With the majority of the minor league season already played out, it's becoming easier to pluck out some of this season's true breakout performers. As far as dominating starting pitchers go, there are two clear choices: Oakland's Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill. This Dominance Factor update breaks down the top 25 starting pitchers at each level, from Triple-A down to Low-A.
Editor's Note: For a full explaination of Dominance Factor, please read Brett's first article on the topic.
| Top 25 AAA Dominance Factors for 2008 | |||||||||||
| Player | DF | Age | IP | Org | Lvl | BB% | K% | GB% | RD% | AgeLvl | AgeMod |
| 1. Sean Gallagher | 88.9 | 22.5 | 29.0 | CHC | AAA | 7.7 | 25.6 | 56.0 | 73.9 | 24.0 | 15 |
| 2. Jaime Garcia | 85.6 | 22.0 | 71.0 | STL | AAA | 8.4 | 19.0 | 55.0 | 65.6 | 24.0 | 20 |
| 3. Aaron Laffey | 83.8 | 23.2 | 26.0 | CLE | AAA | 5.5 | 18.3 | 63.0 | 75.8 | 24.0 | 8 |
| 4. Tommy Hunter | 83.6 | 22.0 | 33.1 | TEX | AAA | 2.9 | 12.5 | 54.0 | 63.6 | 24.0 | 20 |
| 5. Max Scherzer | 78.6 | 24.0 | 29.2 | ARI | AAA | 9.8 | 37.4 | 51.0 | 78.6 | 24.0 | 0 |
| 6. David Huff | 76.9 | 23.9 | 53.0 | CLE | AAA | 2.9 | 25.8 | 53.0 | 75.9 | 24.0 | 1 |
| 7. Homer Bailey | 75.9 | 22.2 | 93.2 | CIN | AAA | 9.4 | 20.3 | 47.0 | 57.9 | 24.0 | 18 |
| 8. Carlos Rosa | 71.4 | 23.8 | 47.2 | KC | AAA | 5.3 | 21.7 | 53.0 | 69.4 | 24.0 | 2 |
| 9. Collin Balester | 71.4 | 22.1 | 78.2 | WAS | AAA | 6.9 | 19.3 | 40.0 | 52.4 | 24.0 | 19 |
| 10. Clayton Richard | 70.5 | 24.8 | 38.0 | CHW | AAA | 2.8 | 20.3 | 61.0 | 78.5 | 24.0 | -8 |
| 11. Nick Adenhart | 70.2 | 21.9 | 106.1 | LAA | AAA | 10.7 | 16.9 | 43.0 | 49.2 | 24.0 | 21 |
| 12. Shairon Martis | 70.2 | 21.3 | 35.2 | WAS | AAA | 9.4 | 22.6 | 30.0 | 43.2 | 24.0 | 27 |
| 13. Greg Reynolds | 69.1 | 23.0 | 44.1 | COL | AAA | 6.6 | 12.7 | 53.0 | 59.1 | 24.0 | 10 |
| 14. Daryl Thompson | 69.0 | 22.7 | 39.2 | CIN | AAA | 5.7 | 17.7 | 44.0 | 56.0 | 24.0 | 13 |
| 15. Jeff Samardzija | 67.8 | 23.5 | 37.1 | CHC | AAA | 10.5 | 26.3 | 47.0 | 62.8 | 24.0 | 5 |
| 16. Eric Hurley | 67.7 | 22.7 | 74.2 | TEX | AAA | 8.6 | 21.3 | 42.0 | 54.7 | 24.0 | 13 |
| 17. Adam Miller | 66.6 | 23.5 | 28.2 | CLE | AAA | 9.8 | 16.4 | 55.0 | 61.6 | 24.0 | 5 |
