Impact Prospect Ranking: LH Starting Pitchers

With the minor league regular season now over, this marks the end of this series but you can read the previous pieces here: the Impact Catchers, the Impact First Basemen, the Impact Second Basemen, the Impact Third Basemen, the Impact Shortstops, the Impact Corner Outfielders, the Impact Center-fielders, the Impact RH Starting Pitchers (Tier 1) and the Impact RH Starting Pitchers (Tier 2). Keep an eye out next week as my annual “A Minor Review of…” series gets under way and reviews the 2014 season for all 30 clubs.

#1 Daniel Norris | Blue Jays | ETA: 2014 (P)

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Age	G	GS	IP	H	HR	K/9	BB/9	ERA	FIP
21	26	25	124.2	96	7	11.77	3.10	2.53	2.57

Sept. 5 notes: A 2011 second round draft pick, Norris’ ascension through the minors is all the more impressive considering he posted an 8.44 ERA in his first full professional season (2012) and opened up the 2014 season in A-ball. The free-spirited pitching prospect has above-average stuff from the left side and will get his feet wet in the Majors while pitching out of the bullpen. Look for him to battle for a starting gig in 2015.

#2 Julio Urias | Dodgers | ETA: 2015 (P)

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Age	G	GS	IP	H	HR	K/9	BB/9	ERA	FIP
17	25	20	87.2	60	4	11.19	3.80	2.36	3.36

Sept. 5 notes: Speaking of quick movers, the 18-year-old Urias has already solved High-A ball (and in the California League to boot). Opponents hits just .194 against him in 2014 and he’ll certainly open next year in Double-A. Assuming he can avoid the disabled list, Urias will likely reach The Show as a teenager.

#3 Carlos Rodon | White Sox | ETA: 2015 (P)

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Age	G	GS	IP	H	HR	K/9	BB/9	ERA	FIP
21	7	5	21.2	16	0	13.71	5.40	2.49	2.32

Sept. 5 notes: Rodon had a shot at going first overall in the 2014 amateur draft but had to settle on third. The young lefty also came close to reaching the Majors in his first taste of pro ball but finished the year with three Triple-A starts. Look for him to challenge for an opening day spot in the White Sox’s starting rotation in 2015.

#4 Andrew Heaney | Marlins | ETA: 2014 (P)

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Age	IP	K/9	BB/9	GB%	ERA	FIP	xFIP	RA9-WAR	WAR
23	20.2	5.66	2.61	47.0 %	6.53	6.17	4.49	-0.3	-0.3

Sept. 5 notes: Heaney isn’t the flashiest pitcher but he has solid stuff that plays up due to his above-average control. The Marlins have an intriguing young pitching staff the this southpaw should be an important part of it in 2015, and in the years to come.

#5 Henry Owens | Red Sox | ETA: 2015 (P)

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Age	G	GS	IP	H	HR	K/9	BB/9	ERA	FIP
21	26	26	159.0	121	10	9.62	3.34	2.94	3.26

Sept. 5 notes: At 6-6, Owens is an imposing figure on the mound with solid stuff that could eventually help him develop into a mid-rotation workhorse. The 22-year-old hurler runs the risk of becoming even more dangerous if he can learn to work down in the strike zone on a more consistent bases and generate more ground-ball outs.

#6 Sean Manaea | Royals | ETA: 2015 (P)

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Age	G	GS	IP	H	HR	K/9	BB/9	ERA	FIP
22	25	25	121.2	102	5	10.80	3.99	3.11	3.11

Sept 5 notes: An injury in college allowed the Royals to nab Manaea with the 34th overall selection in the 2013 draft. He pitched like a steal in ’14 with 146 strikeouts in 121.2 innings at the High-A ball level. He’s shown enough polish to be considered a potential 2015 call-up. Kansas City has a couple of interesting southpaw pitching prospects in Manaea and Brandon Finnegan, who wasn’t far off from making this list.

#7 Eduardo Rodriguez | Red Sox | ETA: 2015 (P)

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Age	G	GS	IP	H	HR	K/9	BB/9	ERA	FIP
21	22	22	120.0	120	6	8.10	2.78	3.60	3.18

Sept. 5 notes: I raised an eyebrow when the Orioles traded Rodriguez to the Red Sox during a rare inner-division deal – and for a reliever. The young lefty was having a bit of a down year but his stuff is solid and I ranked him as Baltimore’s third best prospect before the year began. He was lights-out after coming over in the deal (0.96 ERA, 39 Ks in 37.1 Double-A innings).

#8 Rob Kaminsky | Cardinals | ETA: 2017 (P)

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Age	G	GS	IP	H	HR	K/9	BB/9	ERA	FIP
19	18	18	100.2	71	2	7.06	2.77	1.88	3.28

Sept. 5 notes: Some teams shied away from this undersized lefty during the 2013 amateur draft but the Cardinals were undeterred and may have gotten a steal. Despite his size limitations, he does a solid job of staying on top of the ball while flashing solid stuff and good command. If he can stay healthy, look at him to start moving more quickly through the minor leagues.

#9 Robbie Ray | Tigers | ETA: 2015 (P)

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Age	IP	K/9	BB/9	GB%	ERA	FIP	xFIP	RA9-WAR	WAR
22	27.2	6.18	3.25	35.4 %	6.83	4.25	4.65	-0.5	0.2

Sept. 5 notes: Ray isn’t flashy but he could develop into a solid innings-eater for the Tigers. He had some bad luck in 2014 so don’t be shocked if he takes a big step forward in 2015 after he polishes his command and acclimatizes to The Show.

#10 Marco Gonzales | Cardinals | ETA: 2015 (P)

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Age	IP	K/9	BB/9	GB%	ERA	FIP	xFIP	RA9-WAR	WAR
22	20.0	6.75	5.85	33.3 %	5.40	5.03	5.36	-0.1	0.0

Sept. 5 notes: Like Ray, Gonzales doesn’t over power hitters but he possesses deception and a very good changeup. With St. Louis’ starting staff having both inconsistencies and injury issues in 2014, look for this young lefty to be a key contributor next season.