How would you rank these young pitchers?

by auclairkeithbc on Dec 11, 2025 10:34 PM EST Comment 47 comments

Jordan Lyles, Jason Knapp, Randall Delgado, Chad James, Mike Minor, Trevor May, Ross Seaton, Brett DeVall, Brad Hand

All these guys are really young and naturally unproven. I'm wondering how you'd rank them (I'd rank them in the order I named them). Also note if there are any huge gaps between players and any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks.

x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

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for me

1. Jordan Lyles
2. Randall Delgado
3. Jason Knapp
4. Chad James
5. Trevor May
6. Mike Minor
7. Brad Hand
8. Ross Seaton (could go higher)
9. Brett DeVall

Any factual evidence at all towards this rumor?

Carlos Carrasco, Alex White along with Tanner Scheppers to the Twins
Glen Perkins and Beau Mills to the Rangers
Francisco Liriano and the rights to Boof Bonser + a PTBL to the Indians

(will Smoak and Feliz go to Fla. for Josh Johnson?)

by SteveHoffmanSlowey on Dec 11, 2025 10:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Chad James
Jordan Lyles
Randall Delgado
Trevor May
Jason Knapp
Mike Minor
Brett DeVall
Ross Seaton
Brad Hand

by jar75 on Dec 11, 2025 10:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Jordan Lyles
Randall Delgado
Jason Knapp
Trevor May
Chad James
Brett DeVall
Mike Minor
Ross Seaton
Brad Hand

by Archie A on Dec 11, 2025 10:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Jordan Lyles
Chad James
Randall Delgado
Trevor May
Jason Knapp
Ross Seaton
Brett DeVall
Brad Hand

by JHawk5 on Dec 11, 2025 11:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Randall Delgado
Chad James
Jordan Lyles
Mike Minor
Trevor May
Jason Knapp
Brett DeVall
Ross Seaton
Brad Hand

by gogotabata on Dec 11, 2025 11:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Why would you put Knapp so low?

You’re name has 2k9 in it — what are you some 8 year-old who makes Pillsbury Doughboy cookies and jerks off to that bullshit video game with Tim Lincecum on the cover--
Frederick0220

by Mets2k9 on Dec 12, 2025 12:00 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I see him as a heavy flame-out candidate; and, if not, a future relieverl

by gogotabata on Dec 12, 2025 9:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Tier 1:
Lyles
Delgado
Knapp
Tier 2:
Minor
James
May
Tier 4:
Seaton
Hand
DeVall

by byronlhsdrmr on Dec 11, 2025 11:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

what happened to tier 3

lol

by PHGold09 on Dec 12, 2025 12:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

ha...yeah...

You see there’s such a significant drop-off between May and Seaton that I had to skip a tier to get the point across.

by byronlhsdrmr on Dec 12, 2025 12:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Where would RHP Brad Meyers rank in this group of pitchers?

Be real with yourself.

by Daggerrrrrr on Dec 12, 2025 12:49 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

At the end

RIP Nick Adenhart

by gatling on Dec 12, 2025 7:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

To expand on that a little bit

John ranked Meyers as a C+ on the Nats top 20. I’d expect all the pitchers listed here to be at least B- grades(some higher than that of course).

RIP Nick Adenhart

by gatling on Dec 12, 2025 7:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

well

DeVall got a C+ as well.

by auclairkeithbc on Dec 12, 2025 8:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

True

but as John noted he’d rank higher without the injury concerns, where as Meyers comment mentions his limited upside. The injuries don’t worry me too much with DeVall, I’d have gone with a B- for him.

RIP Nick Adenhart

by gatling on Dec 12, 2025 9:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

I agree basically, which why I even put him in the discussion. I like him.

by auclairkeithbc on Dec 12, 2025 9:57 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Okay if Meyers rank last in this group.

Where would LHP Ross Detwiler rank among these guys?

Be real with yourself.

by Daggerrrrrr on Dec 12, 2025 10:04 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I put him behind all the guys listed by the OP

I’m just not a Detwiler fan.

RIP Nick Adenhart

by gatling on Dec 12, 2025 10:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He has more upside than all of them.

And he showed what he was capable doing in the second half of last season.