| 18. Charlie Morton | 66.4 | 24.6 | 79.0 | ATL | AAA | 8.7 | 23.1 | 58.0 | 72.4 | 24.0 | -6 |
| 19. Gio Gonzalez | 66.3 | 22.8 | 115.0 | OAK | AAA | 11.7 | 24.0 | 42.0 | 54.3 | 24.0 | 12 |
| 20. Eulogio De La Cruz | 64.3 | 24.3 | 106.0 | FLA | AAA | 10.6 | 18.9 | 59.0 | 67.3 | 24.0 | -3 |
| 21. Ian Kennedy | 63.8 | 23.6 | 39.1 | NYY | AAA | 7.7 | 20.5 | 47.0 | 59.8 | 24.0 | 4 |
| 22. Mitch Talbot | 62.6 | 24.7 | 123.2 | TB | AAA | 4.2 | 19.8 | 54.0 | 69.6 | 24.0 | -7 |
| 23. Clayton Mortensen | 61.7 | 23.2 | 54.0 | STL | AAA | 10.3 | 15.0 | 49.0 | 53.7 | 24.0 | 8 |
| 24. P.J. Walters | 61.7 | 23.3 | 87.0 | STL | AAA | 10.2 | 21.9 | 43.0 | 54.7 | 24.0 | 7 |
| 25. Chris Mason | 60.6 | 23.9 | 95.0 | TB | AAA | 7.9 | 18.5 | 49.0 | 59.6 | 24.0 | 1 |
| * only pitchers with 50.0+ minor league innings this season are eligible for this list | |||||||||||
| ** RD% is raw dominance percentage (K% + GB% - BB%) | |||||||||||
| *** Ages are as of 7/28/2008 | |||||||||||
| Top 25 AA Dominance Factors for 2008 | |||||||||||
| Player | DF | Age | IP | Org | Lvl | BB% | K% | GB% | RD% | AgeLvl | AgeMod |
| 1. Brett Anderson | 98.4 | 20.4 | 25.0 | OAK | AA | 8.2 | 29.6 | 56.0 | 77.4 | 22.5 | 21 |
| 2. Trevor Cahill | 94.3 | 20.4 | 37.0 | OAK | AA | 12.6 | 21.9 | 64.0 | 73.3 | 22.5 | 21 |
| 3. Clayton Kershaw | 85.6 | 20.3 | 61.1 | LAD | AA | 7.9 | 24.5 | 47.0 | 63.6 | 22.5 | 22 |
| 4. Jaime Garcia | 84.3 | 22.0 | 35.0 | STL | AA | 11.0 | 28.3 | 62.0 | 79.3 | 22.5 | 5 |
| 5. Brett Cecil | 83.8 | 22.0 | 77.2 | TOR | AA | 7.1 | 26.9 | 59.0 | 78.8 | 22.5 | 5 |
| 6. Chris Tillman | 74.2 | 20.2 | 100.2 | BAL | AA | 12.2 | 23.4 | 40.0 | 51.2 | 22.5 | 23 |
| 7. Justin Masterson | 73.4 | 23.3 | 38.1 | BOS | AA | 9.5 | 21.9 | 69.0 | 81.4 | 22.5 | -8 |
| 8. Vincent Mazzaro | 73.2 | 21.8 | 137.1 | OAK | AA | 6.5 | 18.7 | 54.0 | 66.2 | 22.5 | 7 |
| 9. Jon Niese | 73.1 | 21.7 | 124.1 | NYM | AA | 8.4 | 21.5 | 52.0 | 65.1 | 22.5 | 8 |
| 10. Carlos Carrasco | 71.2 | 21.3 | 114.2 | PHI | AA | 9.3 | 22.5 | 46.0 | 59.2 | 22.5 | 12 |
| 11. Chris Volstad | 70.8 | 21.8 | 91.0 | FLA | AA | 7.8 | 14.6 | 57.0 | 63.8 | 22.5 | 7 |
| 12. Jess Todd | 70.7 | 22.2 | 89.1 | STL | AA | 5.9 | 19.6 | 54.0 | 67.7 | 22.5 | 3 |
| 13. Michael Bowden | 69.1 | 21.8 | 104.1 | BOS | AA | 6.0 | 25.1 | 43.0 | 62.1 | 22.5 | 7 |
