release. He also throws a high-spin breaking ball, which seems to have two distinct shapes. Both grade out as plus offerings, with one variation being harder and more like a sweeper and the other being slightly slower with more two-plane movement. It is a devastating swing-and-miss pitch, but his command is too wild to optimize its effectiveness. His changeup is raw and has the potential to be a deceptive offering thanks to his arm speed. The variance in Morales’ outcomes is wide, with his floor being a flamethrowing reliever with spotty command. A more refined approach and better command would launch him into the stratosphere. The stuff is so good. 

23) Winston Santos

Santos is an undersized righty who took big steps in the command department this season. His athleticism should help him maintain a starter’s workload, and his effortless and consistent delivery allows him to pinpoint his pitches. He wields a plus fastball, sitting at 95-97 MPH with a lot of life from a 5.6’ vertical release point. It’s flatter approach angle leads to a lot of misses under the offering. His breaking ball of choice is a gyro-slider, which sits at 83-85 MPH. He rounds out his arsenal with a mid-to-high 80s changeup with ~10” of vertical separation from his fastball. Each of his pitches are at least average offerings and are elevated by his ability to throw strikes. His stuff paints the picture of a future 4/5 starter, with his command raising the ceiling. 

24) Jaden Hamm

Hamm was excellent during 2024, posting a 3.09 FIP and 22.8% K-BB% across 99.0 IP in Hi-A. He tosses from a high 3/4 slot, and his arsenal features a 3-pitch mix, with his most dominant offering being a very high-riding fastball that sits 92-94 MPH. His curveball complements his fastball well, sitting in the low 80s with 30” of iVB difference from his fastball. He also wields a mid-80s changeup, which he sharpened up this season. He has kept his BB% in check thanks to the extremely high swing and miss rates he generates. His fastball plays exceptionally well high in the zone due to its immense ride, and his curveball gets batters flailing down low. Polishing up the changeup will greatly diversify his approach, and he has also tested throwing a slider as well. The reliver risk is present due to the shallower repertoire, and if starting doesn’t work out, his fastball/curveball combo will be valuable out of the Tigers Bullpen. I am optimistic that his changeup improves to at least an average offering, raising his floor to a backend starter. 

25) Trey Yesavage

Yesavage was drafted 20th overall in the 2024 Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. He was one of the more complete pitchers in the draft, boasting a deep pitch mix, refined command, and a strong fastball and slider combo. Yesavage has one of the highest release points of any pitcher in baseball, reaching close to 7’. This release allows him to get a ton of carry on his fastball and creates a troubling view for batters. His slider has very tight movement, leaning more to the arm-side, unlike a typical slider. It sits in the mid-80s and is his go-to secondary against RHH. His mix to lefties changes to include a shallower curveball and splitter, which gets massive vertical separation from his fastball. Yesavage doesn’t have the same wicked stuff as Burns and Smith, but he is a polished arm, which gives him one of the safest floors in the draft. He should move quickly through the Blue Jays system once he makes his pro debut. 

26) Grant Taylor

Taylor was projected to go in the 1st round of the 2023 draft, but an injury-laden 2023 and eventual Tommy John surgery resulted in him slipping to the 2nd round. When healthy, Taylor boasts some very promising tools, including extremely high extension. His over-the-top delivery leads to a steep plane on his mid 90s fastball, but it grades out as a plus offering due to its above-average ride for his 5.7’ release point. His curveball is his best breaking ball, sitting in the low-to-mid 80s with steep two-plane movement. His cutter and slider give him extra depth to his arsenal. The most interesting pitch of Taylor's arsenal is his new kick changeup, similar to that of fellow White Sox Davis Martin, that he showcased during the Arizona Fall League. The pitch exhibits late break and flashes plus traits, with command limiting its effectiveness. His injury history and violent delivery may restrict him to a bullpen role in the future, but Taylor looks fully healthy, and his stuff is setting off alarm bells of a prospect that is poised to be a big riser in 2025.

