Before you start raising riots and asking for certain guys, I want to go ahead and throw out the two names that would be one and two on this list had innings limits not prevented them from being here. Blake Snell no longer qualifies as a rookie and Jose Berrios has pitched exclusively as a starter and not a reliever since being promoted to the big leagues so it would have been likely he would have dropped off the list soon as well.

A quick note on how these articles are formatted. They are going to be sorted by who I think is the best option for dynasty owners based on a combination of estimated time of arrival and potential upside. I will include their stats from their current level, their age, their ETA and lastly a talent grade. The talent grade will be an all-encompassing grade designed to inform dynasty owners of how big of a fantasy impact a player will realistically have. It will take into account how long it takes to reach the big leagues and will be on a scale of 1-10.

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Starting Pitcher Dynasty Rankings

1. Brent Honeywell (TB, AA)
Stats: 53.1 IP, 1.86 ERA, 2.92 FIP, 8.10 K/9, 2.03 BB/9, 0.51 HR/9
Age: 21
ETA: 2017

As many of y’all may have known who read my Top-30 prospects article from last season, I was a big fan of Aaron Nola because of his near elite command. Well, my opinion about pitchers with elite command has not changed, and it is why I believe Brent Honeywell is the best starting pitching prospect in the American League. The 72nd overall pick in the 2014 draft has torn through the Minor Leagues and now finds himself knocking on the door of the big leagues as he has already reached the Double-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays, the Montgomery Biscuits (I just had to throw that name in there).

Ask any scout who has the most intriguing repertoire in the minors and they will tell you that it is Honeywell. Aside from a low-mid-90s fastball with plenty of life, Honeywell also has a screwball. No, you did not read that wrong, he throws a screwball. Evaluators believe that is his best pitch and is one of the better secondary offerings in the minors. He also has a decent curveball and changeup, but his ability to get batters out really centers around his fastball/screwball combo. One could say that when Honeywell gets two strikes on you, you’re ‘screwed’. Get it?! I’m sorry. I’ll log off now.

But in all seriousness, Honeywell flies a bit under the radar because he has never been a guy known to rack up gaudy strikeout totals. Most believe the strikeouts will come as he starts to improve the velocity on his fastball. But with his pin-point command and elite arsenal of pitches, Honeywell stands out as a guy very likely to reach his upside as a top-of-the-rotation starter. And with his debut likely coming next season, he should already be owned in most if not all dynasty leagues where Minor League players are stashed.

Talent grade: 9

2. Tyler Jay (MIN, AA)
Stats: (from A+) 69.2 IP, 2.84 ERA, 3.30 FIP, 8.78 K/9, 2.71 BB/9, 0.65 HR/9
Age: 22
ETA: 2018

Jay was taken as the sixth overall pick back in 2015 after spending three years at college and has made a rather quick ascension through the minors. The former Illinois Fighting Illini pitcher (the first of two on this list) pitched exclusively out of the bullpen, making his development and progress as a starter all the more impressive.

Among southpaw starting pitchers, there are very few who can match this 22-year-old’s elite arsenal. Jay comes with a mid-90s fastball and one of the most unhittable sliders out there. That pitch can reach the lower-90s and has elite life with many considering it to be among the best pitches of any starter in the minors. His changeup and curveball are both slightly above-average offerings, but neither will be as elite for him as his slider.

One would expect someone going from the bullpen to the rotation to have some control issues and to have some difficulty going deep into ball games, but Jay has surprised evaluators with both his above-average command and his durability. Most believe that he just needs to make a few tweaks to his curveball and changeup for him to become the strike-throwing machine most envision in him. And with an already potentially elite combination of pitches, Jay can be viewed as a budding top-of-the-rotation starter.

Talent grade: 9

3. Francis Martes (HOU, AA)
Stats: 115.0 IP, 3.52 ERA, 2.71 FIP, 9.55 K/9, 3.37 BB/9, 0.31 HR/9
Age: 20
ETA: 2017

Once debatable whether or not he would stick as a starter or reliever, Martes has dominated the minors thoroughly enough to make that a very one-sided debate. The 6’1” right-hander is not the biggest player out there, but he has shown that he has both the arsenal and the control to remain in the rotation for the long term.

