Cole Rohrbough and Jeff Locke headline a collection of young lefties rising through the Atlanta organization. Also included in that group are Steve Evarts, Chad Rodgers and Jose Ortegano. Each of whom spent a portion of 2007 with the Danville Braves and along the way led the Braves to a franchise best 48-20. The Danville staff led the Appalachian League with a 3.08 ERA and was second in batting average against at .232.

Evarts (Rd.1/#43), Locke (Rd.2/#51), Rodgers (Rd.3/100) and Rohrbough (Rd.22/#670) were all selected in the 2006 MLB Draft. Ortegano took a much different route, signing in 2003 as a 16 year old kid out of Venezuela.

Cole Rohrbough has the most to offer from a “stuff” perspective than any other pitcher in the Braves system, the fastball/curve combo he displays is devastating to batters. The former draft and follow player began 2007 in college where he went 10-3 with a 1.73 ERA for Western Nevada CC. After signing with Atlanta, Rohrbough was sent to rookie level Danville.  Success continued for Rohrbough while in Danville and eventually thru Class-A Rome. Between the two stops he combined for a 5-2 record, 1.17 ERA, 96 strikeouts in 61.1 innings and a .154 average against.

Rohrbough has a good idea of what he wants to accomplish while on the mound which leads him to mix his pitches well. His best pitch is a power curve. The ability to harness that pitch on a more consistent basis will allow him to have a dominate out pitch. He pounds the strike zone with his fastball, but tends to drop his arm slot which decreases his velocity. When his release point is higher he can consistently touch 93-94 mph. While the fastball and power curve are both plus pitches, he needs to develop a more reliable changeup as he moves through the minor league ranks.

Jeff Locke has an exceptionally high ceiling and could move through the minors at a rapid pace. Locke throws three pitches; two have plus-potential, a fastball that ranges from 90-94 mph with considerable movement and a hard breaking curve. The changeup is not up to par yet, but is improving. A groundball rate of 55% shows his ability to locate the ball down in the zone. Command of his pitches is a non-issue, witnessed by a 13/93 BB to IP ratio in 2 seasons of pro ball.

As with most northern high school pitchers, Locke was a bit more raw due to the cold weather than the other 2006 draftees. With the Gulf Coast League Braves, Locke displayed good stuff with mixed results. He then dominated the Appalachian League in 2007 finishing with a 7-1 mark and nearly 11 K’s per 9 IP.  He should start 2008 with the Class-A Rome Braves.

Although a very projectable pitcher, Steve Evarts falls in just behind Rohrbough and Locke. His fastball lacks the zip of the other two, topping out at 91 mph. An increase in velocity could be coming as he fills out his 6-3, 180 lb frame. Evarts has shown a plus changeup with plus command. The changeup has a diving action away from right-handed batters. He mixes in a decent breaking ball and a high 80’s fastball. As with most southpaws, he has good movement on all his pitches.

Evarts was limited to 8 games for Danville last season due to a suspension following a December 2006 arrest. There have been no more character issues since. In those 8 games he posted a 4-0 record, 34/4 K to BB ratio and a 0.89 WHIP. In 2 seasons, Evarts is 6-2 with a 2.48 ERA and has yet to allow a homerun.

After being named 2006 GLC Pitcher of the Year, Chad Rodgers’ ERA rose from 2.54 to 3.88 with his promotion to Danville last year. That seemed to be one of the few numbers that increased though. His BB per 9 was down from 3 to 2, K per 9 was up from 7 to 8.5 and a lower WHIP of 1.05.  Rodgers throws three pitches; a fastball (88-91 mph), a changeup and curveball, none of which are plus material at this point.  A strong finish to ’07 could send him to Rome to start next season.

Jose Ortegano is the sleeper pitching prospect to watch for in the Atlanta farm system. Ortegano had a very impressive season in Danville going 6-1 with 55 strikeouts in 60.2 innings and a 1.48 ERA. Those numbers allowed him to win the short season Most Spectacular Pitcher award. After the season, Ortegano pitched for Caracas of the Venezuelan Winter League. Facing better competition he went 2-2 in 37 innings of work this winter, mostly from the bullpen. Ortegano will maintain his starter status with the Braves.

Atlanta seems to have plenty of talent to choose from on the left side of the bump.