Matt Harrison was one of the prospects involved in the Braves/Rangers Mark Teixeira deal.

This week we’re picking up right where we left off in our positional top ten prospect rankings. In the last edition of The Farm Report, I gave you my list of the top ten right-handers in the minor leagues, so it only makes sense to do the same for the southpaws this go-around.

Current lefty prospects who are currently at the major-league level or have had considerable experience in the big leagues this season and project to have too many major-league innings at the end of the season to retain the “prospect label, such as Andrew Miller, Manny Parra, and Glen Perkins were not included in the rankings.

1. Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

Young and with a sky-high ceiling, the 6-foot-4 southpaw was widely regarded as the best high school prospect of the 2006 draft and was selected by the Dodgers with the seventh overall pick. Dodgers scouting director Logan White has compared him to Dave Righetti, but Kershaw himself has said he tries to model himself after the Twins’ Johan Santana. He features a power fastball that sits in the low 90s, a good curveball and a solid changeup. Kershaw has great control and command over his pitches, too; he struck out 60 batters while walking only seven in his first professional season last year. The young lefty has a 2.77 ERA with Single-A Advanced Great Lakes, amassing 134 strikeouts to 50 walks over 97.1 innings. Opposing batters are hitting a measly .203 against him. Kershaw also appeared in the All-Star Futures game earlier this season.

2. Gio Gonzalez, Chicago White Sox

There are some concerns about Gonzalez’s size, as well as his control, but there’s no denying he’s got the stuff to succeed at the major league level. With a nasty hook and a plus fastball that sits around 93 mph, Gonzalez has also added a changeup to round out his repertoire, which is currently a work in progress. Regardless of concerns about his control, the numbers speak for themselves. Gonzalez has a 2.94 ERA and 148 strikeouts to 44 walks in 122.1 innings this season, and opponents are only batting .214 against him. Gonzalez could replace John Danks in the ChiSox’ rotation fairly soon should he continue to struggle.

3. Jacob McGee, Tampa Bay Devil Rays

McGee has emerged as arguably the most promising Tampa Bay pitching prospect, thanks in large part to his performance last season, when he struck out more than 30% of opposing batters and finished with a 2.96 ERA. Increased velocity led to some control problems last season, but McGee has a history of good control and has demonstrated better control so far this season. His impressive fastball usually sits in the mid-90s, and while his curve has some real promise, he need to learn to control it better. McGee also features a changeup, though like the curve, it needs some work. McGee has a 2.93 ERA for Single-A Advanced Vero Beach and has accumulated 145 strikeouts compared to 39 walks; opponents have a paltry .203 batting average against him.

4. Matt Harrison, Texas Rangers

Texas recently acquired Harrison as part of the seven-player deal with Kansas City headlined by first baseman Mark Teixeira. There are some health concerns as he has battled shoulder tendonitis this season, which is why Beau Jones was added to the deal. However, Harrison was considered the Braves’ top pitching prospect, has tons of potential and has never had shoulder problems prior to this. The southpaw was immediately placed on Double-A Frisco’s disabled list following the trade, but expects to start a throwing program in a week and hopes to join the RoughRiders before the end of the regular season, in time for the Texas League playoffs. Harrison is 5-7 with a 3.39 ERA in 20 starts this season. His K/BB ratio—78 to 34—is a little below par, but the shoulder injury might have something to do with that. Harrison, who has drawn comparisons to Tom Glavine from some scouts, features a plus changeup and a sinking fastball that sits in the low 90s, which makes for strong groundball tendencies that should prove to make Harrison successful in Texas. He also has an above-average changeup and has shown great control throughout his career.

5. David Price, Tampa Bay Devil Rays

Granted, the No. 1 pick of this year’s draft has yet to even sign a contract with the Devil Rays. But though the negotiations have been drawn out and the signing deadline looms near, the Rays expect to get the deal done and Price reportedly wants to sign. When he does, he will immediately vault to the upper echelon of Tampa Bay prospects—and all minor league prospects, too. The former Vanderbilt star dominated the SEC this season with the Commodores with mid-90s velocity and considerable polish, and he will probably make his Tampa debut sometime next season.