27) Emiliano Teodo

Teodo is an undersized fireballer who lacks the physical qualities and control to be a conventional starting pitching prospect, but there is promise in his fluid delivery and devastating slider. He sits 97-98 MPH on his tailing fastball and has touched 102 MPH in a starting role. The offering doesn’t have great shape and struggles to miss bats despite the top-end velocity. His slider is a stellar offering, sitting in the high 80s and averaging ~6” of glove-side movement. It can hit 3000 RPM and has registered elite whiff rates at every level. He rounds out his arsenal with a power changeup (90-92 MPH), which gets a ton of arm-side movement. He doesn’t have the greatest feel for it and has struggled to consistently throw it for strikes. Teodo’s stuff pops out, but the warning signs in his profile point towards a high leverage RP outcome as the floor. His BB% has remained constantly high throughout his professional career, and that must trend downwards for him to stick as a starter.

28) Dylan Lesko

Dylan Lesko was shipped to Tampa Bay in the Jason Adam trade. While seen as a hefty price at the time, Lesko’s reliever risk is extremely high given his inability to throw strikes. Lesko’s arsenal consists of 4 pitches: 3 plus offerings in his fastball, changeup, and curveball, and a newer slider. His fastball sits 92-95 MPH and average 19” iVB thanks to his high 3/4 release. It is a devasting swing and miss offering in the top of the zone, but he typically misses his spots and struggles to generate chases. His changeup is his best pitch, exhibiting screwball-like action and playing well in-zone (if he hits his spots). It’s swing and miss metrics are gaudy. His two-plane curveball gets a ton of sweep and drop, but its easily read out of hand, which has led to poor results. His slider is the black sheep of his arsenal, and its impact has been minimal. Lesko missed a lot of time following his Tommy John surgery, and his command hasn’t seen much of an improvement since. The stuff is fantastic and should play out extremely well out of the bullpen if the command doesn’t stick. 

29) Travis Sykora

Sykora was a strikeout fiend in his first pro season, posting a nutty 39.2 K% across 85.0 IP at Low-A. He paired this with a decent BB% and low HR/FB%. Despite the elite K-BB%, I remain bearish on Sykora’s ranking due to his seemingly average stuff. Sykora stands at 6’6” and utilizes a lower 3/4 slot and large extension to get a 6’ release. His fastball fits 94-96 MPH with 15” iVB, which makes it grade out as an average pitch in stuff models. His slider was his prime swinging strike offering. It sits at 81-83 MPH and has tight movement, hovering near the bullet-slider characterization. He kills spin with his splitter, but it doesn’t consistently get the same diving action as most splitters. His best ones have a good amount of late downward movement, but most of the time it gets minimal deviation from his fastball. A better feel for the pitch could make it a plus offering. Sykora’s results were exceptional this season, and his ability to attack the zone shows room for growth in the command department. His stuff doesn’t excite me, but I am confident in a back-end starter projection. 

30) Jairo Iriarte

Iriarte was rewarded with a small cup of coffee in MLB following a solid AA season. He has high-end arm speed and a projectible frame, standing at 6’2” with plenty of room to grow. His delivery is fluid, and he is able to get a lower release point thanks to his low 3/4 slot and nearly 7’ of extension. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and gets solid carry and run, which helps it play up. His velocity dipped in 2024, dropping about 1 tick less than 2023, but he was able to rack up 132.0 IP, over 40.0 IP from his career high. His slider sits at 81-83 MPH with tight vertical movement and a good amount of sweep, seemingly mirroring his fastball. He rounds out his arsenal with a changeup that hovers in the low 90s and gets more arm-side movement than his fastball. His ceiling is that of a mid-rotation starter and should have plenty of time to work out kinks while the White Sox are in shambles. 

