By Sam Dykstra | 9:43 a.m. EST
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MLB Pipeline will reveal its top 100 2024 prospects list during a one-hour show on MLB Network and MLB.com on Friday, January 26 at 7:00 p.m. ET. Ahead of the release of the Top 100, we will examine baseball's top 10 prospects at each position.
You can never have too much left-handed pitching, and the majors could be in for a talented prospect this summer.
Six of MLB Pipeline's newly released top 10 southpaws have projected arrival times in 2024, led by top two prospects Kyle Harrison (Giants) and Ricky Tiedemann (Blue Jays).
Harrison debuted with San Francisco last season and posted a 4.15 ERA with 35 strikeouts in seven starts (34 2/3 innings). He has the plus-plus fastball and impressive sliders and changeups to earn a more permanent spot in the Giants' rotation this spring. Tiedemann might have taken his plus-fastball-slider-change mix over the line last season had it not been for shoulder and biceps problems that limited his workload, but he should get a chance to crack Toronto's team soon, considering how competitive the club wants to be in the AL East.
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Elsewhere, Anthony Solometo (Pirates), Carson Whisenhunt (Giants) and Robert Gasser (Brewers) could head to the majors at various points in the coming months, and it's not out of the question that the Padres make a push for 2023 standout Robby Snelling (1.82 ERA, 118 strikeouts in 103 2/3 innings at three levels) as they stay offensive against prospects. With all of these possible gradations, the top 10 LHP list could look very, very different in 2025.
The Top 10 (ETA)
1. Kyle Harrison, Giants (2024)
2. Ricky Tiedemann, Blue Jays (2024)
3. Robby Snelling, Padres (2025)
4. Noah Schultz, White Sox (2026)
5. Anthony Solometo, Pirates (2024)
6. Carson Whisenhunt, Giants (2024)
7. Jackson Ferris, Dodgers (2026)
8. Thomas White, Marlins (2027)
9. Robert Gasser, Brewers (2024)
10. Jordan Wicks, Cubs (2024)
Complete list “
Top 10 interested parties by position:
1/16: RHP
1/17: LHP
1/18: C
1/19: 1B
1/22: 2B
01/23: 3B
1/24: SS
1/25: OF
01/26: Top 100
Top tools
Fastball: Harrison (70)
The Giants southpaw threw his heater 60.7 percent of the time in the majors, and it's not hard to see why. The 92-95 mph pitch, which reaches up to 97 mph, plays above his velo due to his above-average extension and shallow approach angle, and these characteristics helped him post a 24.8 percent whiff rate at the majors and 39.7 percent at Triple-A (according to Synergy Sports).
Curveball: Snelling, Ferris, White (60)
Quality curves aren't always easy to find in today's slider-heavy game, but there are three good ones here. Snelling took his two-plane breaker to Double-A in a breakout 2023 season, while Ferris used his 75-78 mph downer to strike out 77 in 56 innings at Single-A in his first full season. White showed spin rates in the 2700-2900 RPM range in his brief look at Single-A Jupiter after finishing 35th overall last July and could follow the K-heavy path of the other two in 2024.
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Slider: Schultz (65)
The 2022 26th overall pick is intimidating enough standing on the mound at 6'3″ tall, and anyone who tries to sit on his 93-95 mph fastball can look absolutely foolish, when he instead hits his low 80s and high spin sweeper. Schultz struck out 36.5 percent of his batters in 2023 against Single-A Kannapolis before being sidelined by a shoulder impingement.
Change: Whisenhunt (70)
Whisenhunt's changeup is arguably the best pitch thrown by a left-handed hitter in this class, and easily one of the best in the entire minors. He sells the pitch at the same arm speed as his 92-95 mph fastball, except the low 80s changeup plummets before it reaches the plate. In Double-A, Whisenhunt threw 102 changeups, managed 54 swings and triggered 29 misses, for an insane Whiff rate of 53.7 percent.
Other: Gasser (55)
Acquired from the Padres in the 2022 Josh Hader trade, Gasser has added an upper-80s cutter in recent years to complement his plus slider. The offering features about 0 inches of horizontal movement, making it a ball-like pitch that the Brewers' left-hander can use to get early strikes or get back into counts when needed.
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Control: Snelling, Solometo (55)
Solometo compares to Madison Bumgarner in terms of his delivery and arm slot, and the 6-foot-3 left-hander has made some nice adjustments to accommodate the former Giants star's control work, upping his walk rate to 10.1 percent in 2022 Reduced 8.6 percent last season. Snelling has a bulldog-like approach that goes right after the batters, and he walked just 7 percent of his batters before reaching Double-A in his first full season. Like Solometo, the Padres hurler should continue to improve on this with additional pro experience.
Superlatives
Highest Ceiling: Harrison
Harrison ranks second in the minors with 452 strikeouts since the start of 2021 due to his impressive three-pitch mix, and he would likely rank first had he not reached the majors ten days after turning 22. His K-heavy ways could soon put him at the top of the San Francisco rotation if he keeps the walks under control.
Highest floor: Snelling
Harrison and Tiedemann are at some risk of being let go due to control issues/limited workloads, while Snelling – although younger than both with less senior level experience – doesn't have similar concerns at this point. If his development continues quickly, he should at least establish himself at the back end of a major league rotation and could be higher up given his combination and command.
Candidate for Rookie of the Year: Harrison
Even with some new additions this offseason, San Francisco should still have a spot in the opening rotation for the 6-foot-2 hurler. Assuming he's healthy and continues to work in the control department, Harrison has what it takes to challenge Yoshinobu Yamamoto, as he's the first NL starting pitcher to win Rookie of the Year since Jacob deGrom in 2014 .
Highest climber: Solometo
Solometo was ranked 10th in the Pirates system this time last year and finished 2023 as MLB Pipeline's No. 88 overall prospect. His above-average fastball, slider and control will keep him in our top 100 in this next update and could make his late-season debut in 2024 after posting a 3.26 ERA with 118 strikeouts in 110 1/3 innings between High-A and Double-A.
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Most modest beginning: Tiedemann
Each of our top 10 southpaws was selected in the top 100 picks of their individual drafts. A third-round pick (91st overall) in 2021, Tiedemann was selected last of the group and signed for a tight slot at $644,800. The Golden West College product is one of the minors' best JuCo success stories.
Most to prove: Tiedemann
On the one hand, Tiedemann has a lot to prove in terms of durability, as he has yet to throw more than 100 innings in a regular season as a professional. (He was most recently limited to 44 frames in 2023 due to shoulder and biceps issues, but made up for some lost time in the Arizona Fall League.) On the other hand, his fastball, slider and changeup are all at least plus pitches and could Work for the majors immediately. He may find himself competing for a spot on Toronto's MLB roster right out of the gate this spring – either as a starter or as a long man out of the bullpen, where his innings could be better managed.
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Keep an eye on: Yu-Min Lin
The D-backs left-hander is just 5-foot-10 and averaged just under 90 miles per hour with his fastball last season at Double-A. But he managed 140 strikeouts over 121 1/3 innings at Double-A and High-A as his secondaries constantly kept mid-level minor league batters on their toes. His changeup from 79 to 81 mph can be particularly deadly, while his low-80s slider and mid-70s curve can also look like at least above-average pitches. Arizona evaluators challenged Lin to put on muscle in the offseason and were pleased with the early return starting in 2024. Look for a breakthrough from the 20-year-old.