With approximately just over a week left in Spring Training, minor league teams are in full swing on the backfields in Sarasota, Florida. Several more moves were made over the weekend, and we start to have a clearer view of how teams align before the regular season kicks off in April. In today’s outlook, we’ll start off with the Bowie Baysox (Double-A) and their outlook for pitching.
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Starting Rotation
Jason Garcia RHP
Perhaps the biggest name on this list, after spending 2015 in Baltimore’s bullpen, Jason Garica joins Bowie as starting pitcher. The 23-year-old RHP appeared in 21 games for the Orioles last season, striking out 16.7% of hitters he faced, but also walking 12.9% of hitters he faced. Although he appeared exclusively out of the bullpen last year, Garcia did start 6 games in the Arizona Fall League. Outside of the AFL, Garcia last started a game back in 2014, while with the Boston Red Sox organization.
Garcia is being stretched out as a starter by the Orioles, but is clearly a candidate to return to the big-leagues as a reliever in the future. Allowing him to work as a starter will simply allow him to continue to develop his secondary pitches, while also working on his command.
Chris Lee LHP
After a breakout 2015 campaign, it’s no surprise that a lot of eyes will be on Lee in 2016. The lefty improved drastically with each start last year, and was added to the Orioles’ 40 man roster during the off-season. Lee saw a taste of big-league action during Spring Traning (5.2 IP, 9.53 ERA) but was ultimately not a serious candidate for a big-league job. I provided a full scouting report for Chris Lee earlier, which you can read here.
Lee had a small taste of Double-A life last season, totaling 38 innings over 7 starts. As mentioned in the scouting report, Lee will work on his command and throwing his change-up more frequently.
Parker Bridwell RHP
Much like Lee, Bridwell was protected this off-season when Baltimore added him to the 40 man roster. Bridwell, 24, started 18 games for Bowie last season while also dealing with an injury. He appeared in 5 games this spring for the Orioles, allowing a pair of home runs and 4 walks. Bridwell’s full scouting report is here.
Like any developing pitcher, Bridwell will focus on staying healthy and his commanding his pitches in 2016. He has a very good change-up, but will likely end up as a bullpen arm.
David Hess RHP
After a very impressive 2015 campaign split between Frederick(A+) and Bowie, Hess looks to build on that momentum during the upcoming season. He’s one of the best pitchers in the organization and features a four pitch arsenal. He logged 143.1 innings in 2015 with 122 strikeouts between two levels, while also helping Bowie to Eastern League Championship.
With the exception of maybe Hunter Harvey, Hess is the best starting pitcher prospect the Orioles have. 2016 will be a big stepping stone for the 22 year old, as he’ll get a full season at Double-A. If his first 10 innings at Bowie were any indication, Hess is headed in the right direction.
Ariel Miranda LHP
Miranda, signed out of Cuba by the Orioles last year, spent time between the Gulf Coast League, Frederick and Bowie. He’s 27, and certainly isn’t considered a prospect, but does have three average pitches, including a split-finger pitch with a lot of drop on it. He struck out 71 hitters across 14 starts and 70 innings in 2015. You can read a full write-up I did for Miranda here.
As mentioned, Miranda isn’t on the radar as a long term option for Baltimore, but was an interesting signing for Baltimore, given their lack of interest in signing international players. He’ll provide back end support for a fairly stacked Bowie rotation.
Bullpen
Donnie Hart LHP
Hart, who also pitched in the Arizona Fall League, returns to Bowie after a very brief to end 2015, after spending most of the 2015 season in Frederick. Hart, who I wrote up here, doesn’t have electric stuff, but is certainly able to get hitters out. His deceptive arm angle and good change-up are something to keep an eye on.
Jon Keller RHP
Much like Donnie Hart, Keller pitched in the Arizona Fall League in ’15 and also spent a bulk of his time in Frederick last season, but did see brief action in AA. Keller’s 2015 overall results were not terrific, as he walked 27 hitters in 63.2 innings. Keller’s full write up is here, but his main goal in 2016 is to limit the walks and keep his composure on the mound. If he’s able to do these two things, he’ll have a shot at once again becoming one of the top relievers in the organization.
Bobby Bundy RHP
After missing most of the past three seasons due to injury, Bobby Bundy returns to Bowie with the goal of staying healthy. He was primarily used in the starting rotation prior to all the injuries, but figures to be a long man out of the bullpen going forward. For his career, he has a 4.41 ERA in 412 innings with 333 strike outs.
Gene Escat RHP
26-year-old righty Gene Escat appeared in 66.2 innings for Bowie in 2015, while also making a spot-start for Norfolk late in the season. Escat, typically used as a late inning guy, made 6 starts for the Baysox last season, with a bulk of the starts coming late in the season. Additionally, Escat has played in the Mexican Pacific Winter League the past two seasons. As a reliever, he struck out 37 and walked 29 in 40.2 innings last season. His pitching arsenal includes a fastball (93-94), slider and change-up.
Cody Wheeler LHP
After signing a one-year deal as a minor league free agent in 2015, lefty Cody Wheeler is back with Baltimore for 2016. Wheeler, who was previously in the Arizona organization, was primarily used as the closer in Frederick, where he converted 17 of 19 save opportunities. He’s shown thus far, during his short time in the organization, that he’s more than just a left-handed specialist. He held right-handed-hitters to just 29 hits across 130 at-bats (.223 AVG) and was equally as good against left-handed hitters, holding them to a .164/.313/.200 line and 0 home runs. Wheeler, 26, features a fastball in the low-90s, a change-up and slider.
Gregg Ross RHP
Signed as a minor league free agent, Ross is no stranger to the state of Maryland. Drafted in 2011, Ross attended Frostburg State University in Western Maryland. Originally drafted by the Atlanta Braves, the right-hander spent all of 2015 in Double-A (Mississippi) – posting a a 3.99 ERA in 25 appearances (23 starts) – with 80 strikeouts in 137.2 innings. Ross figures to work out of the bullpen, but could be used in the starting rotation if necessary.
Paul Demny RHP
Demny, 26, was signed as a minor league free agent by Baltimore during the off-season. He spent the previous 8 seasons with the Washington Nationals. In 2015, he split time between Harrisburg(AA) and Syracuse(AAA) – compiling a 2.28 ERA and striking out 73 batters in 59.1 innings. Demny will help out at Bowie, but will likely see plenty of innings in Norfolk(AAA) as well.
Reggie Yinger has spent the parts of five seasons as a Player Development Coordinator for the Baltimore Orioles. He has extensive experience in computer programming and baseball.