31) Jake Bloss

Bloss was the key piece in the trade that sent Yusei Kikuchi to the Houston Astros at the 2024 trade deadline. His arsenal is defined by his high-riding fastball and deep array of secondaries. His 4-Seam sits at 93-95 MPH with above-average ride for his 5.7’ release height with nearly 7’ of extension. It builds a strong foundation for Bloss’ future as a starter and has been effective at generating whiffs. He features 5 secondaries, which all grade out around average, with his slider being the most polished offering. His slider varies is depth and sits at 85-89 MPH. He tosses it against both handedness, and it is adept at missing barrels. He also tosses slider with more sweep, which sits in the low 80s, which he uses as his primary put-away pitch against RHH. His curveball features steep two-plane movement, which he utilizes while ahead in the count against LHH. It won’t generate many whiffs, but he is able to elevate its effectiveness due to its tendency to locate it low in the zone. His changeup is inconsistent due to its lack of movement on the pitch. His sinker is a newer offering, which sits between his 4-Seam and Changeup, and should provide another groundball-inducing offering against RHH. Bloss showed improved BB% earlier this season but struggled to maintain the seemingly better command following the trade to Toronto. The arsenal depth bodes well for his future as a mid-rotation starter, with the command concerns limiting his ceiling.

32) Will Warren

Warren had a forgettable MLB debut, posting a putrid 10.32 ERA across 22.2 IP, but that shouldn’t put a damper on the Yankees top pitching prospect. His E-W arsenal includes one of the best sliders (sweepers) in MiLB and a changeup that returned excellent results this season. He throws two distinct fastballs, a 4-Seam and sinker, which both grade out around average. His 4-Seam lives in the top of the zone and has been effective at getting batters to chase. Unfortunately, it sometimes leaks into the heart of the zone, where LHH crush the pitch. His sinker complements his sweeper well, each getting 16” of horizontal break in opposite directions. Warren has historically struggled against LHH, and it was the same story this season. Despite his struggles, his changeup returned very positive results against LHH, which is encouraging. It has a very similar movement profile to his sinker, which may stifle its effectiveness as batters get familiar with the pitch. He also throws a cutter, which should help against lefties. Warren has a solid 5-pitch mix and average command. It’s a great foundation, but his effectiveness against LHH will dictate his future as a starter.

33) Jack Leiter

Leiter has had the spotlight on him since he was drafted 2nd overall in the 2021 draft and subsequently debuted in AA during the 2022 season. His lack of command has plagued him throughout his pro career, and it was more of the same during his 2024 MLB debut. Leiter’s fastball has a ton of life, sitting 95-97 MPH while averaging 18” iVB from a 5. 5’ release. It plays extremely well at the top of the zone; however, due to his inconstant command, he often leaves it hanging in the heart of the zone. This led to a ton of damage against the offering, especially against LHH. His slider complements his 4-Seam well with its high 80s velocity and tight movement. He has a good feel for the pitch and tends to locate it down and away from RHH and into LHH. Leiter’s arsenal frays after his fastball/slider combo, as he has 3 different pitches that are unpolished: changeup, curveball, and cutter. A better feel for his changeup seems necessary due to his struggles against LHH, but his lack of command has nullified its effectiveness. He experimented with a cutter and curveball this season. The curveball is an effective put-away pitch when he can hit his spots. The cutter helps bridge his fastball and slider but is an underwhelming pitch from a stuff perspective. Leiter’s 2-pitch combo is among the best of any pitching prospect, which preps him for a smooth transition into a bullpen role if his command stalls. 

34) Richard Fitts

Richard Fitts is a command-over stuff pitcher who saw an increase in his stuff following his trade to Boston. Fitts tosses a cut-ride fastball, which flashes plus thanks to its mid 90s velocity and 17” iVB. It hasn’t had the greatest results, but he utilizes it all counts to register called strikes. His slider has tight glove-side movement with large deviations in his vertical movement. He has a great feel for the offering and uses it evenly against LHH and RHH. His sweeper is an extension of his slider with more glove-side movement, and he mostly uses it as ahead in counts against RHH. His primary off-speed pitch changed throughout the season, starting as a changeup and transforming into a lower spin splitter. The newer splitter flashes plus, but his feel for the pitch is less refined. Fitts’ smooth and repeatable delivery has helped him maintain high Strike% throughout his MLB career and makes me confident that he could be a back-end option for the Red Sox in 2025. His arsenal grades out well, and unlocking his splitter would bump his ceiling to mid-rotation starter. 

