by lawdog on Fri Jun 24, 2016 10:39 am
Recent article by Phillies sports writer:
A good way to determine if prospects are for real is go to the MLB.Com Top 30 Prospect List and then go to the MiLB Top Five Leader category list by levels. If prospects are on the MiLB list they are having a good season. If not, they better get hot in the second half and finish strong.
Today, the first half of the Sally League ends and two Phillies prospects find themselves on the Top Five List for the Low A level but only one of them is on the Phillies Top 30 List.
Perhaps the hottest pitcher right now in the minor leagues is Luke Leftwich of the Blue Claws. He won his seventh game last night. Below is what the Lakewood game story said about him:
“Leftwich was dominant again for the BlueClaws. Leftwich, named an All-Star on Friday, threw five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts. In his last three starts, he’s thrown 20 scoreless innings with no walks and 27 strikeouts. He heads to the break with an ERA of 2.00 and leads the league with 88 strikeouts this season.”
The 22- year-old was a seventh round draft pick in 2015. His numbers at low A have improved dramatically from Williamsport last season where went 2-2 after the draft. In his last ten starts he has pitched to a 1.66 ERA, going 7-2 for Lakewood, a team that otherwise has struggled much of the season.
On the Top Five Low A Leader Board, Leftwich leads in strikeout with 88 and is tied for the second most in wins with seven.