Mack – Top 10 LHP in 2017 MLB Draft

Good morning.

This list will change before June, but, as of this week, here is the consensus top 10 list of left hand starters in the upcoming draft –

1.     DL Hall                            Houston County HS (GA)

Perfect Game: - Up to 95 at PG National and Has shown hammer CB to go with it. 96 at PG All American Classic

2.     Brandan McKay           Louisville

Fueled By Sports: - Throughout his first two years at Louisville, McKay has proven to be a solid, top-end starter with potential to carry an entire rotation. With a combined 21-7 record to go along with an impressive 2.05 ERA, he has done nothing but continue to boost his draft stock. McKay knows how to navigate through opposing lineups and keep runs off the board. In addition, he batted a whopping .320 through 435 at-bats through his first two years. Despite the fact that he will be drafted as a pitcher, look for a National League team to take a chance on both he and his hitting ability from the nine-hole.

3.     Nick Pratto                    Huntington Beach HS (CA)

Road To Wrigley: - Defensively, Pratto is a sure-handed first baseman with fluid actions and a great feel around the bag. He also possesses enough athleticism to play either corner outfield spot when called upon. In addition, Pratto can jump on the mound and the LHP will show a good feel to pitch with his upper 80s fastball, breaking ball and change. In fact, last summer he haunted Japan again by earning the victory on the mound in the gold medal victory over the host team in the WBSC 18U Baseball World Cup.

4.     Trevor Rogers               Carlsbad HS (NM)

Scout.com: - Rogers has all the looks of a pitcher. Tall stature at six-foot-six, broad shoulders, and a giant wingspan. That size, added with his athleticism, allows him to deliver the ball with ease, and maintain his velocity into outings. With a high leg kick, and long stride to the plate while keeping the behind his large frame, and a low 3/4 arm angle, he gives added deception. Rogers works in the low to mid 90's with his fastball, tapping out at 96, all with late life. The fastball is his biggest, and most used, weapon, as he's shown good command of the pitch, working east-to-west in the bottom of the zone, and elevate it when wanted. Rogers has flashed an above-average late breaking slider that he's been able to throw for strikes, and has shown some feel for a changeup but like most prep arms, rarely uses it. All-in-all, Rogers is a big projection arm, with a low floor due to his high velocity and simple mechanics.

5.     Jacob Heatherly           Cullman HS (ALA)

Minor League Ball: - One of the few things that scouts agree on about Heatherly is also his strongest point: his command. He is able to locate all of his pitches with accuracy, earning a plus grade from MLB.com. FanGraphs’ evaluators also cite a “minimalist delivery,” which a very useful skill. A repeatable delivery is key in maintaining good command, and a simpler delivery is easier to repeat, so a simple delivery is a command pitcher’s friend.

The other thing that is a known about the young lefty is that he has a good fastball. His velocity dips as low as 89 miles per hour at times, but it has also been clocked as high as 95 mph. Several reports also cite the fact that he is able to get his fastball to play above its velocity because he is both willing and able to work inside with it. Heatherly also claims that his fastball is his best pitch. 

6.     Seth Romero                 Houston

When The Giants Come To Town: - Seth Romero is a portly left-hander who put up some interesting numbers last year for Univ. of Houston.  His repertoire includes a FB that goes 92-95 MPH, a slider that has the makings of a plus pitch and a changeup that he needs to develop and use more.  He's off to a great start in in his draft season which may raise his stock considerably if he can maintain it.  Concerns about the body will likely hold his stock down some.  He was suspended at the beginning of his sophomore season for poor conditioning but has looked to be in much better shape to begin his junior season.

7.     Brendon Little              State College of Florida

Cubs Insider: - “He has tools you can’t teach, like a fastball that touches 97 from the left side,” one former AL scout told me about Brendon Little. “He also still has a lot of projection left, which you don’t find often at his age . He could gain a tick in his FB with a more downward plane on his delivery. That would help his command, too.”

As with any college pitcher, Little is far from perfect. However, his floor is supported by a nice 97 mph fastball. His ceiling, on the other hand, could be much higher with improved mechanics and a repeatable delivery, both of which would elevate his secondaries to the realm of average to plus pitches.

8.     MacKenzie Gore          Whiteville HS (NC)

Fangraphs: - Gore stands out because of his glorious leg kick, but the stuff is interesting as well. He was a deceptive 88-92 in San Diego, flashed a plus changeup and 45 curveball. He has an extreme drop-and-drive delivery — and I’m skeptical about his ability to harness it and have even average control down the road — but it’s unique and requires more evaluation rather than knee-jerk xenophobia.

9.     Mitchell Stone              Deer Creek HS (OK)

Perfect Game: - Big projectable LHP who can already reach the low 90s with good breaking ball at PG National. Very good at PG All American Classic

10. David Peterson           Oregon

Scout.com: - Command will be the key to Peterson's success at the next level, but in college, he's been beating hitters with his low to mid 90's fastball with plus sink and arm-side run, helping him work away from right-handed hitters. The southpaw likes to work inside on lefties with his fastball, allowing the run and sink to break back into the zone, jamming hitters or making them stare at strikes on the inner half. Working from a low 3/4 arm slot, Peterson has shown good movement on all his pitches, with his fastball being the best of his trio. His best off-speed offering is his above-average low 80's changeup that he works against both righties and lefties. He works in a big-breaking curveball with a dipping break that he's shown a feel for, but still needs to be refined.