Be real with yourself.

by Daggerrrrrr on Dec 12, 2025 10:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

well

he doesn’t have more upside. he probably has the highest floor though.

by auclairkeithbc on Dec 12, 2025 10:49 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So where would you rank him with this group of pitchers?

Be real with yourself.

by Daggerrrrrr on Dec 12, 2025 11:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

he's about equal w/ Minor for me

ceiling of a good #4, floor of a bad #5

by gogotabata on Dec 12, 2025 11:07 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

minor is better than that

and if you’re gonna call someone’s floor a bad 5, you might as well go all the way and say he’ll flame out in AA.

human beings, who are almost unique in their ability to learn from the experiences of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.

by variablesdont on Dec 12, 2025 8:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

the most optimistic reading of minor's upside I've read

is a solid #3

And I think there’s a big difference b/w a bad 5 and a AA flame-out; Kyle Davies was a pretty bad 5 last year, I think, and he chewed up and spat out AAA hitters the last two years.

by gogotabata on Dec 12, 2025 9:06 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

he's 21 years old, he throws 94 MPH, with a projectable body, good control, and 2 plus secondary offerings

in college, he was less than the sum of these parts, but if you think a 21 year old pitcher can’t improve, or even get better as he rises through the minor league system, you probably aren’t very good at this.

human beings, who are almost unique in their ability to learn from the experiences of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.

by variablesdont on Dec 13, 2025 10:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

what's up w/ the personal insults?

is it that difficult to say “I think differently, and this is why” without throwing out sophomoric jabs?

According to PitchFX, Minor touched 93.8, but averaged 90.85 in the AFL. That calls out Jeremy Sowers to me.

Unless he has unreal pitchability to go with his great command, I find it difficult to believe he’ll miss enough bats to be an above-average ML starter.

by gogotabata on Dec 13, 2025 11:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

my issue is with your consideration of his ceiling as being a good #4.

as i said, minor’s performance has been less than the sum of his parts, however, he’s 21, he’s thrown just 30 professional innings, and if he puts everything together, his upside is a great pitcher.

he has velocity, he has control, he has plus secondary offerings, he’s got polish, projection, and age, all on his side.

and you’re comparing him to jeremy sowers. i’m quite comfortable with that level of insult, considering your level of insight.

well, that, and this.

human beings, who are almost unique in their ability to learn from the experiences of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.

by variablesdont on Dec 13, 2025 12:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, I could've put that more gently

but I’m still waiting for a reason to think Minor has the upside you’re positing. He doesn’t have plus velocity (he sits at 90), and succeeds based on his control and change. They guy you’re describing isn’t recognizable with any of the data or reports I’ve read. I don’t know how much projection to give to a polished guy coming out of college ball; it’s not like he’s a lanky 18 year old still refining his mechanics.

Sowers is a control lefty who sits at 88.5-89.5. Minor is a control lefty who sits at 90.5. Sowers relies on his change more than any of his other secondary pitches.

I don’t know where I’m coming up with this crazy stuff.

by gogotabata on Dec 13, 2025 1:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Correction: 90.8, not 90.5 for Minor, according to pitchFX

I also have Minor ranked higher than most of the other people ranking the prospects here, btw.

Sowers is a fine #5, I think. His FIP the last four years: 4.77, 5.05, 5.57, 4.57. I don’t think he’s an unreasonable comp for Minor, and his career seems a much higher possibility than, say, Zito, unless Minor has been hiding the next great curve from scouts and hitters the last few years.

by gogotabata on Dec 13, 2025 1:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i'll get back to this in a few hours.

human beings, who are almost unique in their ability to learn from the experiences of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.

by variablesdont on Dec 14, 2025 12:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’d have Minor #1. Easily the most likely to do anything on this list, and none of the others are likely to be much better if they hit their ceiling, IMO.

Also, Brett DeVall was probably the most projectible of the arms on this list. He’d be very high on my list if healthy, which he’s not.

by WrenFGun on Dec 12, 2025 12:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

"none of the others are likely to be much better if they hit their ceiling"

I think a lot of people would disagree with that statement

by jibs on Dec 12, 2025 12:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yup. Minor’s best case scenario is a #3 starter. His value comes from his worst case scenario being a #5 starter.

