Prospect Parade: The Best Stuff in AAA v2
Chase Burns, Cam Schlittler, Nolan McLean
Welcome to “Prospect Parade”, a series which aims to highlight any intriguing MiLB Prospect and Players.
This article will cover a trio of the best stuff arms in AAA (again).
Chase Burns - CIN
Chase Burns ranked as my #1 Pitching Prospect back in the Spring, and he has done nothing but support my aggressive ranking on him. On the season, he holds a dominant 1.77 ERA and 2.13 FIP across 66.0 IP. The most intriguing aspect of his stat line is his miniscule 5.4 BB% which he supplements with an elite 36.8 K%. MiLB batters cannot handle Burns, no matter the level, and his stuff explains that perfectly. To put the cherry on top, the Reds are planning to call him up to start this Tuesday against the Yankees!
For starters, he boasts one of the hardest fastballs from a starter. It sits in the high 90s where its cut-ride shape helps it play well against both LHH and RHH. It teeters on plus-plus status, but its steeper approach leads to harder contact against than its flatter counterparts. Nonetheless, Burns has one of the most dominant fastballs in MiLB and he has effectively tossed it for strikes. His slider is in the conversation for the best pitch in the minors. Sitting in the high 80s, it possesses slight glove side action which makes it a nightmare for RHH. Batters are swinging and missing at the pitch more than 50% of the time, and it is all backed up by its shape and command.
While Burns wields one of the best combos in his fastball and slider, the growth of his changeup makes him the best pitching prospects in baseball. Hovering at 90 MPH with ~1 foot of vertical and horizontal separation from his fastball, Burns’ changeup easily grades out as a plus offering. He has located it well this season and has allowed him to make easy work of LHH. Burns also tosses a curveball, which he typically uses to steal strikes early in the count.
The blend of velocity, command, and versatility makes Burns the slam dunk #1 Pitching Prospect for me. His utter domination this season warrants his promotion to the Majors and he has the talent to produce like an ace immediately.
Cam Schlittler - NYY
Cam Schlittler is enjoying a productive season which has seen him post a great 2.37 ERA and 2.47 FIP across 68.1 IP. He is also running the lowest BB% in his career (8.8%) in conjunction with his best K% (32.1%), all while sticking as a starter. His strong results were rewarded with a promotion to AAA, where he has not missed a beat!
On the surface, Schlittler’s fastball has strikingly similar characteristics to Chase Burns. Both pitches feature high 90s heat from a high release point with cut-ride action. Both offerings also have the same downside in their steeper approach, making it easier for batters to inflict damage against it. Schlittler’s inability to reach triple digits pushes it down a tier, but it should be an effective whiff generator while living in the zone.
Schlittler’s slider is his primary breaking ball that he utilizes against both LHH and RHH. Sitting at 91-92 MPH with moderate ride and sweep makes it one of the nastiest pitches in AAA. While you might expect it to rack up whiffs, its main value comes its ability to induce weak contact. The offering lives in the zone and has been exceptional at generating groundballs. He has yet to all a HR off it this season! Schlittler rounds out his arsenal with a sweeper and curveball that he uses against RHH and LHH respectively. Thanks to their above average velocity, they comfortable grade out as above average offerings and are strong put away offerings.
Schlittler has been a massive bright spot for the Yankees pitching development team this season and has the stuff to bolster their pitching staff as we move deeper into summer. The lack of an off-speed pitch may limit his future as a starter, but I could see him morphing into a Ben Casparius type for the Yankees which would be an incredible outcome.
Nolan McLean - NYM
Nolan McLean ranked as my 7th best Pitching Prospect in my June update, and he has continued to prove that he was deserving of that rank. After transitioning to a starter full-time in 2024, McLean has jumped through every level of MiLB rapidly and now finds himself knocking on the door in AAA. On the season he holds a 2.08 ERA and 3.55 FIP across 65.0 IP.
McLean’s bread and butter is his sweeper. It is an easy plus-plus offering thanks to its immense glove-side action given its mid 80s velocity. Pitches that hard should not sweeper that much! Another fascinating aspect of his sweeper is his ability to locate it in the zone, and in all counts at that. It keeps batters on their toes and is especially devastating to RHH.
A trio of fastballs give McLean the necessary weapons to deal with any opponent. His sinker makes up most of his fastball usage against RHH where its mid-90s velocity and running action works well on the inner third. His 4-seam fastball and cutter take on the fastball load against LHH, where they have been effective at limiting damage. His 4-Seamer plays well high in the zone thanks to its flat approach, while his cutter works all of the place due to its slight glove-side action.
McLean’s arsenal doesn’t stop there as he also tosses a curveball and changeup. His curveball exhibits that same overwhelming sweeping action as his sweeper, yet sits in the high 70s with more than a foot of drop. His changeup is still a work in progress, but has interesting characteristics such as its velocity and vertical separation from his sinker.
McLean’s ability to spin the ball gives him plenty of avenues to add pitches to his arsenal and has exhibited improved command while jumping through levels at a rapid pace. He is one of the most exciting pitching prospects in baseball and the biggest win from the Mets pitching development staff this season.
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