Top 15 Righthanded Pitchers: 2020 & 2021 | Top 15 Righthanded Pitchers: 2022 & 2023
Each week Jered Goodwin and Jheremy Brown will break down the top nationally ranked prospects at each position in the 2020-2023 classes, but there’s a twist. Instead of keeping them ranked within their specific classes as you'd find in the most updated national rankings, we will blend the top 2020s and 2021s into a top 10 list and then do the same with the 2022s and 2023s to see where they stack up against one another putting grad year aside. The 2020/2021 list will always be the first release, followed by the 2022/2023 with a different breakdown amongst positions weekly and this week we look at a talented crop of lefthanded pitchers.
1. Josh Hartle
The uber-prospect is exactly how they look when you draw them up. Long and lean with easy room to fill out naturally. He has as much physical projection as anyone in the 2021 class, at any position really. There was good arm speed early on, but not a ton of strength behind it. This spring the reports were coming in of consistent low 90s velocity. His low three-quarters slot gives a tough match-up to both righties and lefties and is a perfect fit for his hard slider. The fastball has some run and sink and really matches the movement on his future plus changeup. He pounds the zone with all pitches and knows how to tunnel his offerings. He is a way better athlete than one would think with his gangly frame. This is as intriguing of a follow as there is in amateur baseball this summer.
2. Daxton Fulton
It seemed to be a matter of time before Fulton started to make his way toward his enormous ceiling. That started to happen at the Perfect Game National last summer when he came out firing low 90s fastballs with some running life to it. He tunneled what looked like, at least, two above average secondary offerings. The lefty had confidence in his low 80s slider that had late dart to it. The pitch can be used to back door righties, or he can throw it under barrels to the back foot. His changeup could be a plus offering as he turns it over well with fade and breaks while keeping his hand speed. Fulton seemed to separate himself even more with an exceptional outing at the PG All American Classic when his fastball peaked at 94 mph and he displayed his usual pitchability. An injury derailed him at the end of summer, but all signs lead to a huge comeback. There is top of the rotation potential when healthy.
3. Kyle Harrison
Harrison has a long track record for winning the big games at De La Salle high school in California. He is 6-2, 200 pounds with a look of a durable workhorse. He has a clean arm swing and a low three-quarters slot that helps give his fastball some heavy late life. There is little effort in his delivery and the low 90s velocity comes easily. He has some deception as he hides the ball well. Combine that with his above average control and the entire repertoire plays up. The breaking ball is slurvy, which is normal from his slot, but it plays off his fastball pretty well. This is another lefty that should have a go-to changeup. The pitch has deception and late sink. He sequences well and has the confidence to throw any pitch, at any time.
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