| 14. Jeremy Hellickson | 67.9 | 21.3 | 39.1 | TB | AA | 3.1 | 22.0 | 37.0 | 55.9 | 22.5 | 12 |
| 15. David Price | 66.6 | 22.9 | 45.0 | TB | AA | 6.7 | 21.3 | 56.0 | 70.6 | 22.5 | -4 |
| 16. Aaron Poreda | 66.0 | 21.8 | 51.2 | CHW | AA | 8.1 | 18.1 | 49.0 | 59.0 | 22.5 | 7 |
| 17. Ryan Tucker | 65.1 | 21.6 | 70.0 | FLA | AA | 9.4 | 21.5 | 44.0 | 56.1 | 22.5 | 9 |
| 18. Jordan Zimmerman | 64.9 | 22.1 | 91.2 | WAS | AA | 8.8 | 21.7 | 48.0 | 60.9 | 22.5 | 4 |
| 19. James Simmons | 64.8 | 21.8 | 100.1 | OAK | AA | 4.7 | 21.5 | 41.0 | 57.8 | 22.5 | 7 |
| 20. Clayton Mortensen | 64.1 | 23.2 | 59.2 | STL | AA | 8.5 | 18.6 | 61.0 | 71.1 | 22.5 | -7 |
| 21. Steve Garrison | 63.7 | 21.8 | 113.0 | SD | AA | 6.6 | 20.3 | 43.0 | 56.7 | 22.5 | 7 |
| 22. Shairon Martis | 63.2 | 21.3 | 74.2 | WAS | AA | 8.8 | 18.0 | 42.0 | 51.2 | 22.5 | 12 |
| 23. Bradley Begesen | 62.1 | 22.8 | 117.1 | BAL | AA | 4.2 | 12.3 | 57.0 | 65.1 | 22.5 | -3 |
| 24. Carlos Rosa | 62.1 | 23.8 | 45.0 | KC | AA | 4.2 | 25.3 | 54.0 | 75.1 | 22.5 | -13 |
| 25. Tommy Hanson | 61.8 | 21.9 | 70.1 | ATL | AA | 9.7 | 24.5 | 41.0 | 55.8 | 22.5 | 6 |
| * only pitchers with 50.0+ minor league innings this season are eligible for this list | |||||||||||
| ** RD% is raw dominance percentage (K% + GB% - BB%) | |||||||||||
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*** Ages are as of 7/28/2008 |
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| Top 25 A+ Dominance Factors for 2008 | |||||||||||
| Player | DF | Age | IP | Org | Lvl | BB% | K% | GB% | RD% | AgeLvl | AgeMod |
| 1. Trevor Cahill | 88.9 | 20.4 | 87.1 | OAK | A+ | 9.0 | 29.9 | 62.0 | 82.9 | 21.0 | 6 |
| 2. Brett Anderson | 87.9 | 20.4 | 74.0 | OAK | A+ | 5.8 | 25.7 | 62.0 | 81.9 | 21.0 | 6 |
| 3. Rick Porcello | 86.0 | 19.5 | 105.0 | DET | A+ | 6.6 | 13.6 | 64.0 | 71.0 | 21.0 | 15 |
| 4. Jhoulys Chacin | 85.5 | 20.5 | 36.1 | COL | A+ | 4.9 | 25.4 | 60.0 | 80.5 | 21.0 | 5 |
| 5. Mark Diapoules | 80.8 | 20.1 | 26.0 | STL | A+ | 9.2 | 22.0 | 59.0 | 71.8 | 21.0 | 9 |
| 6. Tim Alderson | 73.9 | 19.7 | 115.1 | SF | A+ | 7.1 | 22.0 | 46.0 | 60.9 | 21.0 | 13 |
| 7. Jeremy Jeffress | 73.0 | 20.8 | 61.0 | MIL | A+ | 11.2 | 31.2 | 51.0 | 71.0 | 21.0 | 2 |