35) Braxton Ashcraft

Ashcraft is yet another encouraging pitching prospect in the Pirates system, showcasing a floor as a back-end starter thanks to a well-rounded 4-pitch mix and adequate command. Ashcraft sits at 94-96 MPH with his fastball. Its shape is seemingly average, with his velocity helping it out ever so slightly. His slider is the pitch to watch here, sitting in the high 80s with above-average movement given its speed. It is his primary whiff offering that gets batters to chase at an elite clip. His curveball doesn’t have the same effectiveness as his slider, but its two-plane shape makes it generate whiffs at an above-average rate. His changeup is not a mainstay in his arsenal, but he increased its usage following his promotion to AAA. It’s lack of movement deviation from his fastball has it grading as a below-average offering. Ashcraft’s knack for throwing strikes has allowed him to run low BB% throughout his career and makes me bullish on his future as a starter. His fastball restricts his projection to a mid-rotation arm at best, but the rest of his toolkit makes him a safe bet to be a staple in the Pirates rotation as soon as 2025. 

36) Brandon Young

Young is a prototypical backend rotation arm who doesn’t do anything at an exceptional level but should be a stable option every 5th day given his deep pitch mix and tendency to throw strikes. His fastball sits 91-94 MPH with above average ride for his release. On a stuff basis, it grades out below average, but it lives in the top of the zone and has returned great results. He fills the heat of the zone with his changeup. While he doesn’t miss many bats with the offering, it is adept at inducing weak contact. He tosses a trio of breaking balls, with his two-plane curveball leaning on the plus side and his cutter and slider mostly used as auxiliary pitches. His command pushes his rank into the Top 50, with a low variance 4/5 starter projection.

37) Carson Whisenhunt

Whisenhunt is a big-framed lefty who tosses an arsenal-defining changeup, which has led to elite strikeout numbers throughout his MiLB career. His changeup sits 78-81 MPH and, despite stuff metrics, is a plus-plus offering, which batters struggle immensely against. Through his 104.2 IP in AAA this season, he registered a bonkers 46.9% Whiff%. It’s combination of late movement and deceptive arm speed helps it maintain excellent results. His fastball sits 92-94 MPH with sinking action. It is safe to call it his least effective offering due to his lack of command and damage mitigation. He tosses two breaking balls: a cutter that sits at 82-86 MPH and a curveball sitting in the high 70s. His cutter is a newer offering and grades out as an above-average pitch. His curveball exhibits similar glove-side movement as the cutter but demonstrates ~5” more drop. The development of Whisenhunt’s breaking balls has been encouraging to see this season, especially with his changeup remaining so effective. His biggest hurdle is refining his fastball command to better avoid barrels. Whisenhunt is a medium variance pitcher who projects to be a back-end rotation option and should be ready to contribute in 2025. 

38) Robby Snelling

Snelling was a key piece in the trade that sent Tanner Scott to San Diego at the trade deadline. Snelling has been divisive in prospect rankings, having his ranks range from the Top 50 to outside the Top 100. His upside is very apparent when you consider his projectible frame and strong fastball, but he poses a relief risk due to his underwhelming secondaries. His fastball sits 91-93 MPH and, with its above-average ride from his 5.7’ release, has been effective at generating swings and misses. His slider and changeup do not strike me as strong offerings, and both have middling stuff metrics. His slider sits in the low 80s with two-plane movement, but not enough in either direction to generate whiffs. His changeup sits 85-87 MPH, and he has exhibited a solid feel for the pitch, and its effectiveness is elevated due to its separation from his fastball. Snelling should be able to handle a large workload thanks to his body type and lower velocity, which makes his future as a starter more concrete. It is the lack of depth and lacklustre stuff that keeps me bearish in his projection. 

39) Ricky Tiedemann

Tiedemann has been one of the most dominant LHP since his pro debut in 2022. His ability to rack up strikeouts had him jumping through levels, eventually making his AAA debut at 20 years old. Unfortunately, Tiedemann has also missed a lot of his time since his draft year, only amassing 140.0 IP in 3 seasons. His 2024 season was cut short after undergoing Tommy John surgery in the summer, essentially wiping out his 2025 season. He wields a 3-pitch mix, including a 4-seam, slider, and changeup. He throws from a low slot, which creates a deceptive angle for batters. His fastball typically sits in the mid-to-upper 90s and plays up due to his unorthodox delivery. His lone breaking ball is a sweeper, which ranges anywhere between 6” and 20” of sweep, making it a very effective option against LHH. His changeup grades out above average thanks to its nearly 1’ vertical separation from his fastball and 18” of arm-side movement. With Tiedemann’s lack of playing time, it is difficult to project how his body responds to a starter’s workload. His command also remains a question, and it will likely take until 2026 to see Tiedemann return to game action. His MiLB dominance is undeniable, which warrants a spot (albeit a lower one) on this list despite the inherent risks.

