Double-A baseball is back! In this series, we will be diving into some of the Double-A pitching prospects who are off to a hot start to the season. These are extremely low sample sizes, but it’s important to get in on the ground floor with some of these pitching prospects to get full value when the trade deadline comes around. Last season, George Klassen and Jonah Tong were huge risers and helped bolster dynasty managers’ farm systems or capitalize on a blockbuster trade. Let’s dive into some of the Double-A pitching prospects off to a hot start!
Dominating Double-A Pitching Prospects
Eastern League
Jack Wenninger, RHP NYM
(2 GS, 10 IP, 16 K, 0.90 ERA, 14.40 K/9)
Over the last two seasons, we have seen the Mets’ pitching lab get more out of pitchers: Christian Scott back in 2023, Jonah Tong and Brandon Sproat in 2024, and perhaps it’s Jack Wenninger’s time to shine. Drafted in the sixth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Illinois, Wenninger stands 6’4” and 210 pounds, and throws from the right side of the mound. He has a five-pitch mix with a fastball that sits 93 mph and peaks at 96 mph, along with a splitter that comes in at 83 mph with solid drop and tunnels off the fastball, throwing batters off. He also throws a sweeper that comes in at 85 mph, a cutter that comes in at 88 mph, and a curveball that sits at 81 mph with solid break.
Another strong start for @Jack_Wenninger yesterday, picking up the W for the @RumblePonies in Game 1 🎠
5.0 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 9 K 😤 pic.twitter.com/Z4STKJEIQy
— Mets Player Development (@MetsPlayerDev) April 12, 2025
Last season, Wenninger pitched at Low-A and High-A, making 25 appearances with 19 of them as starts. Combined, he had 140 strikeouts over 115 innings pitched, good for a 10.96 K/9 with a 3.13 walks per nine, and finished the season with a 4.30 ERA. This season, Wenninger has been dominant in his first taste of Double-A, making two starts and striking out 16 batters over 10 innings pitched, good for a 14.40 K/9 while keeping batters to a .118 batting average against, and currently has a solid 0.90 ERA. As we see more data from Wenninger’s outings, we should get a better picture of what could be on the horizon, but for now, you should grab shares while you can.
Cam Schlittler, RHP NYY
(2 GP, 1 GS, 10.2 IP, 12 K, 1.69 ERA, 10.13 K/9)
The next Yankees pitching prospect to take a major step forward was Cam Schlittler in 2024, and so far this season, we have seen more of the same. Drafted in the seventh round of the 2022 MLB draft, Schlittler stands 6’6” and 210 pounds, throwing from the right side of the mound. Schlittler features a four-pitch mix in his 96 mph fastball that tops out at 98 mph with high spin rates. The sweeper comes in at 86 mph, while the curveball sits at 82 mph with excellent movement thanks to the spin rates. Finally, the changeup, which comes in at 88 mph but can be firm at times, making it a distant fourth offering.
7K Cam🎥@Yankees No. 12 prospect Cam Schlittler dealt in his Opening Day start.
5.2 IP | 1 R | 3 H | 7 K
82 Pitches (52 Strikes) pic.twitter.com/Qie7n7ipKL
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) April 5, 2025
In 2024, Schlittler made 25 combined appearances with 23 starts, striking out 154 batters over 120.2 innings pitched, good for an 11.49 K/9 while walking 4.10 batters per nine and finishing the season with a 3.36 ERA. Walks have been the sticking point for Schlittler, but this season the early results look promising. Across two appearances, one being a start, Schlittler struck out 12 batters over 10.2 innings pitched, good for a 10.13 K/9 while walking just 1.69 batters per nine, and currently has a solid 1.69 ERA. Schlittler is keeping batters to a .143 batting average against in the early going of the season.
We should see Schlittler promoted back up to Triple-A, where he finished the season in 2024, giving him a chance to make his debut potentially later this season.
Texas League
Jose Fleury, RHP HOU
(2 GS, 11 IP, 13 K, 0.00 ERA, 10.64 K/9)
Houston continues to develop solid starting pitching options to replenish their Major League club. Could Jose Fleury be the next name to watch? Signed out of the Dominican Republic back in 2021, Fleury is just 23 years old and stands 6’0” and 185 pounds, throwing the ball from the right side of the mound. There is a four-pitch mix for Fleury in a 92 mph fastball that tops out at 94 mph with carry up in the zone, This sets up the changeup nicely as it comes in at 82 mph with large fade late as it crosses the plate. The slider comes in at 83 mph while the curveball sits at 77 mph with solid movement, but is a distant third and fourth offering.
