Colorado Rockies Top 25 Under 25: No. 24: Peter Lambert

The methodology driving the priorities of these rankings keep us from putting Peter Lambert any higher on the list, but don’t let that betray our projection of his overall talent. Lambert appears to have what it takes to succeed on the mound at least when it comes to the mental battle and grind, which many Major Leaguers will tell you is at least half the battle.

Still just 19-years-old, Lambert has posted a sub 4 ERA while striking out over seven and a half batters per nine innings while walking less than three over his two seasons with Rookie Ball Grand Junction and Single-A Asheville. He displays consistent polish and an advanced feel for pitch selection that bely his years. Coaches and scouts that have spoken to BSN Denver praise the young man’s focus and mind for the game, at one point a coach telling us that Lambert is “the most polished high school pitcher” the organization has seen in over five years.

He uses a four-pitch mix (fastball, slider, changeup, curveball) to keep hitters off balance and while he can dial the four-seemer up to the mid 90s, he typically sits 90-93. While none of his off speed offerings are especially plus, they are each at least average, which gives him options more often than not.

His small frame and less than dominating stuff make Lambert like an inverse of Riley Pint, who throws a 102 mph fastball but could use some all-around polis. Lambert is nothing but polish. The question moving forward with him will be if his stuff can be dirty enough to continue to fool more advanced hitters as he moves up the levels. Either that, or is his sequencing and command good enough that he can succeed a la Tyler Anderson. The lack of a big strikeout pitch means this is the most likely path for Lambert separating himself as more than a fringe starter or potential reliever in MLB.

But the fact that he has shown so much promise at such a young age, despite not having the natural size or athleticism that often comes with phenom pitchers, has shown that Lambert may have an even higher ceiling than was first thought upon signing.

He still has several years before he makes the big leagues, probably a 2019 arrival, and that keeps him lower on our list but the talent is there

He will remain one of the more difficult players in the system to judge because his numbers will never tell the full story. If he manages to keep them consistent as he moves up, though, it’ll be worth asking if the Rockies have found themselves another diamond in the rough for the starting pitching unit.

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