Prospect Report:
Self-Starters, Part II

David Cameron

One of the most precious commodities in the major leagues is front-line left-handed starting pitching. There is very little of this available, and those that can find it have quite an advantage over their opponents. While the odds say most of the players below won't turn into quality major-league pitchers, their organizations are thrilled to have them, on the chance that they are one of the kids who bucks the trend.

Cliff Lee was relatively unknown heading into the season, but since has established himself as the premier southpaw arm in the game. He made his major-league debut with Cleveland in September and is pretty much major-league ready. His mid-90's fastball sets him apart from the "crafty lefty" mold, and his buckling curve helps him set down hitters with relative ease. His command is still not where it needs to be, and he'll likely go through normal young-pitcher struggles at first. Whoever is patient enough to let Lee develop should find a very nice arm as their reward.

Most will probably argue that based solely on his potential, Scott Kazmir should be at the top of this list. After being selected 15th overall (and behind his high school teammate Clint Everts) in the June draft, Kazmir set the predominantly college-aged New York-Penn League on its ear. He only threw 18 innings, but they were the best 18 innings anyone had all year.

His stuff draws comparison to former phenom Josh Beckett, and he's got the potential to have three good major-league pitches. However, Kazmir is not without fault. He's not a very big kid, and his endurance is still in question. He fell to 15th in the draft for a reason, and it wasn't signability. He's a good talent with a lot of potential, but he's also a very long way from Shea Stadium.

The Braves' best arm from the left side is Macay McBride. A first-round pick himself in 2001, McBride dominated the South Atlantic League after not even making the Braves' low-A affiliate out of spring training. Once he made his way to Macon he was unhittable, thanks in large part to a wicked slider that is devastating on lefties and righties alike. His fastball is just above average and his change needs improving, but McBride is only 20 years old. With his command of one devastating pitch, he could soar through the minors pretty quickly.

Based strictly on potential, Mark Phillips would battle Kazmir for the number one spot. The ninth pick in the 2000 draft, Phillips throws outright cheese, hitting the high 90s when he's going well. Unfortunately, Phillips isn't nearly as consistent as the Padres would hope. He's battled conditioning problems and a lack of focus, but looked to find his stride in the second half of the season. If the Padres' miracle worker of a AA pitching coach, Darren Balsey, can get him to repeat his delivery, Phillips could be in for a huge year.

No lefty had as much success this year as Sean Burnett, who was nearly impossible to score on as a 19-year-old in the high-A Carolina League. Burnett's not a soft thrower, but he doesn't get too many hitters out himself, either. His changeup is his best pitch, but his curveball is coming along. With three quality offerings and tremendous control, he's faced few problems with lesser hitters.

However, Burnett puts the ball in play a lot, and that's not a great formula for future success. Burnett is certainly young enough to learn that he needs to miss more bats, but it can be difficult to convince a successful young man that he needs to adjust. He's a smart, confident kid, and he's certainly capable of tweaking his approach. If he can begin to get more outs on his own, he'll likely have a nice career in Pittsburgh.

When the Cubs grabbed 6'7" Andy Sisco in the second round of the 2001 draft, many called it a reach. Sisco's mechanics needed an overhaul and he had only marginal success in high school. However, his large frame and powerful fastball convinced the Cubs to take a chance on him. He rewarded them with a dominating season in the Northwest League this year, putting his name firmly on the map.

He's still a work in progress who can get wild at times, but he has top-drawer stuff. The potential is there for him to be a number-two starter in the big leagues. Full-season ball should provide a challenge to Sisco in 2003, but he'll vault himself into the Cubs' future plans with a repeat performance of 2002.

The Giants' embarrassment of arms continues with Francisco Liriano. The young southpaw was terrific when he was on the mound for Hagerstown, posting good ratios and impressing everyone who saw him. He'll push it in the mid 90s with good sink on his fastball but only average peripheral pitches. He's pretty raw and should probably spend a year at each level, but his velocity and age make him a potential star. His main concern for 2003 should just be to stay healthy and log innings.

Dontrelle Willis, a former Cub himself, made his mark with a standout season after a spring training trade to the Marlins. Willis doesn't overpower anyone or mix in any plus pitches, but he's deceptive in his delivery and throws strikes. His ability to keep the ball down in the zone is a big advantage, but his lack of a real out pitch may hurt him at higher levels. His performance opened some eyes, but a lot of people still feel Willis' major-league future is in the bullpen. He'll need to keep proving himself at every level, but 2002 was a good step in the right direction.

The Dodgers found a gem in youngster Jonathan Figueroa, a flame-throwing teenager who wowed people in his US debut. His fastball has incredible movement and his arm angles enable him to give hitters different looks with the same pitch. He'll need to develop the rest of his repertoire, but he's got a great building block with his fastball. Like Sisco and Kazmir, he's yet to face consistent high-level hitting, but his stuff is so impressive that he forces himself onto the list anyway. He'll try to establish himself in 2003, and the Dodgers may just push him to high-A to begin the year.

Jimmy Gobble, one of the only Royals prospects worth noting, simply needs to stay on the mound. He's got everything working for him except health. His stuff isn't lights-out, but he uses it exceptionally well. His command is solid and he understands pitching. However, various injuries have kept him in the dugout for too many days, and he's losing valuable development time. Gobble should spend most of 2003 in AAA, but if he can stay healthy, he could see Kansas City pretty quickly.

about the author

David Cameron currently works as a minor-league liaison, teaching young players how to handle the media. Explain that Crash Davis never told Nuke Laloosh to say "Get out of this clubhouse, Reilly, and I mean now," at dac@strikethree.com.