With nearly two months of games in the books, I’m taking another look at the pitching prospects who have most improved their KATOH+ projections since the preseason. To ensure I am writing up actual prospects rather than fringey ones, I’ve set a minimum KATOH+ projection of 3.0 WAR and listed the five most-improved lesser prospects at the bottom. I did not include guys who are injured or who have graduated to the big leagues. A reminder: a player’s KATOH forecast denotes his projected WAR total over the first six seasons of his major-league career.

Brent Honeywell, RHP, Tampa (Profile)

Preseason KATOH+ Projection: 5.7

Current KATOH+ Projection: 7.5

Honeywell has dominated while splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A this year. He’s struck out 30% of opposing hitters and walked less than 5%. The results haven’t quite been there in Triple-A, as evidenced by his 4.93 ERA, but his 2.89 xFIP explains KATOH’s admiration. He’s become one of baseball’s very best pitching prospects.

Nick Pivetta, RHP, Philadelphia (Profile)

Preseason KATOH+ Projection: 1.7

Current KATOH+ Projection: 3.5

Pivetta’s done a bang-up job in Triple-A this year, posting a 1.41 ERA and 37:2 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Most notably, he hacked several points off of his walk rate, which wasn’t terribly high to begin with. He got knocked around a bit in a four-start cameo role with Philly, but his minor-league performance has been undeniably excellent.

Mike Soroka, RHP, Atlanta (Profile)

Preseason KATOH+ Projection: 5.6

Current KATOH+ Projection: 6.3

The Braves aggressively bumped Soroka from Low-A to Double-A this year and the 19-year-old hasn’t skipped a beat. He’s dialed his strikeout rate up to 26% and spun a 2.96 ERA over nine starts. Soroka’s always been a promising prospect, but now that he’s dominated Double-A hitters, it appears he’s closer than KATOH previously thought.

Sean Newcomb, LHP, Atlanta (Profile)

Preseason KATOH+ Projection: 2.6

Current KATOH+ Projection: 3.2

KATOH’s always been skeptical of Newcomb due to his high walk rates and age relative to level. Those concerns remain, as Newcomb’s walked over 13% in his age-24 season, but he’s also upped his strikeout rate this year at Triple-A. Newcomb has his warts, but he’s proven he can miss near-big-league bats.

Sixto Sanchez, RHP, Philadelphia (Profile)

Preseason KATOH+ Projection: 3.6

Current KATOH+ Projection: 4.1

After an excellent year in Rookie ball, Sanchez matriculated to Low-A this season at the tender age of 18. He’s proved ready for the challenge, posting a 28:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio over five starts. Sanchez is still a few years away, but his numbers have been impeccable. He’s currently sidelined with a sore neck, although that might just be Phillies trying to manage the teenager’s innings load.

Luke Weaver, RHP, St. Louis (Profile)

Preseason KATOH+ Projection: 6.5

Current KATOH+ Projection: 6.6

Weaver’s pitched very well in Triple-A this year, spinning a 2.08 ERA with a 26% strikeout rate. He’s also added 10% to his ground-ball rate from last year. He wasn’t great in his 36-inning stint with the Cardinals last year, largely due to his seven homers, but now that he’s doing a better job of keeping the ball on the ground, he’s seemingly earned another shot.

Kolby Allard, LHP, Atlanta (Profile)

Preseason KATOH+ Projection: 5.4

Current KATOH+ Projection: 5.5

Like Soroka, Allard made the leap from Low-A to Double-A at the age of 19. Allard hasn’t been quite as dominant as his teammate, though he’s more than held his own. Neither Allard’s 21% strikeout rate nor his 8% walk rate would qualify as outstanding. Considering, however, that he’s a 19-year-old at Double-A, Allard’s performance has been very impressive.

Brandon Woodruff, RHP, Milwaukee (Profile)

Preseason KATOH+ Projection: 3.9

Current KATOH+ Projection: 4.0

Woodruff burst onto the scene last year, when he posted a 27% strikeout rate and 2.50 FIP between High-A and Double-A. He hasn’t been quite as dominant this season, but his forecast has still ticked up since he’s faced off against Triple-A hitters. His sub-4.00 FIP at Triple-A suggests he’s nearly ready for the show.

Stephen Gonsalves, LHP, Minnesota (Profile)

Preseason KATOH+ Projection: 4.2

Current KATOH+ Projection: 4.2

Gonsalves pitched very well in his first to starts of 2017 after missing time with a shoulder injury. He’s picked up right where he left off last year, striking out 25% of batters faced at Double-A. Gonsalves lacks fastball velocity, but he’s consistently performed at every stop.

Anthony Banda, LHP, Arizona (Profile)

Preseason KATOH+ Projection: 3.9

Current KATOH+ Projection: 3.9

Banda put together a solid season between Double-A and Triple-A last year and has carried that over to 2017. Through 10 Triple-A starts, he’s struck out 23% of batters faced and posted a 4.34 xFIP. That’s not eye-popping, but coming from a 23-year-old, it keeps him on a promising trajectory.

*****

Wilmer Font, RHP, Los Angeles (NL) (Profile)

Preseason KATOH+ Projection: 0.6

Current KATOH+ Projection: 2.5

Tyler Webb, LHP, New York (AL) (Profile)

Preseason KATOH+ Projection: 1.0

Current KATOH+ Projection: 2.4

Jake Junis, RHP, Kansas City (Profile)

Preseason KATOH+ Projection: 1.2

Current KATOH+ Projection: 2.6

Logan Allen, LHP, San Diego (Profile)

Preseason KATOH+ Projection: 0.8

Current KATOH+ Projection: 1.6

Adonis Medina, RHP, Philadelphia (Profile)

Preseason KATOH+ Projection: 0.4

Current KATOH+ Projection: 1.2