40) River Ryan

River Ryan has the tools to be a front-line starter, and it looks like he was on track to be an impact arm for the Dodgers this season. Unfortunately, he underwent Tommy John surgery in August and likely won’t pitch until 2026. It will be tough to project Ryan’s future as a starter as he will be almost 28 years old once he is ready to return, not to mention the likelihood that his command will suffer. His fastball sits 95-97 MPH with 15” iVB from a 5.5’ release. The shape is about average, but the velocity bumps it up into the plus territory. He wields a trio of breaking balls, which all grade out above average and have flashed plus potential. His slider averages 90 MPH with half a foot of sweep, his curveball sits 82-84 MPH with steep two-plane movement, and his cutter, which sits 93-95 MPH, creates a bridge to his fastball. He also tosses a sinker and changeup, which exhibit similar arm-side run. His changeup flashes plus upside, but his command of the offering has room for improvement. Ryan is one of my favourite pitching prospects thanks to his 6-pitch mix and high-end velocity. Without the injury concerns, he would rank in the upper tiers, but the risk of him being a reliever is too apparent at this moment. 

41) Chase Hampton

Hampton enjoyed a breakout 2023 season, posting a great 24.7 K-BB% across 106.2 IP in Hi-A and AA. His results and stuff spoke for themselves, with Hampton becoming one of the Yankees most prized prospects. His 2024 season started off in a lull following a flexor strain, which essentially wiped out his season. He amassed 18.2 IP with mixed results and severely depressed velocity. His fastball, which typically sits 92-96 MPH, averaged 91 MPH in Lo-A this season. Despite the drop in velocity, it graded out above average thanks to his ability to induce ride on the offering. His trio of breaking balls showed the same velocity drop, and their effectiveness suffered as a result. It was encouraging to see that he didn’t struggle to fill the zone with his secondaries despite the extended absence. He started throwing a sinker, which had similar ride to his fastball but more run. His final pitch is a changeup, but he shied away from it this season. Hampton has the arsenal to give him a mid rotation projection; however, there was not much to gain from his abridged 2024 season. The return of his velocity will be something to watch in 2025 and will likely dictate how aggressive the Yankees will be with Hampton. 

42) Chayce McDermott

McDermott has been an erratic strikeout artist since his pro debut in 2021. He has never struggled with generating whiffs thanks to his deeper arsenal and above-average stuff, but he’s consistently run BB% over 10% throughout his career. McDermott is able to get above-average extension, helping his lower velocity fastball punch above its weight class. He averages 18” iVB on the offering from a 5.7’ release point, which helps it play well in the top of the zone. He has two different sliders, one sitting in the mid 80s and a big sweeper that hovers in the low 80s. Both offerings ran extremely high Whiff% this season and were exceptional at inducing weak contact. His last breaking ball is a deep 2-plane curveball that he typically tosses ahead in counts. His last offering is a changeup, which, while not refined, has played up due to his tendency to land the pitch in the bottom of the zone and land for strikes early in the count. McDermott made his MLB debut in 2024, tossing just 4.0 IP in late July. With Baltimore shallow on starting depth currently, McDermott is ready to slot into the back-end of the rotation, with his command being his biggest hurdle. 

43) Cooper Hjerpe

Hjerpe leverages his left-handedness and utilizes a sidearm delivery to deceive batters and create unique shapes with his arsenal. He supports his unique delivery with near-elite extension. His fastball sits in the low 90s, and thanks to his lower slot, comes in at a flatter angle than a pitch of similar characteristics. It plays well in the top of the zone and has been efficient at generating whiffs. His sweeper sits at 75-78 MPH with massive glove-side movement, making it a prime put-away offering. He also wields a cutter that has characteristics that sit evenly between his fastball and sweeper. To complement his extreme E-W arsenal and have a reliable secondary against RHH, he rounds out his arsenal with a changeup that gets a solid amount of depth. Hjerpe’s biggest roadblock to being a starter is his lack of command. He’s run extremely high walk rates due to his strike-throwing inconsistencies. 

