Rookie pitchers on the following list who are not currently in the top 200 in FantasyPros' consensus ADP could get plenty of action this season. Whether you're looking for a starter, a reliever, or a combination of the two, any of these guys may be a steal in 2024 fantasy leagues.
First-Year Starters
According to
fantasy sports reports, Shota Imanaga has been a professional pitcher in Japan for eight years, so he is not a rookie.
While Yoshinobu Yamamoto received more attention for his East Asian signings this summer, the Cubs were ready to shell out more than $50 million to lure Imanaga to the United States. With little over 1,000 innings under his belt, the 30-year-old southpaw has had a 3.18 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, and 25.0 K percent in Japan's premier professional baseball league, the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Notable experience against Major League Baseball hitters was had by lefty Kyle Harrison last year, who is also considered a preseason frontrunner for National League Rookie of the Year. Throughout seven late-season starts with the Giants, the 2020 third-round pick had a 4.15 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 23.8 K% in 34 2/3 innings. Also promising was Harrison's considerable improvement in control after being promoted to the majors; he walked just 11 hitters (7.5 percent) after a somewhat worrisome 12.3 BB percent in 69 starts for the minors.
