Jonathan Mayo listed his 10 best RHP prospects, and for once, Jordan Lyles is on the list - at #10.
The Astros seem to be turning things around with a youth movement as a once-somnambulant farm system is starting to produce players. Next up could be Lyles, who is only 20 years old. He's got a three-pitch mix --fastball, breaking ball, changeup --and in many ways his secondary stuff is better than the fastball. But the heater and the other pitches get better grades because he commands them so well and he's got a very good feel for pitching. He's in the No. 5 starter mix in Houston, but even if he goes down to Triple-A to start the year, Astros fans should see him in 2011.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
