Future of Baseball: Top 25 MLB Pitchers 25 Years Old or Younger

(Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

You can call this part two of "The Future of Baseball" series.  If you haven't seen the "Top 25 MLB Position Players 25 Years Old or Younger" I recommend you check it out.

I have come up with a list of the top 25 MLB pitchers 25 years old or younger.  There are a few requirements to be eligible for the rankings.

First, obviously, the player must be no older than 25 by July 31 of this year.  Only players currently in the MLB are eligible, so minor league prospects are a no-go.  A starting pitcher must have accumulated at least 80 innings to be eligible for the top 25, but they are still eligible for the honorable mentions section if not.

While a pitcher's record is important, I tend to look more at a pitcher's ERA and WHIP, as those are areas that they can control.  For instance, Zack Greinke's record might not be eye-popping because he plays on a terrible team, but his ERA and WHIP are phenomenal.

Next to the ranking will be the player’s position, team, and regular season stats leading up through August 2.  Here is the stats key:

SP—Starting Pitcher

RP—Relief Pitcher

IP—Innings Pitched

W-L—Won-Loss

ERA—Earned Run Average

K—Strikeout

BB—Walk

WHIP—Walks and Hits Allowed per Inning Pitched

SV—Save

The spots 20-25 were difficult to rank, and there are a few deserving pitchers that just missed the top 25.  An argument could be made for any of those spots, so let me know what you think.

1. SP, Tim Lincecum—San Francisco Giants: 156.2 IP, 12-3 W-L, 2.18 ERA, 191 K, 41 BB, 1.05 WHIP, Age: 25

The reigning NL Cy Young winner hasn't slacked off one bit.  Lincecum is ranked in the NL's top three in wins, strikeouts, WHIP, complete games, innings pitched, ERA, and win percentage.  Lincecum has thrown two shutouts this season.  That's one heck of a resume right there folks.

2. SP, Zack Greinke—Kansas City Royals: 147.1 IP, 10-6 W-L, 2.08 ERA, 153 K, 28 BB, 1.09 WHIP, Age: 25

I think all baseball fans pity Greinke.  So much talent, so little run support playing for the Royals.  Greinke has an impressive resume as well, ranking in the AL's top three in strikeouts, WHIP, ERA, and complete games.  Greinke has also thrown two shutouts this season.

3. SP, Matt Cain—San Francisco Giants: 140.0 IP, 12-2 W-L, 2.12 ERA, 112 K, 54 BB, 1.17 WHIP, Age: 24

Looking amongst Giants pitchers, you barely have enough time to recollect yourself after seeing Lincecum's stats before you are hit yet again, this time by Matt Cain.  Cain ranks in the NL's top three in wins, ERA, win percentage, and complete games.

4. SP, Felix Hernandez—Seattle Mariners: 152.1 IP, 12-4 W-L, 2.78 ERA, 141 K, 43 BB, 1.16 WHIP, Age: 23

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