Don't sleep on these college lefties

College left-handed pitchers are always in high demand every Draft. This year, they are in relative short supply. There’s really only one college southpaw who seems a lock to go in the first round: Kansas State’s Jordan Wicks. Typically, there are multiple lefties from these ranks taken in the opening round, and last year, Asa Lacy, Reid Detmers and Garrett Crochet were all taken in the top 11 picks.

There’s still plenty of talent beyond Wicks in this year’s class, even if they don’t break into the first round in July. Here’s a look at the next five college lefties in this class, listed by rank on our Draft Top 200 prospects list.

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Matt Mikulski, Fordham (No. 43)
Eligible a year ago, Mikulski was on the end of our Draft Top 200 as a lefty with a ton of effort in his delivery and a big reliever risk. He wasn’t drafted and he returned to Fordham to give it another try. That’s looking like it’s going to work to his benefit as he’s evolved into the second-best college southpaw in the class, streamlining his delivery and throwing more strikes. Now 9-0 with a 1.45 ERA, a .127 batting average against and a 124/27 K/BB ratio in 68 1/3 innings, teams think he might have a better chance to start.

Doug Nikhazy, Mississippi (No. 67)
With potential top-10-overall pick Gunnar Hoglund going down with an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery, Nikhazy has stepped up as the Rebels' ace with a career-high 13 strikeouts in his last start and double-digit whiffs in four of his last six outings. Now 8-2 with a 2.12 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 72 1/3 innings, he's a pitchability lefty who throws strikes with four pitches, the best of which are his mid-70s downer curveball and mid-80s slider/cutter.

Andrew Abbott, Virginia (No. 71)
Abbott was also Draft-eligible last year, but didn’t go in the five-round event. He’d pitched almost entirely out of the Virginia bullpen, very effectively, since 2018, though scouts often pondered what he’d look like in a starting role (something that was talked about in 2020, but never happened). Well, he’s done it this year and has been very consistent in the rotation, with a 2.87 ERA, .217 BAA and a 126/27 K/BB ratio in 81 2/3 IP. His ability to still miss a ton of bats while cutting his walk rate down, competing very well with three pitches, gives him the chance to start.

Christian MacLeod, Mississippi State (No. 74)
MacLeod redshirted his first year with the Bulldogs in 2018 after coming down with pneumonia but since has become one of the premier strikeout artists in the Southeastern Conference, including 90 whiffs in 66 innings this year to go with a 5-3 record and 3.14 ERA. His money pitch is an upper-70s curveball with downer break that plays well off his fastball, which ranges from 87-93 mph but stays off barrels because he commands it, tunnels it well with his curve and creates riding life.

Joe Rock, Ohio (No. 75)
Rock didn't pitch at all last spring because he was academically ineligible but starred in summer ball and fall practice and could pass former big leaguer Dave Tobik (third round, 1974) as the highest-drafted pitcher in Bobcats history. He spun a seven-inning no-hitter against Morehead State in his second start this year and is eight strikeouts away from the school season record for strikeouts with 110 in 82 2/3 innings while going 8-3 with a 2.29 ERA. He mainly operates with a low-90s fastball that reaches 96 with riding action and a hybrid breaking ball that combines slider velocity with curveball depth.