While just four left-handed pitchers cracked our soon-to-be-unveiled 2023 Top 100, the lowest number since we began doing prospect lists in 2004, the position is far from bereft in talent. Several southpaws stand out for their ability to miss bats.
Kyle Harrison (Giants) led the Minors in strikeout percentage (39.8) in 2022, and Ricky Tiedemann (Blue Jays) would have ranked right behind him (38.9) if he had enough innings to qualify. Harrison also topped the Minors in whiffs per nine innings (14.8), with DL Hall (Orioles) posting a similar rate (14.6) as a non-qualifier.
The 2022 Draft was deep in lefties with Top 100 upside. Brandon Barriera (Blue Jays) and Noah Schultz (White Sox) both went in the first round as high schoolers, while fellow prepsters Robby Snelling (Padres) and Jackson Ferris (Cubs) commanded $3 million bonuses as later picks. Cooper Hjerpe (Cardinals) was the best healthy and active college southpaw in a crop affected by injuries to Connor Prielipp (Twins), Hunter Barco (Pirates) and Reggie Crawford (Giants) and a suspension for Carson Whisenhunt (Giants).
All four of these lefties have well above-average fastballs that stand out in different ways. Harrison had a crazy 41 percent swing-and-miss rate with his heater in Double-A, working from 92-97 mph with riding action and a flat approach angle from a low three-quarters arm slot. Tiedemann has the best sink of the group, Waldichuk has the best carry up in the strike zone and Hall has the most consistent velocity (averaging 96.6 mph and topping out at 100).
Curveball: Fulton, Liberatore (60)
Both Fulton and Liberatore rely heavily on their curveballs, the lone plus pitch in each of their arsenals. Fulton’s bender has more power in the upper 70s and his feel for spin extends to a tighter low-80s slider that he focused on at the end of last season.