44) Jonah Tong

Tong soared through 3 separate levels in his age 21 season, posting absurd whiff rates and showing improved command. His fastball is the crown jewel of his arsenal. Sitting at 92-94 MPH and topping out at 96, he consistently gets +20” of iVB on the offering from over-the-top delivery. Thanks to his smaller stature and above-average extension, he is able to get down to a 5.8’ vertical release point. The combination of massive ride from an unorthodox release aides in its effectiveness. The rest of his arsenal features an array of secondaries that have been effective this season but lack the polish of a starter’s repertoire. His slider/cutter is his best secondary, sitting at 85-87 MPH with 6” glove-side movement and 3” iVB. His curveball may be his most memorable pitch thanks to its massive vertical deviation from his fastball. It sits at 75 MPH and can reach -20” iVB. That is over 3’ difference from his fastball! Tong’s changeup is the biggest work in progress. It sits at 85 MPH, but his release makes it increasingly difficult to produce and changeup with large separation from his fastball. His strike throwing improved in 2024, but he was inconsistent at hitting the zone with his secondaries. Tong’s fastball drove his success through the lower minors, and now it is up to him to develop his secondaries to tackle more patient batters.

45) Luis Perales

Perales was in the midst of a head-turning season but unfortunately underwent Tommy John surgery this past July. His fastball is the jewel of his arsenal, sitting 96-98 MPH with a ton of ride and minimal arm-side run from an over-the-top release. The pitch is an easily plus offering, but its steeper approach angle makes it run at a lower whiff rate than the shape would suggest. He has a cutter that sits in the high 80s with more glove-side movement than the average cutter and slider sits at 84-86 MPH with minimal depth. His splitter is a whiff machine, sitting in the mid-80s with over a foot of vertical separation from his fastball. Perales showed improved strike throwing ability in 2024, which was encouraging to see given his typical control issues. He will likely be out until 2026, where he will need to build back up to a starter’s workload and likely see his command dip. The stuff is that of a high leverage arm in the bullpen, which may eventually be his home. 

46) Chen-Wei Lin

Lin towers over batters, standing at 6’7” with elite velocity and whiffy secondaries. He has a projectible frame with plenty of room to fill out. His fastball flashes plus-plus value, sitting in the high 90s with a ton of arm-side run. He did a better job at filling the zone with the offering and getting batters to chase it at a high rate. His changeup is a wicked wipeout option against LHH, running a 54.4 Whiff% on the season. It sits in the high 80s, with similar arm-side runs as his fastball, but with half a foot of vertical separation. His breaking ball of choice is a mid-80s slider with tight arm-side movement, which RHH struggled to make contact against. He also tosses utilizes a sinker that lives between his fastball and changeup and is effective at missing bats. His wild command he exhibited in his 2023 debut seems to have settled down immensely this season. The combination of his projectible frame and high-powered arsenal makes him an exciting project, and his 2024 was a very encouraging step in the process. 

47) Brody Hopkins

Hopkins, a converted outfielder, was shipped to Tampa Bay as the key return in the Randy Arozarena trade. He has a large frame ideal for a pitcher, and he wields a deep arsenal packed to the brim with exciting offerings. He tosses two distinct fastballs, a 4-Seam, which sits at 94-96 MPH and gets 15” iVB, and a sinker, which sits in the same velocity band but gets a lot more arm-side action. Despite his tall stature, Hopkins gets a deceptively low release point thanks to his low 3/4 release. This helps his fastballs, especially his 4-Seam, play up, similar to that of former farm mate Bryan Woo. Hopkins breaking balls are plus offerings, with both the curveball and slider sitting in the mid-to-high 80s. His slider acts more like a sweeper, exhibiting large glove-side movement with a bit of drop. His curveball is more like a “deathball” thanks to its velocity and minimal horizonal movement. His high 80s changeup is my favourite offering due to its massive vertical separation from his fastballs and absurd amount of run. The biggest knock-on Hopkins is his inability to consistently land pitches in the zone. He registered a 60% Strike% this season, which by no means is a poor number, but is not indicative of reliable command. With that being said, his stuff sets up a floor for a high-leverage reliever, with the potential of a mid-rotation arm if his command takes that next step. 