The repertoire of Martes features two of the best pitches in the minors: a mid-90s fastball and a power curveball that sits around 82-85 mph. The development of his changeup still has some progress, but scouts believe that fastball/curveball combo can carry him a long way. You throw in the fact that he has above-average control of his arsenal and you’ve got a guy with some ace potential.

The former Marlins’ farmhand (acquired in the Jarred Cosart deal) is now looking like one of the biggest steals of all time and should get a chance to show his stuff at the big league level by next season. Though he will likely spend some time at Triple-A to open up the year, Martes is very likely to debut after 2017’s Super Two deadline. At such a time, he should be owned in all leagues, redraft and dynasty alike.

Talent grade: 8.5

4. Michael Kopech (BOS, A+)
Stats: 51.1 IP, 1.23 ERA, 2.08 FIP, 14.20 K/9, 4.21 BB/9, 0.00 HR/9
Age: 20
ETA: 2018

You would be hard pressed to find someone who has stolen the Minor League scene more this season than Red Sox right-hander Michael Kopech. The flame-throwing right-hander is consistently sitting in the upper-90s and reaching as high as 105 mph. You can’t tell me you wouldn’t want to bank on that upside.

As previously stated, Kopech has a dominant fastball. Scouts praise it for its high octane velocity and wicked life. His secondary stuff still has to catch up with his fastball, but he does at least offer two average to slightly above-average offerings with his low-90s slider and sinking changeup. It will come as no surprise that the biggest obstacle for Kopech is his command which can be a bit shaky at times, though scouts love his mentality and believe that he will improve on his command as he matures.

Sure, there is a chance Kopech ends up in the bullpen, but he has some of the highest upside of anybody on this list and has the potential to be a true bona fide ace. All he needs is to find consistency with throwing strikes in order to reach his upside and he could get an opportunity to start at the big league level by 2018. If he destroys expectations and makes insane improvements, he could debut in September of next season.

Talent grade: 8.5

5. Mike Clevinger (CLE, MLB)
Stats: 34.2 IP, 5.45 ERA, 4.53 FIP, 8.31 K/9, 5.19 BB/9, 1.04 HR/9
Age: 25
ETA: NA

I am a big believer in Mike Clevinger. And yes, I know he has reached the big leagues and will undoubtedly lose rookie eligibility this season, but he is a guy who requires a discussion simply because owners need to know what they are buying. Prior to his big league debut, Clevinger had dominated Triple-A, throwing 93.0 innings with a 3.00 ERA, 3.34 FIP, 9.39 K/9 and 3.39 BB/9. Not to mention, he had dominated Double-A the season before that. Though his big league numbers now are not promising, there is still a lot to like.

His repertoire is not overwhelming like the aforementioned Kopech, but he still has the stuff to make it in the big leagues. He has a fastball that he can throw in the mid-90s coupled with an above-average slider that sits in the mid-80s. His curveball and changeup don’t quite match up to his fastball/slider, but they have made progress and could be above-average offerings for the right-hander. Scouts are not overly excited about his command, but he has shown an ability to repeat his delivery and should be able to improve on his control as he continues to develop.

Right now, Clevinger does not have an open spot in a dominant starting rotation for Cleveland, but he will find a way to start next season whether it is with the Indians or with some other team. He has received a lot of comparisons to Jacob deGrom, not just for his flow but also for his repertoire of pitches and the fact that he has flown so much under the radar. Though he probably does not have the upside of deGrom, Clevinger should still be expected to at least reach the upside of a two or three starter in the big leagues.

Talent grade: 8

6. Yohander Mendez (TEX, AAA)
Stats: 28.1 IP, 0.64 ERA, 3.94 FIP, 6.67 K/9, 4.76 BB/9, 0.00 HR/9
Age: 21
ETA: 2017

Another guy who has really come out of nowhere, Mendez went from being a relatively unknown starter to a guy who is now considered among the top pitching prospects in baseball. Mendez was ranked 24th among Rangers prospects at the beginning of this season and now MLB.com has him ranked as the 61st best prospect in all of baseball.

