SEC pitcher power rankings: Brett Kerry enters the mix, Jack Leiter moves up

South Carolina's Brett Kerry enters our rankings, while Vandy's Jack Leiter moves to No. 2

Brett Kerry photo courtesy of the University of South Carolina.

Innings pitched and ERA in all games listed in parenthesis; Southeastern Conference performance factors heavily in our ratings.

1. Kevin Kopps, Arkansas (56.1, 0.80): Threw 125 pitches over two appearances vs. Tennessee, picking up two wins last weekend.

2. Jack Leiter, Vanderbilt (70.1, 1.79): Six-inning, two-hit, one-run, 13-strikeout performance vs. Ole Miss on Saturday showed he'd back.

3. Kumar Rocker, Vanderbilt (81, 2.44): Has allowed fewer runners per inning (0.94 vs. 0.98) than Leiter.

4. Doug Nikhazy, Ole Miss (65.1, 2.34): Has a 1.89 league ERA over 52 1/3 innings.

5. Landon Marceaux, LSU (79.2, 2.15): Has gone at least five innings in all 13 starts.

6. Landon Sims, Mississippi State (34, 0.53): Low number of innings limit how far we can elevate him, but batter for batter--8% free pass rate, 54% strikeout rate, no homers allowed, 0.68 runners allowed per inning--the numbers suggest he may be the league's best.

7. Patrick Wicklander, Arkansas (56, 1.93): Tennessee roughed him up a bit last weekend, but he's still got a 1.72 league ERA over 47 innings.

8. Brett Kerry, South Carolina (45, 1.80): The Gamecocks finally put him in the rotation and were rewarded with a complete-game, 10-strikeout shutout.

9. Nick Maldonado, Vanderbilt (31.1, 1.15): Allowed two runs on Sunday, breaking a streak of 10 consecutive games in which he hadn't allowed a run. 

10. Gunnar Hoglund, Ole Miss (62.2, 2.87): He's done for the year, but what he's banked still earns him a spot here.

11. Christian Scott, Florida (48, 2.62): 12 SEC appearances with 31 innings pitched and a 2.61 ERA in them. 

12. Ben Harris, Georgia (34.1, 1.57): Striking out 41% of hitters he faces, and has allowed just one homer all season.

13. Chase Lee, Alabama (29.1, 1.23): Sidearmer has six wins and seven saves.

14. Chandler Jozwiak, Texas A&M (57.1, 2.98): Two wins, seven saves in 26 total appearances; has thrown multiple innings in each of the last five.