Jose Fleury was great in his season debut today:
5 IP | 3 H | 0 R | 1 BB | 4 K#Astros #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/Ym27rF5wUM
— Astros Future (@AstrosFuture) April 7, 2025
Last season, Fleury pitched primarily in Double-A as he made 19 combined appearances, with 11 of them being starts. He struck out 77 batters over 71.1 innings pitched, good for a 9.71 K/9 while finishing the season with a 3.66 ERA. This season, Fleury is repeating Double-A and has gotten off to a solid start. Across two starts, Fleury has 13 strikeouts over 11 innings pitched, good for a 10.64 K/9 while walking just 2.45 batters per nine, and currently has a 0.00 ERA. Fleury is a finesse pitcher that keeps batters off balance, We could see him promoted to Triple-A before too long.
Jackson Ferris, LHP LAD
(2 GS, 10 IP, 13 K, 1.80 ERA, 11.70 K/9)
Ferris is off to a solid start in Double-A Tulsa. Drafted in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Cubs, Ferris has had his struggles with walks since he debuted, but the strikeout stuff is there for the 21-year-old. Standing at 6’4” and 195 pounds while throwing from the left side of the mound, Ferris has a four-pitch mix starting with a 95 mph fastball that peaks out at 97 mph with carry up in the zone. He adds an 85 mph slider that has tight movement to it and has generated a ton of swings and misses since coming to the Dodgers. His 77 mph curveball has excellent drop to it, inducing weak contact and strikeouts, while the 86 mph changeup could take a major step forward this season as it has solid fade but needs to repeat it consistently.
Jackson Ferris, Wicked 90mph Back Foot Slider. 🤢 pic.twitter.com/tWudOWoSjq
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 1, 2025
In 2024, Ferris made 27 starts across two levels, striking out 145 over 126.2 innings pitched, good for a 10.30 K/9 while walking 4.05 batters per nine, and finished the season with a 3.20 ERA. Limiting the walks will be key for Ferris going into his second stint in Double-A, and so far, it’s still proving to be a challenge. Across two starts this season, Ferris has 13 strikeouts over 10 innings pitched, good for an 11.70 K/9 with 5.40 walks per nine, and has a 1.80 ERA. Because Ferris goes for swings and misses outside the zone, the higher walk rates might be a part of his game, but if he can bring it down to three walks per nine, look out.
Southern League
Robby Snelling, LHP MIA
(2 GS, 10.1 IP, 14 K, 2.61 ERA, 12.19 K/9)
Miami has got to be happy with the bounce-back they are seeing out of Robby Snelling, who is repeating Double-A to start the season. Snelling was drafted 39th overall by the Padres in 2022 and was traded to the Marlins in 2024. Standing 6’3” and 210 pounds and throwing from the left side of the mound, Snelling features a three-pitch mix in a fastball that sits 93 mph and tops out at 95 but is a bit of a flat pitch with low spin rates. His 82 mph slurve has solid movement down and away to batters, proving a solid strikeout offering for Snelling. Finally, the changeup sits at 85 mph and has solid tumble, though he has a hard time repeating it; regardless, it creates a lot of swings and misses for Snelling playing off the fastball.
#Marlins No. 8 prospect Robby Snelling yielded two hits and struck out five over five scoreless innings in Friday's victory.@USAFRecruiting #AimHigh pic.twitter.com/g38Z0qdfzA
— Pensacola Blue Wahoos (@BlueWahoosBBall) April 8, 2025
This season, Snelling has gotten off to a strong start after posting a 4.00 ERA across seven starts in Double-A in 2024. Currently, Snelling has started two games, striking out 14 batters over 10.1 innings pitched, good for a 12.19 K/9 while walking just 0.87 BB/9, and has a 2.61 ERA. Batters are hitting just .244 off Snelling in the early goings of the season. If Snelling can continue his performance, we should see him promoted to Triple-A in short order as he makes his way to the Major Leagues.
Sam Aldegheri, LHP LAA
(2 GS, 8.2 IP, 12 K, 3.12 ERA, 12.46 K/9)
Coming out of the gates strong in the Angels system is Sam Aldegheri. The left-hander stands 6’1” and 210 pounds and features a four-pitch mix in a four-seam fastball that sits 93 mph and tops out at 96 with solid carry up in the zone. Missing bats outside the zone is the specialty of the slider coming in at 84 mph, while the 82 mph changeup has solid fade and tumble. Finally, the curveball comes in at 76 mph with solid break. None of his offerings are overwhelming. What gets the high whiff rates for Aldegheri is mixing his pitches and locating them efficiently.
Sam Aldegheri today for AA Rocket City:
4.2 IP | 2 H | 0 R | 2 BB | 6 K pic.twitter.com/uKcjoVb8sR
— AngelsMiLB (@AngelsMiLB) April 14, 2025
The results were strong for Aldegheri in 2024 as he ascended two levels in the Minor Leagues before making his Major League debut. This season, the Angels sent Aldegheri back to Double-A, where he has started two games so far, striking out 12 batters over eight innings pitched, good for a 12.46 K/9 while walking five batters and currently has a 3.12 ERA. There is potential for a middle to back-end starter here who has strikeout potential thanks to missing bats outside the zone. To succeed long term, Aldegheri will need to limit the walks.