Part of the reason he has really flown under the radar is because he lacks the explosive repertoire of most top pitching prospects. The 6’5” southpaw has been able to increase the velocity in his fastball up to the low-90s now, but some evaluators believe he could potentially increase it another tick or two. His curveball ranks as an average to slightly above-average pitch, but his changeup is the real treasure among his offspeed pitches. It features some sinking action and is widely regarded as his best pitch. His control is better than most pitchers his age, but he still could use a little bit more improvement.

Why do I have him a little lower than the older Clevinger? I don’t think Mendez has quite the same strikeout upside as any of the guys ahead of him. But with that said, I do believe that he still projects as a solid middle-of-the-rotation starter with a relatively high floor. If he makes necessary improvements with his command, adds some velocity to his fastball and improves his curveball, he could really start to rack up some higher strikeout totals.

Talent grade: 8

7. David Paulino (HOU, AAA)
Stats: (from AA) 64.0 IP, 1.83 ERA, 2.17 FIP, 10.13 K/9, 1.55 BB/9, 0.42 HR/9
Age: 22
ETA: 2017

The Astros are just loaded in pitching prospects are they not?! The second pitcher of their’s in the top-10 and fourth on this list as a whole, Paulino too shows the top-of-the-rotation potential that the aforementioned Martes has shown. The biggest difference between Martes and Paulino is undoubtedly the size. Where Martes is a big shorter, Paulino stands at 6’7”, 215 pounds and is physically imposing out there on the mound.

And that imposing presence is backed up extremely well by his dominant repertoire. In fact, it too is almost identical to Martes. Like Martes, Paulino features a mid-90s fastball and upper-70s power curveball with a shaky changeup that does not even need to be a great for pitch for Paulino to become a great starter. And though his changeup is not great, he has shown at least an ability to get it to the point of being an average pitch in the future.

His command has been a bit shaky in the past, but Paulino has made tremendous progress in ironing it out and looks to be capable of reaching his upside. Owners have to at least understand that he will have some innings restrictions on him in the future as he is coming off Tommy John surgery and has never surpassed 110 innings in a single-season. But if he dominates Triple-A next season like he’s capable of, he could be used as a spot-starter or bullpen arm in 2017 with the potential to join the rotation full-time in 2018.

Talent grade: 8

8. Carson Fulmer (CWS, AAA)
Stats: 87.0 IP, 4.76 ERA< 4.15 FIP, 9.31 K/9, 5.28 BB/9, 0.72 HR/9
Age: 22
ETA: 2017

Honestly, there are some times the White Sox really scare me. I feel like they try to promote their recently drafted college arms way too quickly, cutting away from some precious development time. They did it with Carlos Rodon and now they did it with Carson Fulmer. After posting a less than stellar 4.76 ERA and 4.15 FIP at Double-A this season, the White Sox determined that Fulmer was ready to reach the big leagues where he was promptly kicked around. In 11.2 innings of relief work, he posted an 8.49 ERA and 5.98 FIP, demonstrating the same issues with walks he had when he was in Double-A. He is back in Triple-A now where he will likely remain until rosters expand.

No one will deny that Fulmer has the repertoire of a front-of-the-rotation pitcher. He has a mid-90s fastball and a lethal low-80s power curveball. The common consensus among scouts regarding his third pitch, a changeup, is that he lacks confidence in it despite it being a third qualify offering. The biggest issue is his control which wavers on him from start to start, leading many to question his future as a starter.

I personally have faith in Fulmer, but he has a lot of obstacles to overcome before he will be ready to be a big league starter. Fulmer is smaller in size and his strange delivery hurts his ability to throw his blazing fastball for strikes. But if he can make the necessary adjustments and become a starter, he could still reach his high upside as a front-of-the-rotation starter. Whether it is in the bullpen as a closer or a starter, Fulmer can be counted on for dynasty value in the future.

Talent grade: 7.5

9. A.J. Puk (OAK, A-)
Stats: 25.0 IP, 2.16 ERA, 1.42 FIP, 11.52 K/9, 2.16 BB/9, 0.00 HR/9
Age: 21
ETA: 2018

It is unusual for a guy who was not the Friday night starter for his college team to be considered the top collegiate arm in the draft, but that was exactly the case for Puk. Taken with the sixth overall pick in this year’s draft, Puk has absolutely dominated Low-A right out of the gate. Though he has gone five innings only once to this point in his nine starts, he has flashed the ace potential that many had envisioned in him, encouraging those who were unsure about how well he would handle professional ball.

