Bernie on the Scene: Evaluating NL Rookie Pitchers

Last week, I began the first of four articles on MLB rookies who contributed to their team during this short season.

This week, I will feature rookie National League pitchers. Next week, I'll discuss rookie American League hitters, followed by rookie American League pitchers.

Sixto Sanchez, RHP, Marlins

After being signed by the Phillies as an international free agent, the hard-throwing Sanchez was traded to Miami in the blockbuster deal that sent catcher J.T. Realmuto to Philadelphia in February 2019.

Sanchez is a unique pitcher. He throws four pitches in his arsenal, but he uses them all equally. He throws a four-seam fastball at a consistent 98-100 mph. He also throws a sinking fastball that averages 96 mph. He compliments his fastballs with a changeup and a slider, all very solid major league quality pitches.

At 6-foot, 234, Sanchez doesn't fit the profile of today's taller more athletic pitchers. He's a bit stocky, but he has a terrific arm. 

With his velocity, one would think he would be a premiere strikeout pitcher. That hasn't been the case in his career. This year he struck out 7.6 hitters per nine innings. He pitches to contact and can yield some home runs in the process.

There is no question he just got his feet wet this year, but fantasy managers should be careful if they think Sanchez will blow away the opposition. He's hittable. In his seven starts, the opposition hit .250 off him. He can be beaten the third time through the order.

But he was at his best against the Cubs in the wild card series. He threw five shutout innings, yielding only four hits and two walks. He struck out six. Outstanding!

Next Year: Sanchez is pitching for an emerging team. I like his chances to succeed, and as the ace people have projected. I would certainly grab him and I might even reach for Sanchez. He's good, and along with Sandy Alcantara, the Marlins could have a very fine one-two punch.

Kwang Hyun Kim, LHP, Cardinals

The 32-year-old Kim was signed by the Cardinals as an international free agent out of South Korea. I first saw him in spring training, and I was impressed.

Kim is a pitch-to-contact lefty with a good feel for pitching. He is very calm and collected on the mound, and he can be counted upon to be near the strike zone.

As a rookie this year, the opposition hit .197 against him. He began in the bullpen with St. Louis, even serving as a close. He was moved to the rotation, where he made seven starts.

Even though his fastball only touches 90 mph, he is deceptive with a superb curve and slider. A hitter can't get too comfortable, because he mixes his pitches very, very well.

What we saw this year was a bit of rust in the beginning, and his command wasn't up to standards. I think given an entire spring training and a full schedule, he will be a worthwhile part of the Cardinals pitching depth. I have no idea what his role could be.

Next Year: Kim could be back in the rotation or work in the pen. I was surprised they used him to close early in the season because he doesn't fit the high velocity profile. I will add Kim on my pitching inventory for next fantasy season.

Dustin May, RHP, Dodgers

Dustin May is a big, strong righty at 6-6, 180. He was a third-round draft pick of the Dodgers out of Northwest High School in Texas. Now, at age 23, May became an integral component of the Dodgers rotation.

After throwing in 14 games last season, May retained his rookie status this year and had a very solid season. 

May's arsenal includes a four-seam fastball at 99 mph, a two-seam sinker at 98 mph and a cutter, curve and changeup. Pitching like a veteran, May relies on the sinker and then changes the balance and eye level of the hitter with his curve and cutter. He can also mix in the changeup, but it is used less often.

His high, unconventional leg kick is used to generate that torque on his fastball. So far, it has worked, as May had an outstanding campaign.

Next Year: Dustin May is here to stay. Hey, I didn't really mean that that little rhyme. But he's a guy we can count on to eat innings for one of the best teams in baseball. I'll grab him when and where I can.

Ian Anderson, RHP, Braves

Ian Anderson was thrust in to a larger role than the Braves may have expected due to serious injuries to the club's rotation. Anderson responded like a veteran. His playoff performance against the Reds was nothing short of magnificent, as he threw six shutout innings, yielding one hit to get the win. He pitched like a first-round draft pick, which he was back in 2016. He was chosen out of Shenendehowa High School in Clifton Park, N.Y.

Anderson throws three pitches with good command. He has a fastball that sits in the mid-90s, a  changeup and a curve. His fastball is used half the time, with his secondary pitch selection split between the other two pitch types.

