Hottest pitching prospects right now — one for each team.
Whoever thought it’s the dog days of summer forgot to tell these pitching prospects.
Below is one prospect for each organization who has put up sizzling numbers over the past month that match temperatures around the country. And it’s not just elite-level guys, though there are five Top 100 hurlers who made the list.
More from MLB Pipeline:
• Top 100 prospects | Stats | Video | Podcast | Complete coverage
You’ll see lower-level ranked (and even one unranked) pitchers, starters and relievers coming off a terrific month of mound work.
Jump to: AL East | AL Central | AL West | NL East | NL Central | NL West
AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST
Blue Jays: Kendry Rojas, LHP (No. 12)
Rojas missed more than two months in the first half while dealing with a shoulder issue but has been solid for High-A Vancouver since his return on July 9, posting a 1.98 ERA with 16 strikeouts over three starts (13 2/3 innings) in that time. His July 26 outing (6 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K) was his best of the year and a clear sign he’s come back in good form for the stretch run.
Orioles: Patrick Reilly, RHP (No. 15)
Just acquired at the Trade Deadline for prospect Billy Cook, Reilly joins the Orioles pitching the best baseball of his young career. The 2023 fifth-round pick out of Vanderbilt tossed 21 2/3 inning in July, posting a 2.08 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 10.8 K/9, and perhaps most encouraging for a guy who has struggled with command, 2.91 BB/9.
Rays: Yoniel Curet (No. 22)
While we’re limiting ourselves to 30 days here, we could go even farther back to illustrate Curet’s dominance. Over his last eight starts dating back to June 11, the 21-year-old right-hander sports a 0.94 ERA and an 0.89 WHIP with 52 strikeouts and only 14 walks in 38 1/3 innings for High-A Bowling Green. His fastball and slider both could be plus-plus pitches, and it’s notable that his control has been so improved in recent weeks, strengthening Tampa Bay’s hopes Curet could be more than a future reliever.
Red Sox: Hunter Dobbins, RHP (No. 24)
Dobbins missed the entire 2021 season at Texas Tech following Tommy John surgery, but the Red Sox selected him in the eighth round and landed a starter who throws strikes with a four-pitch mix highlighted by a solid mid-80s slider. He’s rolling at Double-A, where he has posted a 2.25 ERA, .191 average-against and 25/7 K/BB in 24 innings over his last five starts.
Yankees: Cade Smith, RHP (No. 21)
Part of Mississippi State’s 2021 national championship team and a sixth-rounder last July, Smith is dealing with a 92-97 mph fastball with riding action and an 83-85 mph slider that flashes two-plane depth. He has allowed just 14 baserunners while striking out 28 in his last 20 innings in Single-A, where he leads the Florida State League in strikeouts (109 in 82 2/3 innings) and average-against (.180).