Puk’s game begins with his ridiculous fastball. He throws harder than nearly any other southpaw in the minors, reaching the upper-90s consistently and occasionally nearing triple-digits. His secondary stuff does not quite match up with his fastball, but his slider shows a lot of promise and looks like a future above-average secondary offering. His changeup is decent, but it will never be more than average.

The big concern for Puk is and always will be his command. Though the low walk rate to this point is slightly reassuring, there is no doubt that issues with commanding the strike zone will eventually start to arise as he hits the upper levels of the majors. But with his dominant stuff, the 6’7” lefty should have no problem racking up strikeouts and he should be a near lock to remain as a starter, even if he doesn’t pan out as a true ace. I’m betting that he will find a way to put everything together and reach his full potential.

Talent grade: 7

10. Grant Holmes (OAK, A+)
Stats: (from LAD A+) 105.1 IP, 4.02 ERA, 3.80 FIP, 8.54 K/9, 3.67 BB/9, 0.51 HR/9
Age: 20
ETA: 2018

It is rare that you see the Dodgers give up any of their top pitching prospects, but they decided to part ways with Holmes to try and acquire Rich Hill and Josh Reddick. Holmes had been dazzling at High-A before being sent over to Oakland and though he has struggled with home runs since arriving at Stockton, he should be able to right the ship soon.

Holmes features one of the more electric arsenals of anybody in the minors. With a mid-90s fastball and stellar curveball, Holmes already has what it takes to rack up high strikeout totals against professional hitters. Add in an above-average changeup and you’ve got a guy with the chance to strike out 200 batters per season at the big league level. He lacks above-average control right now, but Holmes has a repeatable delivery and should start to lower his walk rates soon.

Holmes is not the highest upside guy in the Oakland Athletics’ system, but he is still a pretty exciting guy to own in dynasty leagues. With a complete repertoire and steadily improving control, Holmes could be a front-of-the-rotation starter in a few seasons for fantasy owners. Expect him to begin next season at Double-A with a chance to finish the season in the big leagues or Triple-A.

Talent grade: 7.5

11. Joe Musgrove (HOU, MLB)
Stats: 27.2 IP, 5.20 ERA, 4.02 FIP, 8.13 K/9, 0.98 BB/9, 1.63 HR/9
Age: 23
ETA: NA

The third starting pitcher of the Astros’ and the third acquired in a trade more as a player-to-be-named later than as a headliner prospect, Musgrove has already reached the big leagues and has started to prove why he has so much hype surrounding him. Before reaching Triple-A, the right-hander torched Double-A, posting a 0.34 ERA in 26.1 innings while striking out eight more batters than baserunners allowed. He was not quite as dominant in Triple-A, but he has looked more like his Double-A self in the early goings of his big league career as he has gotten off to a resounding start.

Musgrove has always possessed some of the best command of any starter in the Minor Leagues, but it was the evolution of his stuff that has allowed him to reach his potential. His fastball can reach the mid-90s, but doesn’t wow anybody quite as much as the other two aforementioned Astros’ prospects. But Musgrove also features three other above-average pitches: a low-80s slider, low-80s changeup and upper-70s curveball that all look to be effective offspeed offerings.

The 6’5” right-hander does not have the most dominant repertoire out there and for that reason it is unlikely he will ever have as high of an upside as the other Astros’ starters on this list, but he has a very high floor thanks to his pin-point command and figures to be one of the better number three starters in baseball. Fantasy owners should love to have a guy with his type of consistency and dynasty owners should be jumping at an opportunity to own him. He is worth an own in all leagues as it is unlikely he will ever see the minors again outside of a rehab assignment.

