Each year, there are lower-level pitching prospects who narrow the gap between their present abilities and future potential, and as a result emerge as a highly projected prospect.
Usually, it’s someone who has battled injuries early in his career or simply a young, unrefined pitcher who suddenly puts everything together (stuff, command, consistency).
Examples from 2012 of pitchers who fit this mold include Aaron Sanchez, Jesse Biddle, Dan Straily, Nathan Karns and Trevor Rosenthal. Each of the aforementioned players was regarded as an intriguing pitching prospect heading into last season, but vaulted into the rankings with a strong campaign.
Looking ahead at the 2013 season, I’ve identified 10 pitching prospects who I believe will gain invaluable experience and take a huge step forward with their overall performance.
Since some of these players already rank within their organization’s top-10 prospects, I’ve included scouting notes from their original profile.