| 8. Jeremy Hellickson | 70.3 | 21.3 | 76.2 | TB | A+ | 1.7 | 28.0 | 47.0 | 73.3 | 21.0 | -3 |
| 9. Zach McAllister | 69.6 | 20.6 | 64.2 | NYY | A+ | 2.3 | 15.9 | 52.0 | 65.6 | 21.0 | 4 |
| 10. Henry Rodriguez | 69.1 | 21.3 | 64.2 | OAK | A+ | 12.6 | 32.7 | 52.0 | 72.1 | 21.0 | -3 |
| 11. Tyler Robertson | 68.9 | 20.5 | 82.2 | MN | A+ | 8.8 | 20.7 | 52.0 | 63.9 | 21.0 | 5 |
| 12. Jordan Zimmerman | 68.2 | 22.0 | 27.1 | WAS | A+ | 8.1 | 31.3 | 55.0 | 78.2 | 21.0 | -10 |
| 13. Jeanmar Gomez | 68.1 | 19.8 | 100.2 | CLE | A+ | 9.1 | 18.2 | 47.0 | 56.1 | 21.0 | 12 |
| 14. Alexandre Periard | 67.5 | 21.1 | 112.2 | MIL | A+ | 6.2 | 15.7 | 59.0 | 68.5 | 21.0 | -1 |
| 15. Clayton Tanner | 66.5 | 20.6 | 83.0 | SF | A+ | 7.9 | 16.4 | 54.0 | 62.5 | 21.0 | 4 |
| 16. Brandon Erbe | 66.1 | 20.5 | 104.2 | BAL | A+ | 7.3 | 24.4 | 44.0 | 61.1 | 21.0 | 5 |
| 17. Timothy Sexton | 65.9 | 21.0 | 114.1 | LAD | A+ | 5.7 | 14.6 | 57.0 | 65.9 | 21.0 | 0 |
| 18. Hector Rondon | 64.7 | 20.4 | 109.0 | CLE | A+ | 8.0 | 24.7 | 42.0 | 58.7 | 21.0 | 6 |
| 19. Luis Marte | 64.5 | 21.8 | 42.0 | DET | A+ | 7.2 | 24.7 | 55.0 | 72.5 | 21.0 | -8 |
| 20. Kasey Kiker | 63.3 | 20.6 | 93.0 | TEX | A+ | 6.5 | 19.8 | 46.0 | 59.3 | 21.0 | 4 |
| 21. Omar Poveda | 62.4 | 20.7 | 55.2 | TEX | A+ | 9.2 | 23.6 | 45.0 | 59.4 | 21.0 | 3 |
| 22. Bryan Augenstein | 61.9 | 21.9 | 28.0 | ARI | A+ | 3.3 | 13.2 | 61.0 | 70.9 | 21.0 | -9 |
| 23. Sean O'Sullivan | 60.2 | 20.8 | 114.2 | LAA | A+ | 7.1 | 16.3 | 49.0 | 58.2 | 21.0 | 2 |
| 24. Edward Cegarra | 60.0 | 19.4 | 69.1 | KC | A+ | 4.0 | 11.0 | 37.0 | 44.0 | 21.0 | 16 |
| 25. Anuery Rodriguez | 59.5 | 20.5 | 123.1 | COL | A+ | 6.7 | 20.2 | 41.0 | 54.5 | 21.0 | 5 |
| * only pitchers with 50.0+ minor league innings this season are eligible for this list | |||||||||||
| ** RD% is raw dominance percentage (K% + GB% - BB%) | |||||||||||
| *** Ages are as of 7/28/2008 | |||||||||||
| Top 25 A Dominance Factors for 2008 | |||||||||||
| Player | DF | Age | IP | Org | Lvl | BB% | K% | GB% | RD% | AgeLvl | AgeMod |
| 1. Jairo Heredia | 82.2 | 18.8 | 81.1 | NYY | A | 9.9 | 22.1 | 58.0 | 70.2 | 20.0 | 12 |
| 2. Madison Bumgarner | 79.8 | 18.9 | 102.1 | SF | A | 4.4 | 27.2 | 46.0 | 68.8 | 20.0 | 11 |
| 3. Dae-Eun Rhee | 79.6 | 19.3 | 40.0 | CHC | A | 9.9 | 20.5 | 62.0 | 72.6 | 20.0 | 7 |