Unlike some other pitchers profiled above, Anderson gets plenty of swings and misses. He uses the corners of the plate so well, he gets his share of called third strikes. Hitters averaged only .172 off Anderson in the regular season. His strikeout rate was 11.4 per nine innings in his 32.1 innings pitched in six starts, a small sample size.

Next Year: A control pitcher like Anderson will be high on my personal list as I scour the pitching depth in the National League. What I saw of him this short season has convinced me that all he needed was the big-league lights.

Mitch Keller, RHP, Pirates

Yes, it seems like Mitch Keller has been around forever. In reality, he is still only 24 and he retained his rookie status after starting 11 games last year and going 1-5 with a 7.13 ERA and 1.83 WHIP in 48 rookie innings.

This year was better. He threw to a 2.91 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in five starts covering 21.2 innings.  Here's my question. He had an oblique injury early in the season.

Keller, like most Pirates pitchers did not get the luxury of run support. The team finished 19-41, confirming my consistent negative commentary about their ownership, their front office and their players.

Back to Keller. The opposition hit only .132 against him. That's good, right? He has good velocity on his fastball, and he also uses a slider, a changeup and a curve. The fastball is used half the time, but the secondary pitches are equally divided. That keeps hitters guessing.

The problem with Keller is an inconsistent release point and changing of arm angles. He has settled in more this short season, and the future looks good. 

Next Year: For me, it will depend on the pitching left on the board. Falling behind in games as the Pirates do often leads to a quick hook for the pitcher. But it may not even be his fault. I'll let you take Mr. Keller as long as he wears a uniform that say PIRATES.

Brusdar Graterol, RHP, Dodgers

Graterol is a fastball/slider pitcher. And he's a very, very good one.

Graterol is the pitcher the Dodgers got from the Twins for starter Kenta Maeda. It was a great trade for both teams.

Graterol can be a dominant bullpen arm, throwing his fastball 100 mph from his 6-1, 265, husky frame. He is still only 22, and his future could be as a closer.

In this short season, Graterol got the ball 23 times out of the pen — a third of the Dodgers games. He wasn't spectacular, but good. His stats are a bit inflated for the praise I can give him, but considering he walked only three hitters in 23.1 innings, I'm all in. He did yield one home run.

Graterol is a little clumsy looking on the mound with little hope of being an athletic pitcher. He gets the ball and throws it, and it doesn't always look clean, neat or tidy.

Graterol will continue to improve. The Twins traded the future (Graterol) for the present (Maeda) in a deal that has improved both teams.

Next Year: I wonder what his role will be? Will he get some save chances or will he be a set-up guy? If I determine his role can help my fantasy relievers, I'm all in. Watch and listen about him in spring.

Spencer Howard, RHP, Phillies

I asked myself this question when watching Howard in the 2019 Fall League — what's all the fuss about? Over the course of one year, his velocity has dropped from 96 to 94. He throws a fastball, a slider, a curve and a changeup. He is basically a fastball/slider guy, but I have found him exceedingly meh!  

This short season showcased the concerns I put in writing after the Fall League appearances I scouted. He pitched well there, but I found him to be very hittable. This year? Thirty hits in 24.1 innings and 10 walks. He struck out an average of 8.5 hitters, but he yielded six home runs in those 24.1 innings. Six. Not good. He threw to a 5.92 ERA.

Howard has had a shoulder strain in the past. I think his shoulder is still barking, hence the drop in velocity. Beware. Tommy John candidate? 

Next Year: At best, I see Howard as a No. 4 or No. 5 starter. He's an end-game fantasy pitcher in a mixed league, better in an only league. But I'll pass, thank you.

Devin Williams, RHP, Brewers

Devin William is an outstanding pitcher. I liked him from the first time I scouted him in Brewers spring trainings.

Now, Williams is injured. After a superb season, he couldn't pitch in the postseason due to a barking shoulder. While many may not consider it a "major issue" as I have read in the media, I do. Barking shoulders are not good.

Consider that Williams struck out 53 percent of the hitters he faced in his rookie 2020 season.

The league hit .090 against Williams. He was dominant.

He stuck out an amazing 53 hitters in 27 innings. He walked nine. He finished with a .033 ERA and 0.63 WHP. It was a fantastic rookie year. The improvement of his command is what stood out this season.

