With the major league season moving right along and already the injuries have been mounting it’s important to have your finger on the pulse of the minor leagues to see who is coming next. This is a small look into the arms that are currently standing out in low A and could be pushing for a promotion to high A or better by season’s end.
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3 Standout Pitching Prospects in Low-A Ball
California League
Jorge Marcheco, RHP LAA
The Angels have an interesting pitching prospect having a strong start to the season in Jorge Marcheco. Before we dive into his 2023 numbers you need to dive into last season for Marcheco and see why he might be flying under the radar. In Marcheco’s age-19 season, we saw him play in complex ball and his first stint with the low A Inland Empires. Marcheco had 90 strikeouts in 62 innings pitched; good for a 12.31 K/9. He held batters to a .204 average and had a 3.98 ERA in 14 combined starts and relief appearances. Solid numbers for a 19-year-old at the time, what stood out to me was the control Marcheco displayed in his 14 appearances resulting in 2.25 walks per nine.
😱Keep Throwing that Eephus pitch Jorge! LAA RHP Jorge Macheco is off to a hot start striking out 22 in 20.2 holding batters to a .149 AVG and keeping a 0.87 ERA in four starts at A Ball. #Gohalos @66ersBaseball @Angels @TalkinHalos @halosheaven https://t.co/EIqZ6sphOx
— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) May 4, 2023
Now fast forward to this season where Marcheco has 22 strikeouts in 20.2 innings good for a 9.58 K/9 and holding batters to a stellar .149 average. The walk rate remains solid for the now 20-year-old as it sits at 2.61 BB/9. The ERA is currently solid at 0.87 though his 3.54 FIP indicates he is getting lucky early this season. Regardless Jorge Marcheco has been fun to watch and could be a deep league target for pitching depth that could pop.
Carolina League
Frank Mozzicato, LHP KCR
A former first-round pick by the Royals in the 2021 draft, Frank Mozzicato has been on fire for the low A Columbia Fireflies. Mozzicato is a 6’3” left-hander that has a disgusting curveball that he uses to induce serious swing-and-miss. With the change-up and fastball making strides forward the 20-year-old has been able to rack up the strikeouts in the Carolina League. In 2022 Mozzicato put together a quietly successful season at low A Columbia, striking out 89 batters in 69 innings, keeping opposing batters to a .218 average, and finishing the season with a 4.30 ERA.
🎯🤺It’s a pitchers duel in Columbia! LHP Frank Mozzicato has put up big strikeout numbers in Columbia. 34 Ks in 19 IP good for a 16.11 K/9, .123 AVG and 1.42 ERA in four starts. #Welcometothecity @ColumbiaProBall @FrankMozzicato @Royals @RoyalsFarm https://t.co/6WmVJyVUOa
— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) May 4, 2023
The Royals sent him back to Columbia to start the 2023 season and improve he did. So far in four starts in Columbia, Mozzicato has 34 strikeouts in only 19 innings pitched! That’s good for a stellar 16.11 K/9 and the .123 average against is equally impressive. The 1.42 ERA has been solid for Mozzicato but his 3.03 FIP indicates he might come back down to earth a bit. The only slight on Mozzicato to this point in his young career is limiting the walks, as he had a 6.65 BB/9 in 2022 and currently has a 5.68 at the same level. All eyes need to be on Mozzicato as he should be getting the bump to high A here as soon as he makes his way up the ladder to Kauffman Stadium.
Florida State League
Pete Hansen, LHP STL
The Cardinals took Hansen 97th overall in the third round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of the University of Texas. The former Longhorn had 218 strikeouts in 215.2 innings pitched while holding opposing batters to a .214 average and had a career ERA of 2.67 in 42 career appearances (32 being starts). Hansen profiles as an innings-eater with an elite sweeping slider. The fastball velocity is certainly lacking for Hansen but this didn’t seem to matter as a pitcher that features pinpoint control with his time in Texas.
🔒📝STL LHP Pete Hansen has had a solid start to his pro career striking out 25 batters in 19.1 IP good for a 11.64% K rate. The 22 year old is at Palm Springs with eyes set for A+ Peoria. #STLCards @peterhansen33 @TexasBaseball @GoPBCardinals @Cardinals @CardsPlayerDev https://t.co/pFPchLWHAa
— Richard Haake (@Mustbethehawk) May 4, 2023
The Cardinals sent the now 22-year-old lefty to low-A Palm Beach where despite being advanced for the level Hansen has put up solid numbers in his pro debut. Pete has racked up 25 strikeouts in 19.1 innings pitched, good for an 11.64% strikeout rate. The 2.79 BB/9 seems a bit high for Hansen though it should come down as he continues to settle in. In his four starts, Hansen has kept batters to a .225 and a 2.79 ERA definitely some room for improvement but a solid start to his season. I can’t imagine the Cardinals will leave Hansen down in Palm Beach very long more so to get his feet wet but the results leave me wanting more out of him before making that inevitable jump to join high A Peoria.