2011 Top 30 Starting Pitching Prospects

1. Julio Teheran - RHP - ATL - 6'2" 150 - 1.27.91. Signed: Columbia 2007. Teheran has everything you look for in a pitcher. A live arm that consistently produces mid 90's fastballs, good secondary stuff and command of all pitches.

Year	LG	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SH	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2010	SAL	A-	2-2	1.14	7	7	0	0	0	39.1	23	10	45	0.839
2010	CAR	A+	4-4	2.98	10	10	0	0	0	63.1	56	13	76	1.089
2010	SO	AA	3-2	3.28	7	7	0	0	0	40.0	29	17	38	1.150
2010	TOT	3Lgs	9-8	2.59	24	24	0	0	0	142.2	108	40	159	1.037

2. Jeremy Hellickson - RHP - TB - 6'1" 185 - 4.8.87. High School: Des Moines (IA) Drafted: 4th Round 2005. The Matt Garza trade to the Cubs opens up a rotation spot for last year's Minor League Player of the Year. I had the pleasure of watching Hellickson pitch last year, click here for my scouting report.

Year	LG	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2010	IL	AAA	12-3	2.45	21	21	0	0	0	117.2	103	35	123	1.173
2010	AL	MLB	4-0	3.47	10	4	0	0	0	36.1	32	8	33	1.101

3. Michael Pineda - RHP - SEA - 6'5" 250 - 1.18.89. Signed: Dominican Republic 2005. Just as I'm partial to patient hitter, I'm a sucker for power pitchers especially when they throw 100, and post a K/9 of 9.9 to just 2.2 BB/9.

Year	LG	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SH	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2010	SL	AA	8-1	2.22	13	13	0	0	0	77	67	17	78	1.091
2010	PCL	AAA	3-3	4.76	12	12	0	0	0	62.1	54	17	76	1.139
2010	TOT	2Lgs	11-4	3.36	25	25	0	0	0	139.1	121	34	154	1.112

4. Jamison Taillon - RHP - PIT - 6'5" 225 - 11.18.91. High School: Woodlands (TX) Drafted: 1st Round (2nd Overall) 2010. Had Bryce Harper not decided to forgo his junior and senior year of high school to attend junior college in order to become draft eligible a year early, Taillon would have been the first overall pick last year. He'll join Stetson Allie at the Pirates loaded Low A West Virginia affiliate.

Year	LG	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2010	-	HS	8-1	1.78	11	-	-	-	-	62	42	21	114	-

5. Matt Moore - LHP - TB - 6'2" 205 - 6.18.89. High School: Edgewood (NM) Drafted: 8th Round 2007. All Moore has done is lead the minor leagues in strikeouts in each of the past two years. From 2007-2010 he's posted K/9 ratios of 12.8, 12.8, 12.9 and 12.9.

Year	LG	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2010	FSL	A+	6-11	3.36	26	26	0	0	0	144.2	109	61	208	1.175

6. Zach Britton - LHP - BAL - 6'3" 195 - 12.22.87. High School: Weatherford (TX) Drafted: 3rd Round 2006. It should also be noted that I'm a sucker for lefties with plus change ups and Britton possesses just that.

Year	LG	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SH	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2010	EL	AA	7-3	2.48	15	14	0	0	0	87	76	28	68	1.195
2010	IL	AAA	3-4	2.98	12	12	0	0	0	66.1	63	23	56	1.296
2010	TOT	2Lgs	10-7	2.70	27	26	0	0	0	153.1	139	51	124	1.239

7. Shelby Miller - RHP - STL - 6'3" 195 - 10.10.90. High School: Brownwood (TX) Drafted: 1st Round (19th Overall) 2009. The 2009 draft was loaded with prep pitching talent and Miller had the most impressive debut among his peers. He posted a dominant 12.1 K/9 in the Midwest League on his way to being named the league's #2 prospect.

Year	LG	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2010	MWL	A-	7-5	3.62	24	24	0	0	0	104.1	97	33	140	1.246

8. Jarrod Parker - RHP - ARI - 6'1" 180 - 11.24.88. High School: Ossian (IN) Drafted: 1st Round (9th Overall) 2007. Parker was on his way to becoming one of the top prospects in baseball before having Tommy John surgery. He's now back and will start the year in AA.

