2014 MLB Draft: Top 10 high school left-handed pitchers

Major League baseball teams are always looking for a quality left-handed starter, and the Houston Astros will likely get one with their first pick in the draft on June 5.

Brady Aiken of Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) has shot straight to the top of the list of high school draft prospects after starting the season around No. 10. Aiken heads a solid group of left-handed high school pitchers available in this year's draft.

See the Top 10 Middle Infielders for the MLB Draft

See the Top 10 Outfielders for the MLB Draft

See the Top 10 Corner Infielders for the MLB Draft



See the Top 10 Catchers for the MLB Draft


10. Carson Sands, North Florida Christian (Tallahassee, Fla.)



Sands concluded a five-year varsity career that included two state championships, a 42-9 career record and 453 strikeouts. He went 11-1 as a senior with 100 strikeouts and a 0.58 ERA in 60.2 innings pitched.

What the scouts say: Hits 92 mph with his fastball and has a good changeup. Has been steadily improving his draft status all season.

Where he will go: Fourth or fifth round.{PAGEBREAK}9. Cody Reed, Ardmore (Ala.)



Reed is believed to have the highest strikeout total in the country as he fanned 226 batters and had a 0.46 ERA while posting a 10-2 record in 92 innings pitched.

What the scouts say: Throws in the high 80s. Showed he was durable this year by throwing 92 innings.

Where he will go: Fourth or fifth round.{PAGEBREAK}8. David Peterson, Regis Jesuit (Aurora, Colo.) Only threw 24.1 innings this year and posted a 3-0 record with 40 strikeouts and a 1.15 ERA.

What the scouts say: Plenty of size at 6-foot-6. Hits 92 mph with his fastball using a nice, loose delivery.

Where he will go: Third or fourth round.{PAGEBREAK}7. Alex Destino, North Buncombe (Weaverville, N.C.) Also a possible position player at the next level, Destino could be selected as a pitcher. He went 10-1 as a senior with 116 strikeouts and a 1.43 ERA in 73.1 innings pitched.

What the scouts say: Very good two-way player who could end up in the outfield. Has a fastball that hits 91 mph, but he is still working on developing a more consistent curve and changeup.

Where he will go: Third or fourth round.{PAGEBREAK}6. Justus Sheffield, Tullahoma (Tenn.) Sheffield posted a 10-0 record with a 0.34 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 61.2 innings pitched.

What the scouts say: Not real big, but he's very athletic and he has good command of his pitches. Throws in the upper 80s.

Where he will go: Could go in the third round or early on the third day of the draft.{PAGEBREAK}5. Alex Verdugo, Sahuaro (Tucson, Ariz.) Verdugo didn't quite have the pitching numbers he had last season when he went 10-0. He managed a 4-3 record with 93 strikeouts and a 2.26 ERA in 52.2 innings pitched. He finished his career with 401 career strikeouts. Also solid at the plate, Verdugo batted .532 with 32 RBIs, 18 doubles and three home runs.

What the scouts say: One of the top two-way players in the draft, Verdugo could end up in the outfield due to an outstanding bat. However, he throws in the 88-90 range with a solid curveball.

Where he will go: Second or third round.{PAGEBREAK}4. Mac Marshall, Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.) Flirted with a 0.00 ERA for most of the season, Marshall finished with a 9-0 record and a 0.58 ERA with 86 strikeouts in 60.2 innings pitched.

What the scouts say: Marshall doesn't quite have the velocity as some of the top pitchers in the draft, but he has command over three pitches with a solid curve ball.

Where he will go: Second or third round.{PAGEBREAK}3. Foster Griffin, The First Academy (Orlando, Fla.) Helped The First Academy to a tournament win in the National High School Invitational. He finished the season with a 7-2 record, a 1.55 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 58.2 innings pitched.

What the scouts say: At 6-5 he has a projectable body type. He has thrown up to 92 mph. Needs to work on making his curveball more consistent.

Where he will go: Will likely go in the second round.{PAGEBREAK}2. Kodi Medeiros, Waiakea (Hilo, Hawaii)





Medeiros improved his draft position with a very strong summer. He's kept it going during the spring with a 5-1 record that includes 81 strikeouts and a 1.12 ERA in 43.2 innings pitched.

What the scouts say: Medeiros has a lot of movement on his pitches and his slider has been nearly unhittable. He also hits about 93-94 on his fastball.

Where he will go: Look for him to come off the board in the second half of the first round.{PAGEBREAK}1. Brady Aiken, Cathedral Catholic (San Diego) Aiken has emerged as possibly the No. 1 overall pick in the draft after adding several miles per hour to his fastball. He has a 7-0 record with 111 strikeouts and a 1.07 ERA in 59.2 innings pitched.

What the scouts say: Scouts like the fact that Aiken has several pitches to work with and his fastball has steadily improved to the point where he has been hitting in the mid-90s during his senior season. He is also just 17 years old and thus has potential to grow.

Where he will go: Most of the recent mock drafts have Aiken as the No. 1 overall pick to the Astros.