Here are the Top 10 LHP prospects for 2024
Sam Dykstra
@SamDykstraMiLBYou can never have too much left-handed pitching, and the Majors could be in line to see a talented crop arriving this summer.
Six of MLB Pipeline¡¯s newly released Top 10 southpaws have estimated times of arrival of 2024, headlined by top two talents Kyle Harrison (Giants) and Ricky Tiedemann (Blue Jays).
Harrison debuted with San Francisco last season, posting a 4.15 ERA with 35 strikeouts in seven starts (34 2/3 innings), and has the plus-plus fastball and impressive slider and changeup to carve out a more permanent spot in the Giants rotation this spring. Tiedemann perhaps could have taken his plus fastball-slider-changeup mix north of the border last season, if not for shoulder and biceps issues that limited his workload, but he should get a chance to crack Toronto¡¯s staff soon considering how competitive the club plans to be in the AL East.
Elsewhere, Anthony Solometo (Pirates), Carson Whisenhunt (Giants) and Robert Gasser (Brewers) could all bang down the door to the Majors at various points in the months to come too, and don¡¯t rule out the Padres pushing 2023 standout Robby Snelling (1.82 ERA, 118 strikeouts in 103 2/3 innings across three levels) as they stay aggressive with prospects. With all these potential graduations, the Top 10 LHP list could look very, very different in 2025.
The Top 10 (ETA)
1. Kyle Harrison, Giants (2024)
2. Ricky Tiedemann, Blue Jays (2024)
3. Robby Snelling, Padres (2025)
4. Noah Schultz, White Sox (2026)
5. Anthony Solometo, Pirates (2024)
6. Carson Whisenhunt, Giants (2024)
7. Jackson Ferris, Dodgers (2026)
8. Thomas White, Marlins (2027)
9. Robert Gasser, Brewers (2024)
10. Jordan Wicks, Cubs (2024)
Complete list ?
Top tools
Fastball: Harrison (70)
The Giants southpaw threw his heater 60.7 percent of the time in the Majors, and it isn¡¯t hard to see why. The 92-95 mph pitch, which touches as high as 97, plays above its velo because of his above-average extension and flat approach angle, and those characteristics helped it earn a 24.8 percent whiff rate in the bigs and 39.7 percent in Triple-A (per Synergy Sports).
Curveball: Snelling, Ferris, White (60)
Quality curves aren¡¯t always easy to find in today¡¯s slider-heavy game, but there are three good ones here. Snelling rode his two-plane breaker to Double-A in a breakout 2023 campaign, while Ferris used his 75-78 mph downer to fan 77 in 56 innings at Single-A in his first full season. White showed spin rates in the 2700-2900 rpm range during his brief look at Single-A Jupiter after being taken 35th overall last July and could follow the K-heavy path of the other two in 2024.
Slider: Schultz (65)
The 2022 26th overall pick is intimidating enough standing on the mound with his 6-foot-9 frame, and anyone trying to sit on his 93-95 mph fastball can look absolutely foolish when they flail instead at his low-80s, high-spin sweeper. Schultz punched out 36.5 percent of his batters faced with Single-A Kannapolis in 2023 before being shut down with a shoulder impingement.
Changeup: Whisenhunt (70)
Arguably the best pitch thrown by a left-hander in this class, Whisenhunt¡¯s changeup is simply one of the best in the entire Minors. He sells the pitch with the same arm speed as his 92-95 mph fastball, only for the low-80s change to plummet before reaching the plate. In Double-A, Whisenhunt threw 102 changeups, got 54 swings and elicited 29 misses for an insane whiff rate of 53.7 percent.
Other: Gasser (55)
Acquired from the Padres in the Josh Hader trade of 2022, Gasser has added an upper-80s cutter in recent years to complement his plus slider. The offering comes in with around 0 inches of horizontal movement, making it a bullet-like pitch that the Brewers lefty can use to earn early strikes or get back in counts when needed.
Control: Snelling, Solometo (55)
Solometo draws comparisons to Madison Bumgarner for his delivery and arm slot, and the 6-foot-5 lefty has made some nice adjustments to match the former Giants star¡¯s control work, dropping his walk rate from 10.1 percent in 2022 to 8.6 last season. Snelling has a bulldog-like approach that goes right after hitters, and he walked only 7 percent of his batters faced before reaching Double-A in his first full season. Like Solometo, the Padres hurler should continue to improve that with added pro experience.
Superlatives
Highest ceiling: Harrison
Harrison ranks second in the Minors with 452 strikeouts since the start of 2021 because of his impressive three-pitch mix, and he¡¯d likely rank first if not for the fact that he reached the Majors 10 days after turning 22 years old. His K-heavy ways could shoot him near the top of the San Francisco rotation soon, should he keep the walks in check.
Highest floor: Snelling
Harrison and Tiedemann both carry some relief risk because of control issues/limited workloads, while Snelling -- albeit younger than both with less upper-level experience -- does not come with similar concerns at this stage. Should his development continue apace, he should settle into at least the back end of a Major League rotation and could be higher given his combo and command.
Rookie of the Year candidate: Harrison
Even with some additions this offseason, San Francisco should still have a place in its Opening Day rotation for the 6-foot-2 hurler. Assuming health and continued work in the control department, Harrison has the K-heavy stuff to challenge Yoshinobu Yamamoto as the NL¡¯s first starting pitcher to win Rookie of the Year since Jacob deGrom in 2014.
Highest riser: Solometo
Solometo ranked 10th in the Pirates system at this time last year and ended 2023 as MLB Pipeline¡¯s No. 88 overall prospect. He¡¯ll remain in our Top 100 in this next update on the strength of his above-average fastball, slider and control, and he could be in line for a late-season debut in 2024 after posting a 3.26 ERA with 118 strikeouts in 110 1/3 innings between High-A and Double-A.
Humblest beginning: Tiedemann
Each of our Top 10 southpaws was selected in the Top 100 picks of their individual Drafts. Taken in the third round (91st overall) in 2021, Tiedemann was drafted lowest of the group and signed for right around slot at $644,800. The Golden West College product is one of the Minors¡¯ best JuCo success stories.
Most to prove: Tiedemann
On one hand, Tiedemann has something to prove on the durability front, having yet to throw more than 100 innings in a regular season as a pro. (He was most recently limited to 44 frames due to shoulder and biceps issues in 2023 but made up for some of the lost time in the Arizona Fall League.) On another, his fastball, slider and changeup are all at least plus pitches and could work in the Majors straight away. He may be pitching for a spot on Toronto¡¯s MLB roster ¨C either as a starter or long man out of the bullpen, where his innings could be more closely managed ¨C straight out of the gate this spring.
Keep an eye on: Yu-Min Lin
The D-backs left-hander stands just 5-foot-11 and averaged only close to 90 mph on his fastball at Double-A last season. But he managed 140 strikeouts over 121 1/3 innings at Double-A and High-A because his secondaries kept midlevel Minor League batters constantly on edge. His 79-81 mph changeup can be especially deadly while his low-80s slider and mid-70s curve can also look like at least above-average pitches. Arizona evaluators have challenged Lin to add muscle in the offseason and have been pleased with the early returns entering 2024. Watch out for a breakout from the 20-year-old.