Year	LG	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2009	CAL	A+	1-0	0.95	4	4	0	0	0	19	12	4	21	0.842
2009	SO	AA	4-6	3.68	16	16	0	0	0	78.1	82	34	74	1.481
2009	TOT	2 Lgs	5-6	3.14	20	20	0	0	0	97.1	94	38	95	1.356

9. Jacob Turner - RHP - DET - 6'5" 210 - 5.21.91. High School: St. Charles (MO) Drafted: 1st Round (9th Overall) 2009.Turner drew Rick Porcello comps for his size, stuff and bonus demands and ended up with the same Detroit Tigers. Here's hoping the Tigers don't have Turner skip AA and AAA like they did with Porcello.

Year	LG	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SH	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2010	MWL	A-	2-3	3.67	11	10	0	0	0	54	53	9	51	1.148
2010	FSL	A+	4-2	2.93	13	13	0	0	0	61.1	53	14	51	1.148
2010	TOT	2 Lgs	6-5	3.28	24	23	0	0	0	115.1	106	23	102	1.118

10. Martin Perez - LHP - TEX - 6'0" 180 - 4.4.91. Signed: Venezuela 2007. Perez had a rough go at AA in 2010 but he did it as a 19 year old. I haven't lost faith.

Year	LG	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2010	TL	AA	5-8	5.96	24	23	0	0	0	99.2	117	50	101	1.676

11. Kyle Drabek - RHP - TOR - 6'1" 190 - 12.8.87. High School: Victoria (TX) Drafted: 1st Round (18th Overall) 2006. Like Parker, Drabek is a brave Tommy John survivor. He has a chance to make the Jays rotation out of spring training and even if he doesn't, he'll still get around 20 MLB starts.

Year	LG	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2010	EL	AA	14-9	2.94	27	27	1	1	0	162	126	68	132	1.198
2010	AL	MLB	0-3	4.76	3	3	0	0	0	17	18	5	12	1.353

12. Randall Delgado - RHP - ATL - 6'3" 165 - 2.9.90. Signed: Panama 2006. Delgado draws comparisons to his farmmate Julio Teheran because of his electric arm and strikeout ability. Like Teheran he has 3 potential plus pitches and controls them well. He'll start the 2011 season in AA and could be in Atlanta by season's end.

Year	LG	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SH	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2010	CAR	A+	4-7	2.76	20	20	0	0	0	117.1	89	32	120	1.031
2010	SO	AA	3-5	4.74	8	8	0	0	0	43.2	36	20	42	1.282
2010	TOT	2 Lgs	7-12	3.30	28	28	0	0	0	161	125	52	162	1.099

13. Mike Montgomery - LHP - KC - 6'5" 180 - 7.1.89. High School: Valencia (CA) Drafted: 1st Round Supplemental (36th Overall) 2008. Like I said, I'm a sucker for lefties who throw a plus change up.

Year	LG	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SH	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2010	ARI	Rk	0-1	1.04	3	3	0	0	0	8.2	6	1	7	0.808
2010	CAR	A+	2-0	1.09	4	4	0	0	0	24.2	14	4	33	0.730
2010	TL	AA	5-4	3.47	13	13	0	0	0	59.2	56	26	48	1.374
2010	TOT	3Lgs	7-5	2.61	20	20	0	0	0	93	76	31	88	1.151

14. Tyler Matzek - LHP - COL - 6'3" 210 - 10.19.90. High School: Mission Viejo (CA) Drafted: 1st Round (11th Overall) 2009. It came down too the 11th hour, but the Rockies signed Matzek away from his Oregon commitment for $3.9MM. Matzek has dominant stuff but his 6.2 BB/9 is a little scary.

Year	LG	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2010	SAL	A-	5-1	2.92	18	18	0	0	0	89.1	62	62	88	1.388

15. Kyle Gibson - RHP - MIN - 6'6" 210 - 10.23.87. College: Missouri Drafted: 1st Round (23rd overall) 2009. Gibson doesn't possess true ace "stuff" but he's a good bet to have a solid MLB career.

Year	LG	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SH	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2010	FSL	A+	4-1	1.87	7	7	1	0	0	43.1	33	12	40	1.038
2010	EL	AA	7-5	3.68	16	16	1	0	0	93	91	22	77	1.215
2010	IL	AAA	0-0	1.72	3	3	0	0	0	15.2	12	5	9	1.085
2010	TOT	3 Lgs	11-6	2.96	26	26	2	1	0	152	136	39	126	1.151

16. Simon Castro - RHP - SD - 6'5" 210 - 4.9.88. Signed: Dominican Republic 2006. Castro skipped high A and put together a solid campaign in AA ahead of schedule.

