At the major league level…
… Our best left-hander might actually be Mike Hampton, and that’s just scary. He’s a free agent (finally), but late this season he showed some signs that the old (good) Hampton was coming back. With the premium for pitching out there in baseball, if we can resign Hampton to an incentive laden contract we might actually get a decent pitcher who still has a lot to prove. I know, I don’t like it either, but would we really rather count on Tom Glavine for another full year?

The other left-handed options are perhaps even less desirable. Jo-Jo Reyes and Chuck James have shown little recent ability to pitch in the big leagues. While James seems to be a complete lost cause, Jo-Jo may still have some more opportunities left. He has to improve his entire game and learn how not to let one mistake spiral out of control into a multi-run inning.

The future Braves left-handed starting pitcher…
… After suffering through a series of injures early in the season, Cole Rohrbough once again displayed why the Braves think so highly of him while holding his own after a promotion to Myrtle Beach.

He’s a nasty left-handed strikeout pitcher who commands his fastball and uses his curveball as an out pitch. He’s absolutely a strikeout pitcher, and one who could move quickly through the system again next year. Odds are he’ll start in Myrtle Beach then move up to Mississippi in the middle of the year. The Braves seem to think the world of Rohrbough, and he will get every chance to succeed and may be moved quicker if he dominates.

More for future consideration…
2. Jeff Locke – One of our most promising young pitchers. He had a rough year in the win department and a tough first half, but he turned it around in the second half and will move up the ladder slow and steady. He should get better at each stop, as Rome was his first real test this year. He’s a prospect who should be considered a top end of the rotation starter.

3. Brett DeVall – Our first pick in this year’s draft didn’t throw much in games after signing, but he was one of the more talented arms to come out of high school and should be given a shot at Rome next year to prove what he can do. He’s already a big framed guy with room to fill out. His pitching style has been compared to Tom Glavine.

4. Scott Diamond – A non-drafted guy who took a bonus to sign with the Braves last year. He is probably one of the biggest surprises in the system this season. Between Rome and the Beach he went 15-and-3 with a 2.89 ERA. He didn’t get hit too much or walk too many, and he still struck out 123 in 152.2 innings pitch. Diamond will be intriguing to watch next season as he should start the year in Mississippi.

5. Richard Sullivan – For some reason I really like this kid. He came out of nowhere when he was drafted out of SCAD, and after easily handling the Appy League he did really well in Rome. He’s said to have a very funky delivery that makes his pitches hard to pick up. In 54.2 innings pitched he only walked four and gave up one homerun while posing an exceptional ground-ball rate. He might be good enough to start at the Beach next season, but he could stand to repeat Rome in the first half.

6. Edgar Osuna – Osuna built upon a very successful 2007 with what could be described as a breakout 2008. He posted ten wins while leading Rome with 135 wins strikeouts in 125.1 innings and a great 3.38 ERA. Like he did last year he’s pitching in the Mexican league this winter as a situational lefty, which adds to his flexibility down the road in making the majors as either a starter or a reliever.

7. Jose Ortegano – He had a disappointing season for two reasons. First he struggled on the mound with some poor situational pitching, and then a shoulder injury setback then ended his season. Hopefully he can rebound next year and post numbers that led him to be named the Most Spectacular Pitcher in short season minor league baseball.

8. Johnny Venters – Venters might be the next Morton or Parr in the system. He’s a community college guy who’s taken some time to develop, and has been slowed by injuries, but many say he’s finally put it together this year. He’ll get a chance to get more innings under his belt in Hawaii this winter and could find his way to Mississippi next season.

9. Steve Kent – This long-term Australian project may finally be ready to spend some time on a full season club, and after two years of rookie ball he’ll still only be 20-years old next year. Keep an eye on him next year as he is primed to have a breakout season.

10. Steve Evarts – He had some setbacks this year with injuries and off the field distractions, but when he’s on the mound he’s been northing short of spectacular. Unfortunately he had Tommy John surgery in June and it will be another year before we will finally see what the 43rd overall pick in the 2006 draft can do.

11. Chad Rodgers – He doesn’t seem as much of a prospect as he once did. He came out of the gate strong in 2006, but after an average 2007 he had a not-so-spectacular 2008 at Rome. He also missed some time late in the year with a shoulder strain. Rodgers is going to have to reprove himself as a prospect, but at least he’s getting innings under his belt.

Others: Brett Oberholtzer (2008 eighth round pick posted some great numbers in the GCL); Luis Avilan (A young and difficult to hit Venezuelan power pitching prospect); Dimaster Delgado (Young Panamanian fireballer scuffled a bit in complex ball, but is still an interesting guy to watch)