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% |
||