Year	LG	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SH	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2010	AA	TL	7-6	2.92	24	23	0	0	0	129.2	107	36	107	1.103
2010	AAA	PCL	0-1	7.84	2	2	0	0	0	10.1	16	6	6	2.129
2010	TOT	2 Lgs	7-7	3.28	26	25	0	0	0	140	123	42	113	1.179

17. Zach Wheeler - RHP - SF - 6'3" 180 - 5.30.90. High School: Dallas (GA) Drafted: 1st Round (6th Overall) 2009. San Francisco's newest pitching phenom had a solid 2010, his first as a professional. Like Matzek, he'll need to keep the walks in check.

Year	LG	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2010	SAL	A-	3-3	3.99	21	13	0	0	0	58.2	47	38	70	1.449

18. Mike Minor - LHP - ATL - 6'3" 210 - 12.26.87. College: Vanderbilt Drafted: 1st Round (7th Overall) 2009. The former Commodore was much more dominate in 2010 than I anticipated (10.9 K/9). While he was hit hard after his August 9th call up, he should open the season in Atlanta.

Year	LG	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SH	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2010	AA	SO	2-6	4.03	15	15	0	0	0	87	74	34	109	1.241
2010	AAA	IL	4-1	1.89	6	6	0	0	0	33.1	19	12	37	0.930
2010	TOT	2 Lgs	6-7	3.44	21	21	0	0	0	120.1	93	46	146	1.155
2010	NL	MLB	3-2	5.98	9	8	0	0	0	40.2	53	11	43	1.57

19. Jordan Lyles - RHP - HOU - 6'4" 185 - 10.19.90. High School: Hartsville (SC) Drafted: 1st Round Supplemental (38th Overall) 2008. I'm not as high on Lyles as most and the reason is primarily the 9.2 H/9 line he's had in his minor league career.

Year	LG	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SH	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2010	TL	AA	7-9	3.12	21	20	1	0	0	127	133	35	115	1.323
2010	PCL	AAA	0-3	5.40	6	6	1	0	0	31.2	48	11	22	1.863
2010	TOT	2Lgs	7-12	3.57	27	26	2	0	0	158.2	181	46	137	1.431

20. Chris Archer - RHP - TB - 6'3" 180 - 9.26.88. High School: Raleigh (NC) Drafted: 5th Round (Indians). Archer has put together back to back great seasons as a Cubs farm hand. We'll see if he carries that momentum with him to the Tampa organization.

Year	LG	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SH	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2010	FSL	A+	7-1	2.86	15	14	0	0	0	72.1	54	26	82	1.106
2010	SO	AA	8-2	1.80	13	13	0	0	0	70	48	39	67	1.243
2010	TOT	2 Lgs	15-3	2.34	28	27	0	0	0	142.1	102	65	149	1.173

21. Jenrry Mejia - RHP - NYM - 6'0" 160 - 10.11.89. Signed: Dominican Republic 2007. I'm not a fan of the way the Mets handled Mejia in 2010, but he'll enter 2011 focused on starting. He can always use a future move to the bullpen as plan B.

Year	LG	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SH	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2010	GCL	Rk	0-0	3.00	1	1	0	0	0	3	4	1	3	1.667
2010	FSL	A+	0-0	0.00	1	1	0	0	0	4	1	0	7	0.250
2010	EL	AA	2-0	1.32	6	6	1	1	0	27.1	19	14	26	1.207
2010	IL	AAA	0-0	1.12	1	1	0	0	0	8	5	1	9	0.750
2010	TOT	4Lgs	2-0	1.28	9	9	1	1	0	42.1	29	16	45	1.063
2010	NL	MLB	0-4	4.62	33	3	0	0	0	39	46	20	22	1.692

22. Casey Kelly - RHP - SD - 6'3" 210 - 10.4.89. High School: Sarasota (FL) Drafted: 1st Round (30th Overall) 2008. The Red Sox signed Kelly away from a Tennessee football scholarship with the promise that they'd let him play shortstop. After he fizzled out with the bat, they convinced him to devote himself to the mound. He had a stellar 2009 but stumbled in 2010. Kelly's stock is still high and he was the centerpiece on a package that landed Adrien Gonzalez.

Year	LG	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2010	EL	AA	3-5	5.31	21	21	0	0	0	95	118	35	81	1.611

23. Jake Odorizzi - RHP - KC - 6'2" 175 - 3.27.90. High School: Highland (IL) Drafted: 1st Round Supplemental (32nd Overall). A promising season in the Midwest League propelled Odorizzi be named the top prospect in Milwaukee prior to being shipped to Kansas City as part of a prospect package that returned Zack Greinke.

