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MLB Draft Success : Left Handed Pitchers

Left handed pitchers are also very hard to scout, just as right handers are. Pitchers can fail rapidly as well. Top prospects could lose control, velocity or confidence. They can be found in the later rounds more frequently than other positions due to the development curve of a pitcher. Some players don’t develop their secondary pitches until later in their career. They often gain velocity one off-season and retain it or they just learn how to pitch with what they have and succeed.

Pitchers can fail rapidly as well. Top prospects could lose control, velocity or confidence. They could get hurt and never fully recover, whether it is an elbow or shoulder injury.

The biggest difference between left handed pitchers and righties is velocity. Left handers typically throw slower than righties and are typically more control oriented pitchers. CC Sabathia is the exception here, but Jarrod Washburn, Doug Davis and Randy Wolf are the more typical left handed pitchers to succeed.

Pitching talent is harder to predict and is more related to developmental staff, scouting and injury avoidance.

1st round

LHP

LHP

LHP

4-yr

HS

JC

All-time great

0.00%

4.17%

0.00%

Superstar

19.35%

4.17%

0.00%

Occasional All-Star

16.13%

8.33%

0.00%

Starter-Solid Regular

9.68%

4.17%

0.00%

Part-time player

9.68%

4.17%

0.00%

Bench warmer

19.35%

16.67%

100.00%

Minor leaguer

25.81%

58.33%

0.00%

1st supp

LHP

LHP

LHP

4-yr

HS

JC

All-time great

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

Superstar

0.00%

10.00%

0.00%

Occasional All-Star

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

Starter-Solid Regular

0.00%

20.00%

0.00%

Part-time player

18.18%

20.00%

0.00%

Bench warmer

54.55%

20.00%

100.00%

Minor leaguer

27.27%

30.00%

0.00%

2nd round

LHP

LHP

LHP

4-yr

HS

JC

All-time great

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

Superstar

7.41%

4.00%

0.00%

Occasional All-Star

0.00%

8.00%

0.00%

Starter-Solid Regular

11.11%

0.00%

0.00%

Part-time player

14.81%

20.00%

25.00%

Bench warmer

37.04%

12.00%

25.00%

Minor leaguer

29.63%

56.00%

50.00%

3rd round

LHP

LHP

LHP

4-yr

HS

JC

All-time great

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

Superstar

4.17%

4.76%

0.00%

Occasional All-Star

8.33%

4.76%

0.00%

Starter-Solid Regular

12.50%

4.76%

0.00%

Part-time player

8.33%

28.57%

0.00%

Bench warmer

29.17%

19.05%

0.00%

Minor leaguer

37.50%

38.10%

0.00%

4th round

LHP

LHP

LHP

4-yr

HS

JC

All-time great

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

Superstar

2.70%

0.00%

0.00%

Occasional All-Star

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

Starter-Solid Regular

5.41%

0.00%

33.33%

Part-time player

16.22%

4.00%

0.00%

Bench warmer

24.32%

24.00%

33.33%

Minor leaguer

51.35%

72.00%

33.33%

5th round

LHP

LHP

LHP

4-yr

HS

JC

All-time great

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

Superstar

0.00%

5.26%

0.00%

Occasional All-Star

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

Starter-Solid Regular

3.23%

0.00%

0.00%

Part-time player

16.13%

15.79%

0.00%

Bench warmer

9.68%

10.53%

0.00%

Minor leaguer

70.97%

68.42%

100.00%

6th round

LHP

LHP

LHP

4-yr

HS

JC

All-time great

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

Superstar

0.00%

6.25%

11.11%

Occasional All-Star

4.35%

0.00%

11.11%

Starter-Solid Regular

0.00%

6.25%

11.11%

Part-time player

17.39%

6.25%

0.00%

Bench warmer

21.74%

25.00%

11.11%

Minor leaguer

56.52%

56.25%

55.56%

7th round

LHP

LHP

LHP

4-yr

HS

JC

All-time great

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

Superstar

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

Occasional All-Star

2.86%

0.00%

0.00%

Starter-Solid Regular

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

Part-time player

11.43%

0.00%

0.00%

Bench warmer

20.00%

13.04%

37.50%

Minor leaguer

65.71%

86.96%

62.50%

8th round

LHP

LHP

LHP

4-yr

HS

JC

All-time great

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

Superstar

0.00%

5.00%

0.00%

Occasional All-Star

6.90%

0.00%

8.33%

Starter-Solid Regular

3.45%

0.00%

0.00%

Part-time player

13.79%

5.00%

8.33%

Bench warmer

3.45%

5.00%

8.33%

Minor leaguer

72.41%

85.00%

75.00%

9th round

LHP

LHP

LHP

4-yr

HS

JC

All-time great

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

Superstar

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

Occasional All-Star

0.00%

4.76%

0.00%

Starter-Solid Regular

0.00%

0.00%

14.29%

Part-time player

9.09%

0.00%

14.29%

Bench warmer

24.24%

14.29%

14.29%

Minor leaguer

66.67%

80.95%

57.14%

10th round

LHP

LHP

LHP

4-yr

HS

JC

All-time great

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

Superstar

0.00%

0.00%

11.11%

Occasional All-Star

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

Starter-Solid Regular

3.33%

0.00%

0.00%

Part-time player

0.00%

8.33%

0.00%

Bench warmer

10.00%

0.00%

11.11%

Minor leaguer

86.67%

91.67%

77.78%