Talent grade: 7

12. Jason Groome (BOS, R)
Stats: 2.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.35 FIP, 13.50 K/9, 0.00 BB/9, 0.00 HR/9
Age: 18
ETA: 2019

Groome held out on the Red Sox for a while after they could not come to an agreement on his signing bonus, but they eventually reached a decision and Groome signed with the club. It was a bit surprising for some to see him fall all the way to 12th overall in the draft given his elite stuff, but there had always been questions about his maturity and those questions were reinforced by his decision to hold out so long on signing. But if he can get past those issues, he could be a real force for Boston.

The biggest debate entering the draft was who had the better stuff between A.J. Puk and Jason Groome, a debate which will probably go on for a while. Groome comes with a mid-90s fastball that could potentially increase in velocity as he continues to fill into his 6’6” frame. He backs up his heater with a hook that most scouts believe was one of if not the best curveball in the draft. His changeup will need to make some improvements, but most believe Groome is capable of doing anything needed to become a better pitcher.

The Red Sox have a serious talent on their hands and they could be rewarded in a few years. If Groome can mature mentally, he has the physical talent and repertoire to be one of the best pitchers in baseball. Fantasy owners will have to be patient, however, because though he has the talent to rise up through the minors, the Red Sox are liable to take it slow with him. But the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow could be huge and dynasty owners are encouraged to make the investment.

Talent grade: 7

13. Brady Aiken (CLE, A-)
Stats: 13.0 IP, 3.46 ERA, 4.87 FIP, 9.00 K/9, 4.15 BB/9, 1.38 HR/9
Age: 20
ETA: 2019

The Indians should consider themselves lucky to have stumbled upon such a find in the 2015 draft. After failing to reach a deal with the Astros as the first overall pick back in 2014, Aiken once again reached the draft in 2015 and was taken 17th overall by Cleveland. Though injury concerns have been scary early, he has seemingly put most of those worries behind him and now appears to be on track to become a top pitching prospect.

There may be no pitcher in baseball with a more promising repertoire than Aiken. He features a mid-90s fastball that has reached as high as 97 with plenty of life. The 6’4” southpaw also comes in with a big hook and a heavy changeup that many believe could become one of the most elite offspeed pitches in the game. Scouts also love his command, citing his smooth, repeatable delivery as the chief reason for why he is going to remain a solid starter in the big leagues.

Owners should not be overly concerned by his Tommy John surgery, but it should at least be taken into consideration. Though he appears to be putting it past him and still has insanely high upside, Aiken still has a long ways to go before he is really ready to be considered a safe pickup. But owners who are willing to brave the injury scares and wait a couple years for him to develop could be rewarded with a frontline starting pitcher as early as 2019.

Talent grade: 7

14. Stephen Gonsalves (MIN, AA)
Stats: 65.2 IP, 1.78 ERA, 2.73 FIP, 10.69 K/9, 4.25 BB/9, 0.14 HR/9
Age: 22
ETA: 2017

Gonsalves is one of those guys who many wonder how in the world he does it. He does not feature any elite pitches, he doesn’t have the sharpest command in the world and he did not enter professional baseball with a lot of hype. The 2013 110th overall pick dominated in 2015, first owning a 1.15 ERA at Class-A and then carrying that over to a High-A where he agin dominated, this time to a 2.61 ERA.

The best thing you can say about Gonsalves’ repertoire is that he gets the most out of it. He does not throw very hard, sitting in the low-90s with his fastball. His best secondary offering is a changeup that has some heavy sinking action, but the limited speed on his fastball gives his changeup limited upside. He also has a decent power curveball, but his slider is currently considered to be a below-average offering. Gonsalves is big for a lefty, standing at 6’5”, 213 pounds, but most scouts don’t foresee him adding much velocity. He does offer some above-average command, but he is not a control freak like the other Twins’ southpaw, Tyler Jay.

You are always going to be a bit apprehensive with owning him because of that less-than-stellar repertoire, but you can also rest easy knowing that he has done very well this far in spite of it. Gonsalves just gets things done with smoke and mirrors and fantasy owners should be happy to take production anyway they can get it. The 22-year-old should be expected to debut in Minnesota’s rotation next season where he can be expected to reach his potential as a middle-of-the-rotation starter.