Year	LG	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2010	MWL	A-	7-3	3.43	23	20	0	0	1	120.2	99	40	135	1.152

24. Alex White - RHP - CLE - 6'3" 200 - 8.29.88. College: North Carolina Drafted: 1st Round (15th Overall) 2009. White led his Tar Heals team to Omaha in 2009 with a mid 90's fastball and a tumbling splitter. His first full season as a professional was largely successful using that same repertoire. He'll spend 2011 in AAA Columbus so I'll have some video soon.

Year	LG	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SH	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2010	CAR	A+	2-3	2.86	8	8	0	0	0	44	32	19	41	1.159
2010	EL	AA	8-7	2.28	18	17	0	0	0	106.2	91	27	76	1.106
2010	TOT	2 Lgs	10-10	2.45	26	25	0	0	0	150.2	123	46	117	1.122

25. Dellin Betances - NYY - RHP - 6'8" 245 - 3.23.88. High School: New York Drafted: 8th Round 2006. Reminds me of Seattle's Michael Pineda. Maybe it's because they're both built like NFL Tight Ends.

Year	LG	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SH	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2010	FSL	A+	8-1	1.77	14	14	0	0	0	71	43	19	88	0.873
2010	EL	AA	0-0	3.77	3	3	0	0	0	14.1	10	3	20	0.907
2010	TOT	2 Lgs	8-1	2.11	17	17	0	0	0	85.1	53	22	108	0.879

26. Drew Pomeranz - LHP - CLE - 6'5" 230 - 11.22.88. College: Mississippi Drafted: 1st Round (#5 overall) 2010. The 2010 college pitching draft class provided good depth and star power at the front and I think Pomeranz is the best in the bunch.

Year	Class	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SH	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2008	FR	SEC	4-3	4.16	17	11	0	0	0	71	76	30	81	1.49
2009	SO	SEC	8-4	3.40	16	16	2	0	0	95	85	37	124	1.28
2010	JR	SEC	9-2	2.24	16	16	0	0	0	100	71	49	139	1.19

27. A.J. Cole - RHP - WAS - 6'4 180 - 1.5.92. High School: Winter Springs (FL) Drafted: 4th Round 2010. The Nationals secured their draft A grade on their 2010 draft by signing Cole away from his Miami (FL) commitment for $2,000.000.

Year	LG	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2010	NYP	Rk	0-0	0.00	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	1	2.000

28. Tyler Skaggs - LHP - ARI - 6'4" 195 - 7.13.91. High School: Venice (CA) Drafted: 1st Round Supplemental (40th Overall - LAA) 2009. Skaggs was on his way to having a breakout year when the Angles sent him and Joe Saunders to Arizona for Dan Haren and he didn't slow down when he switched teams.

Year	LG	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2010	MWL	A-	9-5	3.29	23	18	0	0	0	98.1	91	25	102	1.180

29. Anthony Ranaudo - BOS - 6'7" 230 - 9.9.89. College: LSU Drafted: 1st Round Supplemental (39th Overall) 2010. Ranaudo entered the 2010 season in a three horse race with Bryce Harper and Jamison Taillon but stumbled out of the gate. Shoulder soreness sidelined him early and he wasn't able to get on track upon his return. I still like his potential to become a Roy Halliday type work horse, but he's no sure thing to get there.

Year	Class	Level	W-L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SH	SV	IP	H	BB	K	WHIP
2008	FR	NCAA	1-0	0.00	8	1	0	0	0	12	5	6	13	0.92
2009	SO	NCAA	12-3	3.04	19	19	0	0	0	124	93	50	159	1.15
2010	JR	NCAA	5-3	7.32	15	11	0	0	0	51	60	27	54	1.68

30. Stetson Allie - RHP - PIT - 6'2" 220 - 3.13.91. High School: St. Edward (OH) Drafted: 2nd Round 2010. I went back and forth on whether or not to include Allie on this list. I've gotta respect prep arms that can hit triple digits, but he's going to walk a lot of batters. It'll be a roller coaster ride but it'll be fun to watch. Click here for my scouting report on Allie.

**No Statistics Available on Allie**

Tags: sp prospects, starting pitcher prospects, mlb prospects, top 100 baseball prospects, baseball prospects, julio teheran, jeremy hellickson, michael pineda, jamison taillon, matt moore, zach britton, shelby miller, jarrod parker, jacob turner, martin perez, kyle drabek, randall delgado, mike montgomery, tyler matzek, kyle gibson, simon castro, zach wheeler, mike minor, jordan lyles, chris archer, jenry mejia, casey kelly, jake ordorizzi, alex white, dellin betances, drew pomeranz, aj cole, tyler skaggs, anthony ranaudo, stetson allie