Tuesday, I wrote about 14 hitters that I anticipate rocketing up the prospect rankings in 2016. Today, I’ll introduce you to the pitchers that can potentially morph into elite prospects this season. Before Lucas Giolito was the No. 1 pitching prospect, he was a borderline top-70 prospect. He, Tyler Glasnow, Julio Urias, Alex Reyes, and Jose De Leon all jumped 40 to 80 spots in just one season. Hopefully, you will grab a few of these guys in your dynasty leagues before the rest of your opponents catch onto the hype.

2017 Top-20 Prospects

Anderson Espinoza – Red Sox
Not only do I expect him to be a top-20 prospect, I see the 17-year-old taking over as the top pitching prospect in baseball next year with all five guys mentioned above graduating to the MLB. He has rightly been compared to Pedro, being 6’0″, 160-pounds, with good velocity, impeccable command, and unbelievable movement on all of his pitches. Last season he had a 1.23 ERA with over 10 K/9 IP in 58 IP against much older competition.

Sean Manaea – Athletics
The 6’5″ lefty is capable of being an impact pitcher in the second-half of the season, but I expect him to retain his rookie status into 2017. Thus far in his minor league career, he has struck out 236 batters in 196 innings pitched. His stuff is No. 1 starter type of stuff, but injuries caused him to slip to 34th in the 2013 draft and to miss half of 2015. If he stays healthy, he has a chance to be Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

Hunter Harvey – Orioles
The 22nd pick in the 2013 draft has tossed 139 strikeouts in 113 IP with just 87 hits allowed. Still just 21, you would imagine he would be a top-tier prospect, but he missed all of 2015 with elbow issues. He is expected to return in early 2016, and if he shines again he will boom right back to the upper echelon of pitching prospects.

2017 Top-50 Prospects

Domingo Acevedo – Yankees
This 6’7″, 21-year-old righty had a 53:15 K:BB ratio in 2015 with a 1.81 ERA in 50 IP. His fastball velocity continues to increase as his frame fills out and he looks to have the makings of being a reliable No. 2 starter at the big league level if his development continues to progress. Being a part of the Yankees’ organization only makes his stock growth more probable.

Triston McKenzie – Indians
He was expected to pass on an MLB contract out of high school, and attend college where he would likely become an eventual contender to be the 1st overall pick in the 2018 draft. The Indians, wisely, paid him the big bucks to convine him otherwise, grabbing a top-end talent with the 42nd pick in the 2015 draft. He began his career with one ER in 12 IP with 17 Ks and only 4 hits allowed. He may end up the best pitcher from the 2015 draft class.

Franklyn Kilome – Phillies
The Phillies’ righty is much like Acevedo, with a 6’6″ narrow frame and continually increasing velocity. What separates the two is that Acevedo has struck out a ton of batters, which hasn’t come along for Kilome yet, partially because he has been working on lowering his pitching count by pitching to contact. Despite the mediocre numbers, the potential is apparent and 2016 will be a big season for him to prove himself.

Josh Hader – Brewers
Acquired from the Astros in the Carlos Gomez trade, Hader has been compared by some to a young Chris Sale. I’m nowhere near that high on him, as the stuff is two or three tiers behind the White Sox’ lefty ace. Hader, however, has produced strong numbers and if he continues to improve, the hype will increase and his stock will rise quickly.

Stephen Gonsalves – Twins
Once considered a top-five draft pick in high school, Gonsalves fell off the map, only to resurface three years after being drafted in the fourth round. The 6’5″ lefty had a brilliant start in 2015, striking out 77 hitters in his first 55 IP with a 1.15 ERA. His second-half of the season was good (2.95 ERA after a promotion), but certainly a step back. If he can regain his dominant first-half form, he could leap even into the top-30.

2017 Top 100 Prospects

Josh Staumont – Royals
The jury is out on whether the Royals will use this righty as a starter or closer. If the former, then I expect him to blast up prospect lists in 2016. After being selected in the second round out of Azusa Pacific University last season, he struck out 58 hitters in 41 IP with a 2.48 ERA. If he can replicate that performance this season, the Royals will be thrilled.

Lewis Thorpe – Twins
He was a favorite of mine to bust out in 2014, but his season was ended early with surgery. He is expected to return, fully healthy for 2016, but sometimes it takes a year to get back to form. He may be better suited to jump into the top-50 in 2017. Thorpe may have the best change-up in the minors and a terrific pitchers demeanor. Thus far in his career, he has 144 Ks in 115 IP.

Rookie Davis – Reds
Cincinnati just acquired him from the Yankees as part of the Aroldis Chapman deal. Davis was dominant at times in 2015, improving from mediocre numbers over the first two seasons of his career. The 6’5″ righty struck out 129 batters in 130 IP and had a 3.86 ERA. Most expect him to take another step forward this year, which is why the Reds were excited to acquire him.

Deeper Sleepers

Andrew Moore – Mariners
The second round pick in the 2015 draft had a fantastic start to his minor league career, striking out 43 hitters while only walking two in his first 39 IP. Rather than beginning in Rookie Ball, the Mariners sent Moore directly to Single-A, Everett, where he carried a 2.08 ERA. He was one of the most polished pitchers in the draft and has mature composure on the mound.

Sean Reid-Foley – Blue Jays
Originally considered a favorite to be selected in the top-five of his draft, Reid-Foley dropped to the second round despite his immense talent. Last season he really started to put his talent together, posting 90 Ks in his first 63 IP before being promoted to Dundein where he struggled against players that were an average of four years older than him. The only thing holding the big righty back from becoming a big league workhorse is his poor command.

Kodi Medeiros – Brewers
There is a certain quality in pitching prospects that is difficult to come by. Medeiros has that magical quality. He has great deception and loads of movement on his pitches. So much movement, in fact, that he has trouble controlling it. Paired with an upper-90s fastball, I expect him to get his control together and rise quickly to the big leagues and up the prospect lists. Best case scenario he is the Hawaiian version of Dontrelle Willis, worst case is he is an intimidating bullpen arm.

Thomas Szapucki – Mets
Spin-rate is all the rave. Szapucki has it, perhaps more than any arm in the minors. Will the 5th round pick be able to turn into Jacob DeGrom? I doubt it, but he certainly can become his own, very talented young pitcher and the Mets are excited to work with the 18-year-old lefty as he starts in Rookie Ball this spring.

Draft Risers

Tanner Houck – NCAA
He went from a borderline top 1000 prospect in his high school class to a likely top ten pick in just one season. Since signing with Missouri, the 6’5″ righty blossomed several pitches into plus offerings. He has been considered a pre-season favorite to win the Golden Spikes Award (best NCAA player) as a Sophomore this season, and will have his Junior year to continue improving before the draft. I see Houck moving from a top-10 2017 draft prospect to the sure-fire No. 1 pick over the course of 2016.

Forrest Whitley – High School
There are only two high school pitchers that currently throw in the upper 90s. Consensus top high-school player, Riley Pint, is one, Whitley is the other. This Texas fireballer may not be as polished as Pint, or some of the college arms in this draft, but on pure ability, Whitley is clearly a first-tier talent. Standing at 6’7″ with a sturdy, workhorse frame, I can’t see teams allowing him to fall beyond the top-15 picks, despite being currently listed as a second or third-rounder.

Thanks for reading!