| 4. Edward Cegarra | 76.6 | 19.4 | 54.0 | KC | A | 2.4 | 25.0 | 48.0 | 70.6 | 20.0 | 6 |
| 5. Jhoulys Chacin | 76.2 | 20.5 | 111.1 | COL | A | 6.7 | 21.9 | 66.0 | 81.2 | 20.0 | -5 |
| 6. Phillipe Aumont | 76.2 | 19.5 | 44.2 | SEA | A | 7.0 | 23.2 | 55.0 | 71.2 | 20.0 | 5 |
| 7. Trevor Reckling | 74.6 | 19.1 | 121.1 | LAA | A | 9.8 | 19.4 | 56.0 | 65.6 | 20.0 | 9 |
| 8. Neftali Feliz | 74.1 | 20.2 | 82.0 | TEX | A | 8.6 | 32.7 | 52.0 | 76.1 | 20.0 | -2 |
| 9. Mark Diapoules | 73.2 | 20.1 | 55.2 | STL | A | 8.9 | 22.1 | 61.0 | 74.2 | 20.0 | -1 |
| 10. Zach McAllister | 72.7 | 20.6 | 62.1 | NYY | A | 3.2 | 20.9 | 61.0 | 78.7 | 20.0 | -6 |
| 11. Jordan Walden | 71.9 | 20.6 | 107.1 | LAA | A | 7.5 | 21.4 | 64.0 | 77.9 | 20.0 | -6 |
| 12. Evan Anundsen | 71.7 | 20.1 | 112.2 | MIL | A | 5.6 | 17.3 | 61.0 | 72.7 | 20.0 | -1 |
| 13. Zach Britton | 71.4 | 20.5 | 117.2 | MIL | A | 7.3 | 17.7 | 66.0 | 76.4 | 20.0 | -5 |
| 14. Kennil Gomez | 69.2 | 20.3 | 88.0 | TEX | A | 5.6 | 19.8 | 58.0 | 72.2 | 20.0 | -3 |
| 15. Blake Beavan | 66.7 | 19.4 | 91.2 | TEX | A | 4.1 | 12.8 | 52.0 | 60.7 | 20.0 | 6 |
| 16. Juan Ramirez | 66.4 | 19.8 | 89.1 | SEA | A | 7.6 | 21.0 | 51.0 | 64.4 | 20.0 | 2 |
| 17. Kelvin De La Cruz | 66.1 | 20.4 | 95.2 | CLE | A | 8.8 | 24.9 | 54.0 | 70.1 | 20.0 | -4 |
| 18. Richard Castillo | 65.9 | 18.7 | 38.1 | STL | A | 12.3 | 29.2 | 36.0 | 52.9 | 20.0 | 13 |
| 19. Jarrod Parker | 64.2 | 19.5 | 90.2 | ARI | A | 7.1 | 21.3 | 45.0 | 59.2 | 20.0 | 5 |
| 20. Michael Pineda | 64.1 | 19.5 | 99.0 | SEA | A | 7.9 | 20.0 | 47.0 | 59.1 | 20.0 | 5 |
| 21. Fabio Castillo | 63.5 | 19.4 | 70.2 | TEX | A | 10.8 | 19.3 | 49.0 | 57.5 | 20.0 | 6 |
| 22. Jose Ortegano | 62.9 | 20.9 | 79.2 | ATL | A | 6.6 | 23.5 | 55.0 | 71.9 | 20.0 | -9 |
| 23. Danny Duffy | 62.9 | 19.6 | 62.2 | KC | A | 6.7 | 30.6 | 35.0 | 58.9 | 20.0 | 4 |
| 24. Daniel Gutierrez | 62.3 | 21.3 | 61.2 | KC | A | 5.5 | 29.8 | 51.0 | 75.3 | 20.0 | -13 |
| 25. Kyle Kaminska | 62.1 | 19.8 | 79.1 | FLA | A | 3.6 | 20.7 | 43.0 | 60.1 | 20.0 | 2 |
| * only pitchers with 50.0+ minor league innings this season are eligible for this list | |||||||||||
| ** RD% is raw dominance percentage (K% + GB% - BB%) | |||||||||||
| *** Ages are as of 7/28/2008 | |||||||||||