Talent grade: 6.5

15. Justus Sheffield (NYY, A+)
Stats: 21.0 IP, 2.14 ERA, 2.15 FIP, 9.43 K/9, 3.00 BB/9, 0.00 HR/9
Age: 20
ETA: 2018

Talk about retooling, the Yankees did a complete overhaul during the trade deadline and went from a mediocre farm system to one of the best farm systems in baseball. One deal that did arguably the most to reload their minors was the deal sending Andrew Miller to the Indians in exchange for Clint Frazier and Justus Sheffield among others. And though Frazier is the clear headliner in the return, Sheffield too has the potential to reward the Yankees greatly for sacrificing Miller.

Despite being a bit undersized at only 5’10”, 195 pounds, Sheffield gets the most out of his arm. He throws a mid-90s fastball with plenty of movement and a power curveball that serves as his top out-pitch. His changeup still needs to make some progress before it is ready to be a lethal weapon, but it has been steadily coming along since Sheffield was taken 31st overall back in 2014. His control wavers at times, but he is getting better at throwing strikes.

Sheffield is a bit of a high risk guy because of his shaky command and small stature, but he has the upside of a front-of-the-rotation starter who could be a big boost for dynasty owners in a couple seasons. It is likely he starts next season at Double-A and finishes at Triple-A, but he could theoretically still reach the big leagues late next season if he dominates. Dynasty owners should realistically expect him to join the rotation in 2018.

Talent grade: 6.5

16. Triston McKenzie (CLE, A)
Stats: 23.2 IP, 3.42 ERA, 2.09 FIP, 12.93 K/9, 1.14 BB/9, 0.76 HR/9
Age: 19
ETA: 2019

The third Indians’ starter to make it on this list, McKenzie has always flown under the radar despite doing everything in his power to appear like a future frontline starting pitcher. Taken last year with the 42nd overall pick in the draft, McKenzie has a highly projectable frame, but he still has some development left to make before he is ready to really start rising on the prospect lists.

That projection centers around his frame and the velocity he currently works at. He is 6’5”, but only 165 pounds which does not allow him to really rear back and throw the ball ridiculously hard. As of right now, he tops out around 92, but scouts believe he could reach the mid-90s once he starts to put on some more weight. He comes with two above-average offspeed offerings: a sharp, biting curveball and a stellar changeup. Especially promising is his advanced approach for someone his age as he has shown no problem attacking hitters and filling up the strike zone.

There is still plenty of development left for the 19-year-old, but he could blossom into one of the better pitchers in baseball. As he is right now, he is far away from the big leagues, but all he really needs to do is bulk up a bit and add some velocity to his fastball to reach his upside. Fantasy owners will need to have some patience, but that patience could be very well rewarded in a couple seasons.

Talent grade: 6.5

17. Matt Manning (DET, R)
Stats: 26.1 IP, 4.44 ERA, 2.13 FIP, 14.01 K/9, 2.39 BB/9, 0.68 HR/9
Age: 18
ETA: 2019

It’s about time the Tigers had a decent prospect in their farm system. In what has really been a rough couple of seasons for drafting in Detroit, the Tigers managed to land Matt Manning with the ninth overall pick in the 2016 draft and he has looked very sharp to this point. Though it is obviously a bit early to tell with him, Manning still has a lot for Tigers fans and dynasty owners a like to look forward to.

There were plenty of other starters in the draft who had better pitches than Manning, but the 6’6” right-hander has provided scouts with enough to like to warrant some lofty expectations. His top pitch is his fastball which can reach the upper-90s. He throws a power curveball that scouts believe will be his top secondary offering and a changeup which lags behind the other two pitches. Most promising of all is Manning’s aggressive demeanor and his control which lead many to believe he has a relatively high floor despite coming out of high school.

Dynasty owners will have to wait a few seasons to reap the rewards of Manning in a starting rotation, but he could be a very solid starter when he finally does reach the big leagues. Though he is not as dominant as guys like Whitley and Groome, Manning still projects as a two or three starter with the potential to reach the tippity top of the Tigers’ rotation.