6. Troy Patton, Houston Astros

Houston lured Patton away from college baseball powerhouse University of Texas in 2004, and it is certainly paying off as Patton nears major-league-ready status. Just recently promoted to Triple-A Round Rock, Patton dominated at Double-A Corpus Christi, but the transition hasn’t exactly been smooth. The southpaw has a 4.35 ERA in five starts with the Express, though his numbers are a bit skewed by a rough outing in his second appearance at Triple-A. Overall Patton has a 3.31 ERA over 133.1 innings, with 82 strikeouts to 41 walks and a .246 BAA. The K/BB ratio is something of a concern; Patton needs to work on his control if he’s to be successful in the big leagues. As far as stuff goes, Patton has a solid three-pitch arsenal, but he has struggled with shoulder fatigue and his fly-ball tendencies could be a problem in Houston. While he’s probably not a top-of-the-rotation guy, he should be a solid mid-rotation starter in the major leagues. Patton could make an appearance out of the Astros’ bullpen in September.

7. Franklin Morales, Colorado Rockies

The line on Morales is simple: overpowering stuff, but too many walks. The decline in both his K/9 rate and K/BB ratio is slightly alarming—Morales struck out 179 over 154 innings last season while walking 89, but only has 77 strikeouts in 95.2 innings this year with 45 walks to date—but the talent and promise there are undeniable. Morales was impressive in his Triple-A Colorado Springs debut, as he went six innings and gave up one run on four hits with seven strikeouts—however, he also gave up five free bases. Morales also appeared in this year’s All-Star Futures Game. He throws his fastball in the mid-90s, though he can touch 98 mph, and also showcases a plus curve and a good changeup. Some compare him to Francisco Liriano, though that may be a tad generous. The key to Morales’ future success will be harnessing his stuff and learning to command his pitches better. He also needs to focus on just getting hitters out rather than trying to overpower them, as he has been wont to do.

8. Scott Elbert, Los Angeles Dodgers

Elbert, while possessing great stuff, drops in the rankings because of recent injury. After struggling with shoulder problems all season long, the young lefty will miss the remainder of the season after having arthroscopic surgery on his pitching shoulder. The Dodgers don’t plan to have him start throwing again for several months, though they hope to have him ready for spring training. Still and all, there’s no doubt Elbert is one of the promising young left-handers in the minor leagues right now. A pitcher in the same vein as Morales, Elbert features a low-90s fastball and two good secondary pitches. He does struggle with mechanics and control, however, but most scouts don’t see this limiting his ceiling because better mechanics can be taught whereas stuff like Elbert’s cannot.

9. Rowdy Hardy, Kansas City Royals

How could I not include a guy who goes by the name of “Rowdy”? That’s not his real name—it’s actually Lenny, but Rowdy has a much better ring to it. But there’s more to Hardy than just a really cool nickname. He definitely has the numbers; he was named the Pioneer League’s pitcher of the year last season, going 5-3 with a 2.83 ERA and walking only five batters in 80.1 innings—no, that’s not a typo. This season he’s had continued success with Single-A Advanced Wilmington, amassing a 14-3 record with a 2.38 ERA and just 123 hits in 144 innings of work. He has 79 strikeouts to 14 walks, and has only given up four home runs all season. So why exactly isn’t Hardy getting more buzz? Aside from the fact that he’s still only in Class A ball, the answer is simple, really: Hardy’s fastball usually sits around 82 mph. Yes, that’s right. Not even an average fastball, but he’s still dominating Carolina League hitters. Even the Royals aren’t exactly sure what they have with Hardy, but so far the numbers don’t lie. While he may be a soft-tosser, he pitches like a power pitcher, coming right at hitters and not shying away from contact. Hardy is a true anomaly in the age of radar-gun obsession, and he’s quirky. I like that about him. He may not pan out to be anything special, but he’s different than anyone out there and it will be interesting to watch how he progresses through the minor leagues.

10. Chuck Lofgren, Cleveland Indians

Lofgren preferred to hit and play the outfield in high school rather than pitch, but the Indians moved him to the mound fulltime, a decision that seems to be a pretty darn good one. He was extremely impressive in 2006, leading the minor leagues in wins with 17 over 139 innings pitched. However, the transition to Triple-A hasn’t been as kind to Lofgren—not that he’s been abysmal, but he’s had some pretty rough outings. He currently has a 4.28 ERA with the Aeros over 117.2 innings and has given up 118 hits, 12 homers and 55 walks in that span while striking out 103. The stuff is still there, however; he wasn’t selected to the 2007 All-Star Futures Game roster for nothing. Lofgren compliments a low-90s fastball with a hard curve and also features a changeup and a newly-added slider. He has drawn comparisons to a young Al Leiter because of similarities in stuff, presence and approach. I still think Lofgren can pull it together, but he just barely makes the list in light of his mediocre performance at Akron so far.

Questions and comments may be sent to shannonmccarthy@sportsgrumblings.com