Top 100 Prospects Position Rankings: Lefthanders
Now that we’ve wrapped up the Top 10 Prospects lists and The Top 100, we turn our attention to how the best of the best stack up against each other with our position rankings.
Quality of the Class: The top of this list is excellent as Julio Urias, Blake Snell and Steven Matz are comparable with the best lefties of most any prospect class, but the depth drops off very quickly.
Highest Ceiling: Julio Urias, lhp, Dodgers. Scouts still have trouble figuring out just what to make and what to expect out of Urias. That’s because teenager lefties with three plus pitches who are big league ready simply don’t exist. That’s not hyperbole. If Urias throws 50 big league innings this year, he will become the first teenage lefty to throw that many big league innings since David Clyde in 1973 and 1974 (thanks to Baseball Reference for the assistance). Urias has true front-line stuff with an impressively advanced approach.
Lowest Risk: Blake Snell, lhp, Rays. There is nothing left for Snell to do in the minors. He’s dominated four full-season levels. If you’re looking for flaws, his control has been an issue at times, but as the strike zones have gotten smaller and umpires have gotten better Snell’s walk rate has plummeted. He’s a lefty with plus velocity and an ability to stay a pitch ahead.
Bursting On The Scene: Bryan Hudson, lhp, Cubs. A massive (6-foot-8) but athletic lefty who has surprising body control for his size, Hudson’s high-80s fastball has room to grow but it’s already effective because it sets up an outstanding curveball.
| LEFTHANDERS | |
| 1. Julio Urias, Dodgers | |
| 2. Blake Snell, Rays | |
| 3. Steven Matz, Mets | |
| 4. Sean Newcomb, Braves | |
| 5. Cody Reed, Reds | |
| 6. Sean Manaea, Athletics | |
| 7. Amir Garrett, Reds | |
| 8. Tyler Jay, Twins | |
| 9. Brady Aiken, Indians | |
| 10. Justus Sheffield, Indians | |
| 11. Kolby Allard, Braves | |
| 12. Kyle Freeland, Rockies | |
| 13. Tim Cooney, Cardinals | |
| 14. Brian Johnson, Red Sox | |
| 15. Kodi Medeiros, Brewers | |
| 16. Josh Hader, Brewers | |
| 17. Max Fried, Braves | |
| 18. John Lamb, Reds | |
| 19. Rob Kaminsky, Indians | |
| 20. Marco Gonzales, Cardinals | |
| 21. Manny Banuelos, Braves | |
| 22. Jacob Lindgren, Yankees | |
| 23. Nate Smith, Angels | |
| 24. Austin Gomber, Cardinals | |
| 25. Ricardo Sanchez, Braves | |
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