Next Year: Williams has thrown his fastball at a consistent 95-96 miles per hour since the first time I saw him. He has been steady with his fastball/slider/changeup offerings. Once he establishes the fastball, he brings that changeup and buckles the knees of hitters, fooling them and getting swings and misses. It is the development of a wicked changeup that has propelled Williams to the status as a true relief pitcher to have on fantasy rosters. Provided his shoulder issues don't worsen.

Kyle Wright, RHP, Braves

I'm bullish on Kyle Wright, right? Wrong. I have never really been a fan of the big, strong 6-4, 215-pound Wright.

This year he struggled again to find command, walking 24 in 38 innings. You read that correctly. His walk rate was 5.7 walks per nine innings, down from 5.9 walks per nine innings when he threw 19.2 innings in 2019.

If I have preached one thing over my years at RotoWire, it has been that a pitcher must be able to throw strike one. A pitcher must be able to throw strikes. Wright doesn't throw strikes.

He wound up with a 1.55 WHIP because he also yielded 35 hits in 38 innings. Lots and lots of base runners.

Wright had long been touted as part of a stable of terrific Braves prospect pitchers. Most of them imploded. Consider Sean Newcomb and Touki Toussaint as two can't-miss media prospects who did. And there are more. Wright is among them.

If he can make his slider work and throw some strikes, he may be able to redeem his status with the Braves. He's still only 24 and things can improve. 

Next Year: Um … no. Not for me.

Tony Gonsolin, RHP, Dodgers

Gonsolin has played a major role for the Dodgers this season. He appeared in nine games, starting eight. And he pitched well.

Gonsolin was a ninth-round draft pick out of Saint Mary's College of California in the 2016 draft. Now 26, Gonsolin likely will be able to stick on the roster next year, though the competition is always stiff for Dodgers pitchers.

Gonsolin's walk rate of 1.4 walks per nine innings is really admirable. He walked only seven in his 46.2 innings pitched. He struck out 8.9 hitters per nine.

Gonsolin has improved his velocity from 93-95 mph this year. That has helped. He throws that fastball along with a slider a curve and a split finger.  The curve is the least used pitch in his arsenal, with the fastball being used half the time with a split between the slider and curve.

Like Dustin May, Gonsolin features a high leg kick, which may now be part of the Dodgers development training. His delivery helps make that split finger pitch a tough one to see coming out of his hand.

The future is bright for the righty due to that good control and an ability to keep the ball away from the barrel of the bat.

Next Year: I'll be all in. Most of all because he has DODGERS on his uniform, but also because he can pitch. I do think he'll carve out a roll in a system that develops pitching better than most any franchise in the game.

HEADING HOME

THE PLAYOFFS

Here's what I haven't liked so far:

1. Way too much ESPN. I really don't like putting a microphone on players during a game. I find it distracts the players and it distracts me. It really is a gimmick, and one that isn't fair to the team.

2. Way too much ARod. I can take him maybe for one game. But multiple games? I liked him better as a pre-game or post-game analyst. I dislike his golf and chess analogies.

3. I wish home team announcers would be included in the broadcasts. Nobody knows more about the team than the home town broadcasters.

4. Eight games in one day was too much. Even a seam-head like me had trouble keeping up.

5. I didn't like seeing the Indians and Yankees playing in a thunderstorm. MLB knew it was coming. They should have postponed the game.

6. I didn't like the fact the Brewers and Padres had to enter the playoffs with their pitching a shambles due to injuries. That was incredibly tough to watch.

7. I didn't like the way Ricky Renteria handled his pitching staff. Why start Dane Dunning if his wing is bad? Renteria knew Dunning had a "dead" arm. Why start him?

8. I didn't project both the Reds and Braves — but especially the Reds failing to hit. That was really amazing. Both are good hitting teams. Their pitching was outstanding and deserved better.

9. I hated to see the new edition of Francisco Lindor. He looked unfocused. He looked complacent. He looked lazy. Even his swing looked lazy. Frankly, I'll be happy when this "superstar" is no longer a part of the Cleveland Indians. His press clippings have gone to his head. He can be a star somewhere else. That's fine with me.

10. Dodgers and Yankees in the World Series. It is clearer to me now they are the two best teams in baseball. The winner? More on that in future articles.

Next week: I'll analyze American League rookie hitters.

Follow me on Twitter @BerniePleskoff and read my baseball articles at Forbes.com. Thanks.