Talent grade: 6

18. Forrest Whitley (HOU, R)
Stats: 15.2 IP, 5.17 ERA, 1.95 FIP, 11.49 K/9, 2.87 BB/9, 0.00 HR/9
Age: 18
ETA: 2019

Whitley is the fourth and final Astros’ prospect on this list, and he would probably be a lot higher if it weren’t for the fact that he was just drafted out of high school this year. Drafted 17th overall, Whitley was viewed by many as one of the best starting pitching options in the draft class and some were surprised to see him drop so far, but certainly the Astros were happy to stumble upon him.

Scouts love everything this 6’7” right-hander has to offer, from his physicality on the mound to his lethal array of pitches. Whitley has a mid-90s fastball that features some heavy movement and that could continue to improve as he matures. He adds in a low-80s power curveball, a power slider and a sinking changeup. All of those pitches are at least average pitches right now and evaluators believe Whitley could eventually develop them all into above-average pitches.

Throw in above-average command to that arsenal and you’ve got a guy with top-of-the-rotation potential who could theoretically make quick work of the minors. Though Whitley is unlikely to see any time in the majors until September of 2018 at the earliest, he could still theoretically be a starting pitcher for Houston as early as 2019. That day when he starts will be a welcome sight to any dynasty owner with patience to keep hims stashed.

Talent grade: 6

19. Sean Reid-Foley (TOR, A+)
Stats: 57.1 IP, 2.67 ERA, 2.11 FIP, 11.15 K/9, 2.51 BB/9, 0.31 HR/9
Age: 20
ETA: 2018

A 2014 second round pick of high school, Reid-Foley has really started to make a name for himself. After struggling with his command for much of 2015, walking around 6.40 batters per nine innings, Reid-Foley has taken some major steps forward, lowering his walk rate first at Class-A this season (3.41 BB/9) and then again in High-A when he posted a 2.51 BB/9. And all of this while continuing to increase his strikeout rate and keep his home run rate right about the same.

Reid-Foley’s dominance stems from his dominant repertoire of pitches. And that repertoire starts with his fastball, an upper-90s fastball that features a ton of movement. He adds in a low-80s, dominant slider and above-average changeup to keep batters off balance. And though his curveball is considered to be a work in progress, Reid-Foley has the potential to make it at least an average pitch with a few improvements. His control still requires some more improvement, but it has taken some major steps forward this season as he continues to mature.

Prior to this season, there was debate as to whether Reid-Foley would be able to stay as a starter or be forced to the bullpen. But his stuff has continue to improve as has his command, leading many to believe he should have no problem continuing on the track as a starter. And even if his command shows little improvement moving further, he has the ability to rack up enough strikeouts to make fantasy owners forgive a few walks.

Talent grade: 6

20. Cody Sedlock (BAL, A-)
Stats: 24.0 IP, 3.38 ERA, 3.09 FIP, 9.38 K/9, 4.13 BB/9, 0.38 HR/9
Age: 21
ETA: 2018

Now I know you see that ‘BAL’ abbreviation and are probably taking a step back, thinking only about the other two pitching prospects they have had and the injury issues that have come with them. But I can assure you that Sedlock is different. The former ace of the Illinois Fighting Illini dominated the Big Ten this season, finishing the year with 101.1 innings with a 2.49 ERA, 116 strikeouts and only 31 walks with an opponent’s batting average around .219. The Orioles thought him worthy of a first round pick in this year’s draft and fantasy owners should think of him as worthy of a stash.

Sedlock does not have the nastiest stuff of any starting pitcher prospect out there, but make no mistake he can dominate any lineup any given day. His best pitch is a mid-90s fastball that features a heavy sinking action. He backs that fastball up with three above-average secondary offerings, a slider, curveball and changeup. The best of those three is his slider at the moment, but scouts believe the other two have the potential to continue to improve. One aspect of Sedlock’s game that impresses evaluators is his ability to control all of his pitches and has proven that he can command the strike zone.

The 21-year-old right-hander does not have Dylan Bundy level upside, but at this point he is undoubtedly the best pitching prospect in the Orioles’ system. And with the college experience he has under his belt, he could be a quick riser through the minors and could possibly be starting by 2018. Though some may be a bit concerned that his history as a reliever will ultimately force him to move back to the role, Sedlock has the necessary skillset to make it as a middl-of-the-rotation starter with a chance to reach his ceiling as a number two guy.

Talent grade: 6

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