We’ve spent a lot of time breaking down different positions and different levels of prospects so far this season. This week though we will talk a bit more about pitching prospects since I feel that I haven’t broken down enough of them to this point. To me, pitching prospects are the way to win in real life and in the fantasy baseball realm, because cheap young pitching affords you more expensive aces and pricey bats.

In my home league, a 22-team roto-keeper league with an auction draft, I have used the strategy of loading up on pitching prospects for the last several years, and I have been able to afford deeper teams because I have gotten the same value from my low-cost keepers as owners who’ve spent the money to pay for established pitchers. Obviously every league is different in values and keeper rules, but the same gist applies.

Boston made Jay Groome (LHP BOS A) the 12th overall selection of the 2016 draft after signability concerns made him fall out of the top-five. Since that time, he has logged just 14 total innings pitched between rookie ball, Low-, and High-A ball with 7.1 of those coming this year. He’s a well-built 18-year-old that works primarily with a fastball, curveball, changeup mix with his curve being the best offering at the moment. Groome has a 19/10 K/BB ratio to this point, though his control has been affected by the lat injury he suffered last season. There is absolutely ace-caliber stuff with this kid the downside is that he is likely three to four years away from the Boston rotation.

The Cubs made Dylan Cease (RHP CHC A) their sixth round selection back in 2014 despite him needing Tommy John Surgery before pitching in pro ball. In 2015 and 2016 he started 20 games combined, but never pitched through the fifth inning in any of the starts. His numbers were spectacular though. In 2016, he pitched 44.2 innings in 12 starts posting a 2.22 ERA, 2.92 FIP, 3.03 xFIP, and 13.30 K/9 in that span while at Low-A. This season he has already pitched 42.1 innings in 11 starts with a 2.76 ERA, 2.68 FIP, and 2.88 xFIP and 13.82 K/9 at Class-A. Cease features a fastball and curveball combo that has depth and run not to mention a curve that has been compared to Dwight Gooden. If his consistency improves, as well as his command, and a third pitch, he should be a frontline starter in 2019.

Signed to a club record $11 million bonus, Adrian Morejon (LHP SD A-SS) has just recently made his pro debut. San Diego signed the 18-year-old Cuban in July of 2016 but a shoulder injury early this year delayed his debut.  He sits 91-93 with his fastball but touches 96 and works in a plus-curveball that has late bite. Morejon also possesses a knuckle-change as well as a conventional changeup that he switches between comfortably. He has only thrown eight innings to this point in pro ball with a 7/0 K:BB ratio and a 3.68 FIP. There’s a long road ahead for Morejon as the Padres are sure to protect their third-ranked prospect but a frontline starting rotation spot should be in his future.

The second Padres prospect on the list is Anderson Espinoza (RHP SD A). He was a Red Sox farmhand until the trade for Drew Pomeranz sent him west. His 6’-160 lb. frame and high-end velocity and movement has him being compared to a former Red Sox righty in Pedro Martinez. His mix of 94-97 mph fastball that touches 100, a sinking changeup, and an improving curveball gives him ace-caliber offerings as does his repeatable and smooth delivery. However that doesn’t mean there isn’t work to do yet. In 17 starts last year he posted a 4.38 ERA, though a 2.99 FIP and walked better than three batters per nine. Espinoza hasn’t pitched yet this year due to forearm tightness, but he should be back in July and in San Diego come 2019.

Pittsburgh has a history of developing high school pitchers and Mitch Keller (RHP PIT A+) is the next in line. Keller was drafted in 2014 but didn’t pitch much until 2016 due to nagging injuries. Last season however, he showed what made him a second round pick. Keller pitched to a 2.34 ERA in 130.33 innings and 2.36 FIP, with 138 Ks and just 19 walks. His mid-90s heavy sinking fastball and 11-5 running curveball make him a ground-ball pitcher who misses bats well. So far in 2017 he’s pitched 44 innings across 10 starts with a 2.66 ERA, 3.31 FIP, 9.41 K/9, and 1.84 BB/9 between Low-A and High-A. Keller should be on a faster track now that the injuries are behind him and has an ETA to Pittsburgh of late 2018.

Matt Manning (RHP DET A-) was the ninth overall pick of the 2016 draft by Detroit and he immediately became their top-prospect. The 6’6” righty possesses a 96-97 mph fastball that jumps at the batters and pairs it with a power-curve that misses a lot of bats. His changeup is average at best and projects to stay that way. His pro debut in rookie ball in 2016 went well with him racking up 46 strikeouts in 29.1 innings while posting a 3.99 ERA, but just a 1.90 FIP. Manning has pitched 9.1 innings at Low-A in 2017 in two starts with a 0.00 ERA (1.89 FIP) and a 14:3 K:BB ratio. The right-handers athletic delivery is repeatable and gives him great command, that combined with his makeup and stuff puts him in line to be a number-1 or-2 starter come 2020.