FanPost

Impressive Minor League Pitchers

I saw a post very similar to the one I am about to write over at Royals Review the other day, looking at Royals' prospects and their K% and BB%. I am going to take this one step further. The author over at RR did a fantastic job, but (s)he looked at the Major League average for K% and BB% to look at minor leaguers. I am going to sort players, by league, to get their numbers. Let's first look at the numbers.

In MLB, pitchers average a strikeout 19.75% of the time and a walk 7.85% of the time. I would list that as:

MLB: 19.75 K% and 7.85 BB% with an average age of 28

So what do the minor leagues have to offer?

International League (AAA): 20.09 K% and 9.09 BB% with an average age of 27.4

Pacific Coast League (AAA): 19.50 K% and 9.15 BB% with an average age of 26.6

Eastern League (AA): 20.11 K% and 9.19 BB% with an average age of 24.6

Southern League (AA): 19.52 K% and 9.21 BB% with an average age of 24.3

Texas League (AA): 19.81 K% and 8.06 BB% with an average age of 24.5

California League (A+): 21.13 K% and 8.86 BB% with an average age of 23.2

Carolina League (A+): 19.70 K% and 9.28 BB% with an average age of 22.8

Florida State League (A+): 18.71 K% and 8.37 BB% with an average age of 23.2

Midwest League (A): 19.35 K% and 9.04 BB% with an average age of 21.9

South Atlantic League (A): 21.40 K% and 8.77 BB% with an average age of 21.7

NY-Penn League (A-): 20.31 K% and 7.89 BB% with an average age of 21.4

Northwest League (A-): 20.94 K% and 9.17 BB% with an average age of 21.4

I want to look at players whose numbers exceed those listed above. So here are my criteria:

1) The pitcher must be a "qualified" pitcher. That means they would throw enough innings to be qualified for the ERA title in that league.

2) The pitcher must be no older than a rounded down league average (for example, the International League pitchers will have to be in their age 27 season or younger.)

3) The pitcher must exceed a rounded up K%.

4) The pitcher must be under a rounded down BB%.

International League Superstar Pitchers

27 and under with 21 K% or higher and 9 BB% or lower - sorted by K:BB

Pacific Coast League Superstar Pitchers

26 and under with 20 K% or higher and 9 BB% or lower - sorted by K:BB

Eastern League Superstar Pitchers

24 and under with 21 K% or higher and 9 BB% or lower - sorted by K:BB

Southern League Superstar Pitchers

24 and under with 20 K% or higher and 9 BB% or lower - sorted by K:BB

Texas League Superstar Pitchers

24 and under with 20 K% or higher and 8 BB% or lower - sorted by K:BB

California League Superstar Pitchers

23 and under with 22 K% or higher and 8 BB% or lower - sorted by K:BB
  • Ty Blach - Giants - 22 years old, 22.8 K%, 3.1 BB%
  • Clayton Blackburn - Giants - 20 years old, 24.8 K%, 5.8 BB%
  • Danny Winkler - Rockies - 23 years old, 29.8 K%, 7.3 BB%
  • Jon Moscot - Reds - 21 years old, 22.8 K%, 7.3 BB%
  • David Rollins - Astros - 23 years old, 23.7 K%, 7.9 BB%

Carolina League Superstar Pitchers

22 and under with 20 K% or higher and 9 BB% or lower - sorted by K:BB

  • AJ Cole - Nationals - 21 years old, 25.1 K%, 5.7 BB%
  • Cody Anderson - Indians - 22 years old, 23.0 K%, 6.5 BB%
  • Zach Davies - Orioles - 20 years old, 21.6 K%, 6.3 BB%
  • Kyle Smith - Royals (now Astros) - 20 years old, 22.2 K%, 6.7 BB%
  • Alec Asher - Rangers - 21 years old, 23.4 K%, 7.2 BB%
  • Nicholas Martinez - Rangers - 22 years old, 21.0 K%, 7.6 BB%

Florida State League Superstar Pitchers

23 and under with 19 K% or higher and 8 BB% or lower - sorted by K:BB

  • Matthew Bowman - Mets - 22 years old, 23.1 K%, 7.5 BB%
  • Wilsen Palacios - Tigers - 23 years old, 19.7 K%, 7.8 BB%

Midwest League Superstar Pitchers

21 and under with 20 K% or higher and 9 BB% or lower - sorted by K:BB

  • Vincent Velasquez - Astros - 21 years old, 27.2 K%, 7.3 BB%

South Atlantic League Superstar Pitchers

21 and under with 22 K% or higher and 8 BB% or lower - sorted by K:BB

  • Kendry Flores - Giants - 21 years old, 24.1 K%, 3.4 BB%
  • Luis Cessa - Mets - 21 years old, 23.2 K%, 3.6 BB%
  • Mark Binford - Royals - 20 years old, 24.6 K%, 4.6 BB%
  • Miguel Almonte - Royals - 20 years old, 23.7 K%, 7.5 BB%

NY-Penn League Superstar Pitchers

21 and under with 21 K% or higher and 7 BB% or lower - sorted by K:BB

  • Benjamin Griset - Rays - 21 years old, 21.0 K%, 2.8 BB%
  • Michael Feliz - Astros - 19 years old, 27.8 K%, 3.9 BB%

Northwest League Superstar Pitchers

21 and under with 21 K% or higher and 9 BB% or lower - sorted by K:BB

  • Christopher Johnson - Giants - 21 years old, 25.7 K%, 2.2 BB%
  • Erik Schoenrock - Padres - 21 years old, 24.0 K%, 7.1 BB%
  • Steven Ewing - Mariners - 21 years old, 24.7 K%, 7.9 BB%
  • Lars Huijer - Mariners - 19 years old, 21.5 K%, 7.5 BB%
There is our list. 43 minor league players have been under age for the league, struck out more than the league average and walked less than the league average in 2013 - thus far.