48) Moisés Chace

Chace has a fastball where the sky is the limit thanks to his incredible arm speed. It exhibits characteristics of an ideal fastball, and its flat approach makes it a nightmare for batters. He tosses a sweeper, which sits around 80 MPH with two-plane movement, and an unpolished changeup hovering in the mid-80s. He showed improved command this season, slashing his BB% from 17.5% in 2023 to 12.0% in 2024. Given his arm speed, control issues will likely remain, but if he can keep hitting the zone, good things will happen. Whether it be as a starter or a reliever, Chace’s fastball has the potential to be a career-defining offering, with all the data to back it up.

49) Hurston Waldrep

Waldrep has an absolutely disgusting splitter, but I worry that he doesn’t have enough other tools to stick as a starter. His splitter is a brilliant whiff pitch thanks to its late break. His consistency on the offering could be better, as he hangs in the heart of the zone a lot more often than it should. His fastball does not have many redeeming qualities, as it has average velocity with average ride from a higher slot. The results have been incredibly poor, which makes me comfortable grading the pitch well below average. His slider brings us back to the positive side, sitting at 85-88 MPH with slight cutting action. Waldrep’s splitter is a special pitch, but without better command and stronger fastball, I find it difficult to project him a starter long-term. I hope he proves me wrong. 

50) Jedixson Paez

Paez is an undersized pitcher who showcases incredible command with a middling fastball and solid secondaries. He has always been effective at limiting walks, including a tiny 3.0 BB% across 96.2 IP this season. He showed improved velocity compared to 2023 and increased his K% to 30.2% upon his promotion to Hi-A. His fastball has sinking action and sits in the low 90s. It doesn’t get much movement and has been effective at inducing weak contact. It likely won’t run high whiff rates, but his knack for pin-pointing the offering helps it steal strikes. His slider sits 80-82 MPH and gets over a foot of sweep. He rounds out his arsenal with a changeup with a ton of arm-side movement. Paez possesses one of the highest command ceilings of any pitching prospect, with the potential to reach an elusive 80 grade. His weaker fastball likely limits his upside, but his strike-throwing ability gives him a very likely chance to be a formidable back-end option. 

Honourable Mentions

My Favourite Relief Pitching Prospects

Craig Yoho

Yoho is lined up to continue Milwaukee’s stretch of shutdown relievers but will do so in a unique way. He is a soft-tossing righty who just pitched his first full professional season at the ripe age of 24. He wields a 4-pitch mix, highlighted by one of the best changeups in the minors and a curveball with an absurd amount of sweep. His changeup sits in the upper 70s and remains extremely effective thanks to its screwball-like action. It gets a ton of arm-side movement and slips under bats on the way to the plate. It gets nearly a foot of separation from his low 90s sinker, which is effective at missing barrels. His curveball is a perfect complement to the rest of his arsenal with its 20” of sweep and 8” of drop. He finishes up his arsenal with a newly added cutter. Yoho is strictly a relief pitcher prospect due to his injury history and age, but his ability to generate whiffs is supernatural. His extreme movement profile will surely make him a menace right out of the gate against MLB bats, even if his walk issue persists.

Zach Maxwell

Maxwell may have the highest ceiling of any RP prospect. He has 2 plus-plus offerings in his high 90s 4-Seam and high 80s slider. He generates whiffs with ease, but he throws too many noncompetitive pitches.

Andrew Walters

Walters wraps up the trio of my favourite RP prospects thanks to his plus-plus fastball and killer slider. He introduced a splitter into his arsenal which looks to be a devastating whiff pitch already.