At least 5 guys on this list have a higher upside than #3 starter. There’s a chance none of them reach it, of course, but that’s not what the question is.

by PhillyFriar on Dec 12, 2025 12:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

that's not minor's upside.

there’s absolutely nothing stopping minor from approaching mulder/zito/petitte levels of success. he has that level of stuff, and it’s a huge mistake to write his upside off before he’s thrown a single pitch in affiliated ball.

human beings, who are almost unique in their ability to learn from the experiences of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.

by variablesdont on Dec 12, 2025 8:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think I’m writing off his upside at all. Pitchability lefties not named Tom Glavine top out as #3 starters.

Mulder and Pettitte both induce tons of grounders, which isn’t Minor’s game. Zito is actually a pretty fair comp if you look at xFIP instead of ERA: in Zito’s prime, he was fundamentally a 4.29 to 4.73 xFIP pitcher.

Look, Minor’s going to carve up the minors (puns are fun!), but I’d be shocked if he’s able to fool major league hitters to the same degree by pitching backwards. I don’t dislike him or anything, but you’re wishcasting to see him as anything more than a #3 at best.

by PhillyFriar on Dec 14, 2025 12:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

isn't projecting a pitcher's ceiling the very definition of wishcasting?

human beings, who are almost unique in their ability to learn from the experiences of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so.

by variablesdont on Dec 14, 2025 12:26 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, strongly disagree with that statement.

by alskor on Dec 12, 2025 1:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I mean, perhaps…

All I see are a bunch of pitchers who either can’t throw strikes, have inflated numbers with poor/middling peripherals, or pitchers who are having success not supported by their overall profile.

I mean, yeah, if you want to bet on Jason Knapp figuring out how to throw strikes, then sure…his ceiling is higher. I just don’t think it’s likely.

by WrenFGun on Dec 13, 2025 3:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah

that is what is meant by ceiling. the likelihood has more to do with floor. you think minor has the highest floor, not the highest ceiling.

by auclairkeithbc on Dec 13, 2025 4:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I mean, yeah, if you want to bet on Jason Knapp figuring out how to throw strikes, then sure…his ceiling is higher. I just don’t think it’s likely.

I would definitely rather bet on that. I don’t think too many people are taking Minor over Knapp.

by alskor on Dec 13, 2025 7:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Minor isn’t even the best Braves pitcher on this list.

by yondaime4 on Dec 13, 2025 7:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Probably correct.

by alskor on Dec 13, 2025 7:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

eh, maybe

Delgado is a popular breakout candidate, but let’s be honest, Minor is WAY more polished than him and Minor is a much more likely candidate to one day pitch in a major league rotation. Doesn’t mean that he’s necessarily a better prospect, doesn’t mean he’ll be a better pitcher if both guys make it, just means he’s more likely to be a major league starting pitcher.

Minor is certainly a better prospect than DeVall, who was last seen sitting in the mid-80s. I liked DeVall coming out of high school but he wasn’t a guy who could afford to lose anything on the fastball.

by mrkupe on Dec 14, 2025 1:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

By Height

by drwmsu1 on Dec 12, 2025 4:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Shelby Miller

Where do you think he falls in the ranking?

by auclairkeithbc on Dec 12, 2025 5:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Chad James
Jordan Lyles
Randall Delgado
Trevor May
Jason Knapp
Mike Minor
Brett DeVall
Brad Hand
Ross Seaton

Check out my website, it has scouting reports for all the Orioles' top prospects and is updated daily. www.oriolesprospects.com

Follow me on twitter @orioleprospects

by ravensfan3 on Dec 12, 2025 5:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Knapp

Havent seen all those pitchers on the list in person, but have seen Knapp a bunch, both with Lakewood, and then later with Lake County once he was traded to Cleveland. Obviously with any young hard throwing pitcher there is an injury/flameout risk, but he has the stuff to be a #1 IMO. Like I said, can’t really rank them when I haven’t seen them all pitch, but I’d put Knapp towards the top of that list. I saw Lyles pitch in person, and Knapp certainly was as good.

by mgugs46 on Dec 14, 2025 11:06 AM EST reply actions 0 recs