MLB Fantasy Baseball – Young Pitchers and Potential Stars
Is it just me, or does it seem like a new generation of stars are beginning to emerge as respected Major Leaguers right before our very eyes? Although it can be sad watching some of our childhood favorites start declining in productivity or even retire, it does open the door for future talents to make a name for themselves. Below is a list of a few young pitchers that fantasy owners should recognize as having the potential to really jump-start their early Major League careers.
Julio Teheran, Atlanta Braves
Braves’ starting pitcher Julio Teheran was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent at the staggering age of 16. By 2010, the Colombian born right-hander was considered a top-ranked prospect in not only the Braves organization, but all of baseball. Baseball America had him ranked as the Braves’ third best prospect behind studs such as Jason Heyward and Freddie Freeman, creating a great deal of hype before he entered the big leagues.
Now at the age of 22, the right-hander is arguably becoming one of the team’s top starters, posting a 5-4 record and a 3.32 ERA in 14 starts this season. His 71 strikeouts have impressed many thus far, but I’m sure the Braves coaching staff would love to see him trim down his 1.21 WHIP.
The road wasn’t always easy for Teheran, who found himself optioned back to Triple-A after both his first and second career starts in the Bigs. After being demoted, he then finished the 2011 Minor League season with an impressive 15-3 win-loss record and a 2.55 ERA in 24 starts. His productivity earned him a spot in the rotation when they expanded rosters in September.
After a pedestrian 2012 season in Triple-A, Teheran made the most out of his opportunity when the Braves invited him to Spring Training this season. He absolutely dazzled Major League hitters and posted a 1.29 ERA through four starts (14.1 innings pitched).
Now as a striving Big Leaguer, Teheran impressively flirted with a no-hitter against the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 5th, where he pitched 7.2 innings before giving up a single to pinch-hitter Brandon Inge. This kid certainly has the stuff to become a dominating force for years to come, giving Braves fans and his fantasy owners a lot to look forward too. He’s owned in almost every league at this point and picking him up when Fantasy Couch writer Michael Morris wrote about him in the Spring Training Sleeper article would have been a good idea.
Jonathan Pettibone, Philadelphia Phillies
Here’s another 22-year-old pitcher looking to find his way early in his big league career. The Phillies right-hander isn’t having quite as much success as the fellow that I had mentioned above, but still has plenty of time to “work out the kinks” in his delivery.
The Southern California native was selected in the third round of the 2008 MLB Draft, and dabbled around in the minors for five years before making his major league debut on April 22, 2013. At 6’6 and 225 lbs, Pettibone certainly doesn’t lack mound presence, although I’m sure the Phils would like to see more strikeouts (39) out of a pitcher his size.
With a 1.47 WHIP, and an ERA slightly over 4, I wouldn’t expect him to immediately impact your fantasy team’s rotation, but Pettibone has the potential to improve during the second half of the season. The Phillies have been an absolute nightmare in 2013, and with the unexpected struggles of their one-time ace Cole Hamels, they are going to need one of their young arms to step it up, and I mean pronto.
Pettibone did leave Saturday’s game due to lower back tightness, but later said that he expects to make his next scheduled start against the Los Angeles Dodgers. His 3-3 record indicates that he has the ability to win ballgames, as long as he doesn’t continue to hang his off speed stuff to opposing hitters.
Trevor Rosenthal, St. Louis Cardinals
This young flame-throwing, relief pitcher has been known for having an extraordinary fastball which tops out in the 100 mph range. Originally a shortstop while playing in community college, Trevor Rosenthal was converted into a pitcher after a Cardinals scout clocked his throw over to first base in the mid 90s.
Drafted in the 21st round of the 2009 Amateur Draft, he began pitching on a regular basis in the Gulf Coast League while building his knowledge for the position and figuring out how to retire hitters by not only over-powering them, but also by keeping their swings off balance.
Rosenthal pitched so well in 2010-11 that he earned an invite to Cardinals spring training last year, impressing manager Mike Matheny with his petrifying velocity. He made his major league debut on July 18, 2012, and ended up finishing the season with seven straight scoreless appearances. He took his lights-out streak into the playoffs, where he made another seven scoreless appearances, providing the Cards with solid middle relief and helping them advance to the NLCS.
In 38 innings pitched this year, Rosenthal has an eye popping 53:8 K:BB ratio, to go along with a 1-1 record and 1.89 ERA. I might be getting a little ahead of myself here, but he definitely has closer type stuff. If your category league credits pitchers for holds, Rosenthal has great fantasy value.
Zach Britton, Baltimore Orioles
Selected in the third round (85th overall) of the 2006 Major League Draft, Zach Britton was considered the third best prospect in the Orioles organization at that time. In 2011, he posted an 11-11 record and 4.61 ERA in what was his first season in the Show.
Britton was placed on the 60-day-DL in March of last year after being diagnosed with a left shoulder impingement and was reinstated on June 6 to begin his Minor League rehab assignment. He bounced around from Double and Triple-A and the Majors last season and had a 10-5 mark between the three leagues.
Fast forward to this year, Britton found himself pitching for Triple-A Norfolk this season with a 3-2 record and 3.28 ERA in 11 starts. The 25-year-old was recalled yet again not only on March 23rd of this year, but also April 25th as well as this Monday (June 26th) for yet another “spot start” to assist the injured Oriole rotation. In those three games, he has gone 1-2 with a terrifying 5.51 ERA and 1.78 WHIP.
Britton, who always seems to cruise through a number of innings before self destructing later in the game, needs to be more consistent if he wants to earn a long-term spot in the rotation and a spot on your fantasy team.
Jordan Lyles, Houston Astros
The 22-year-old from South Carolina was selected by the Astros with the 38th overall pick in the 2008 draft. Lyles induced lots of ground balls with five pitches in his arsenal (four-seam fastball, two-seam fastball, cutter, curveball, change-up) and has even been known to mix in a small number of sliders if needed. He has been pitching at the Major League level for the past three seasons and hasn’t been too impressive (11-22 record, 4.88 ERA), but he seems to get more and more comfortable stepping on the mound with each and every outing.
Lyles has a knack for getting ground balls in key situations and his ability to pitch himself out of jams has proven to be very useful this season. Although he was hammered by the Cubs in his last start, the right-hander still possesses a 4-2 record with a 3.68 ERA in 2013.
Lyles has a tough task ahead of him as he will face-off with the Angels on Sunday, but despite having a rough week, he has pitched very well this year. The Stros have had extremely low expectations before the season and Lyles is one of the few bright spots for a team that hasn’t had a winning season since 2008. The right-handed hurler deserves a second look on the waiver wire.
Tyler Chatwood, Colorado Rockies
We all know how difficult pitching in Colorado can be for a young and unaccomplished pitcher, but 23-year-old Tyler Chatwood would beg to differ. After missing a few starts due to a triceps injury earlier in the season, the California native has now posted seven consecutive strong outings to raise his record to 4-1 and lowering his ERA to a miniscule 2.22 in 44.2 innings pitched.
Chatwood made his major league debut for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on April 11, 2011 and ended up getting traded in late November to the Rockies for catcher Chris Ianetta. The lengthy right-hander can certainly help out fantasy owners who play in moderately deep mixed leagues, but for how long he can keep winning still remains to be seen.
He is owned in just 8.8% percent of ESPN leagues, proving that he hasn’t gained much fantasy trust just yet, but I expect that number to gradually rise over time.