Former Top Prospects

Mick Abel

Abel has a lot going for him, including a projectile frame, a deep pitch mix, and a high whiff rate. Alas, he hasn’t shown any improvements in his command while his stuff has declined since his debut in 2021. His fastball sits in the mid 90s, with not the greatest shape. It has been effective at generating whiffs but struggles to limit damage. He also has greatly struggled to find the zone with the pitch, which is one of the biggest drivers into his putrid command metrics. He tosses a gyro-slider which has been his best offering at missing barrels, but it lacks the velocity to be a dominant breaking ball. His curveball sits in the low 80s with two-plane movement. It is a good whiff-generating pitch, but batters seldomly chase it. He doesn’t have the greatest feel for his changeup, buts its combination of high 80s heat and movement help it grade out well. His age, body type, and prior success give me some optimism that he can sharpen up the command and turn into a backend rotation arm for the Phillies.

Cade Cavalli

An injury riddled 2023 and 2024 stifled Cavalli’s projection. At his best, he has 4 average-to-plus offerings, including a devastating curveball. At the worst, injuries and spotty command force him into a high-leverage relief role.

Pending Callup

Brandon Birdsell

Birdsell is a hard throwing righty with a stable 4-pitch mix and solid command that should line him up as a reliable innings-eating backend starter for the Cubs.

Mike Burrows

Burrows’ 4-pitch mix features 3 average-to-plus secondaries, which are effective at generating whiffs. His fastball doesn’t grade out as favourably and gets hit hard due to its steeper approach.

Logan Henderson

Henderson tosses a fastball with flatter approach from a lower slot and a screwball-like changeup. Both pitches flash plus, but the lack of depth in his arsenal may force him into a bullpen role, where he should perform well.

Blade Tidwell

Tidwell got into a rut in AAA as he struggled immensely with issuing walks. His arsenal is extremely deep, containing 7 pitches with multiple plus breaking balls. He added a sinker this season, and I am interested to see how he would perform if dropped his 4-Seam and went with a more E-W arsenal.

Exciting Stuff

Jurrangelo Cijntje

You can’t really get any more exciting than Cijntje! He is a switch-pitcher who will likely stick as a RHP, but it is fun to picture him switching hands depending on the batter. He has a plus fastball and average secondaries with room to grow in the command department.

Logan Evans

Evans thrived in an aggressive assignment to AA in his first full pro season. He wields a 6-pitch arsenal, highlighted by a high-spin 82-84 MPH slider which averages 15” of horizontal break. His deep arsenal makes his future development as a starter encouraging but lacks the bite on his fastball to project more than a back-end rotation option.

Tekoah Roby

Roby has flashed promising stuff throughout this MiLB career, most notably his killer curveball. His health is the limiting factor in his projection as a starter.

Chase Petty

Petty’s two distinct breaking balls will be key to his ceiling as a starter. He throws a low 90s cutter/slider and big moving sweeper that excelled at missing bats this season. His longer arm action poses reliever risk; a role where he should excel.

Alex Cook

Cook missed a lot of time this season due to injury, but while healthy, his fastball flashed plus-plus due to its velocity and ride. His arsenal is shallow, which may limit his role to the bullpen.

Young Guns

Mavis Graves

Graves is a big-framed lefty with a deep pitch mix who was exceptional in Lo-A this season, but his lack of a strong fastball prevents his inclusion into the Top 50. Improvements in velocity feel realistic as he fills out his frame.

Jackson Ferris

Ferris excelled this season, tossing a handful of starts in AA as a 20 year old. His frame is suitable for a high-volume starters, and his deep arsenal could make an impact in Los Angeles sooner rather than later.

Command First

Chen Zhong-Ao Zhuang

Zhuang has exhibited consistent command throughout his MiLB career and exhibited a plus fastball and deep array of secondaries. I would consider him one of the most underrated pitching prospects in baseball.

Thomas Harrington

Harrington is a command stud, who is a safe bet to be a back-end rotation arm for the Pirates. The lack of stuff limits his ceiling.

Conclusion

Creating this list was a blast. It helped me learn a lot more about prospect evaluation and pitching in general. I hope to build upon this project and learn with each new update.

Thank you for reading my article! Please share any questions or comments you may have about have my Top 50 Pitching Prospects.

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