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Position Player of the Month: Michael Ohlman – C
.356/.449/.656 (32/90) with 8 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 17 RBI, 15 BB, 24 K, 1 SB (A+)
The Orioles drafted a plethora of catchers this year, but Michael Ohlman is proving to be quite the force in the minors. The talk at Frederick has been of Nick Delmonico and Christian Walker, but Ohlman might very well be just as good with the bat. He has strong bat speed, a good approach and some raw power that is starting to take form in games. He is a legitimate prospect in this system, and the fact that he is a catcher only makes his stock higher in my eyes. He has really grown over the past two years and the Orioles have to be absolutely thrilled with his progress after his injury that derailed his season a while back.
Starting Pitcher of the Month: Eddie Gamboa – RHP
5 GS, 43.1 IP, 2.10 ERA, 18 H, 10 R, 8 ER, 11 BB, 29 K (AA)
Gamboa is 28 years old. Some would even view him as a non-prospect. However, he has evolved this season and has started to gain some buzz. The reason is because of his interesting arsenal, which includes two variants of the knuckleball, a 90 mph fastball, a curve and a change. Gamboa essentially throws the kitchen sink at you, and it has been extremely effective this season. Your typical knuckler cannot throw a major league average fastball, but Gamboa has a late moving 90 mph two-seamer that is actually fairly effective. Add that along with a 65-69 mph knuckleball, a 75-80 mph knuckleball and you have a confusing guy to hit against.
Relief Pitcher of the Month: Lex Rutledge – LHP
5 G, 2 GS, 14.2 IP, 1.84 ERA, 11 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 22 K (A)
Rutledge is your quintessential power lefty. He has a dominant arsenal, with a big-time fastball that can top out at 96 mph with some good late life. Add in a curve and a slider, and hitters are simply going to have a tough time against him. Rutledge has true swing and miss stuff, and he is a pitcher to keep an eye on. He may not have the strongest command or control, but a lefty with an arsenal like this is definitely valuable. You simply do not find these types of pitchers off the streets. As you can see, he did make some starts this month, but I believe this is more to stretch him out and get some more work in. I think his best role will be as a backend guy in a bullpen.
Other Notables:
Sam Kimmel – OF – (A-) .342/.405/.421 (13/38) with 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 4 BB, 9 K, 3 SB
Hector Veloz – 3B – (A-) .286/.314/.449 (14/49) with 2 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 1 BB, 17 K
Creede Simpson – OF – (A) .327/.439/.509 (18/55) with 4 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 10 BB, 11 K
Torsten Boss – 2B – (A) .311/.407/.432 (23/74) with 6 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 12 BB, 16 K, 2 SB
Michael Ohlman – C – (A+) .356/.449/.656 (32/90) with 8 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 17 RBI, 15 BB, 24 K, 1 SB
Nick Delmonico – 3B – (A+) .240/.327/.490 (24/100) with 4 2B, 7 HR, 9 RBI, 13 BB, 23 K, 2 SB
Jerome Pena – 2B – (A+) .287/.391/.468 (27/94) with 5 2B, 4 HR, 16 RBI, 16 BB, 23 K, 1 SB
Caleb Joseph – C – (AA) .310/.333/.517 (27/87) with 6 2B, 4 HR, 17 RBI, 4 BB, 14 K
L.J. Hoes – OF – (AAA) .347/.450/.485 (35/101) with 8 2B, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 18 BB, 16 K, 1 SB
Buck Britton – 2B/OF – (AAA) .310/.355/.390 (31/100) with 5 2B, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 8 BB, 13 K, 1 SB
Sebastian Vader – RHP – (A-) 3 GS, 18.0 IP, 3.00 ERA, 15 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 13 K
Janser Severino – RHP – (A-) 4 G, 1 GS, 11.1 IP, 2.38 ERA, 10 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 13 K
Jimmy Yacabonis – RHP – (A-) 5 G, 7.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 5 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 9 K
Parker Bridwell – RHP – (A) 5 GS, 31.0 IP, 3.77 ERA, 30 H, 14 R, 13 ER, 7 BB, 33 K
Josh Hader – LHP – (A) 4 GS, 20.0 IP, 3.60 ERA, 14 H, 9 R, 8 ER, 8 BB, 18 K
Ashur Tolliver – LHP – (A) 5 G, 12.0 IP, 3.75 ERA, 12 H, 5 R, 4 BB, 12 K
Zach Davies – RHP – (A+) 5 GS, 29.0 IP, 2.48 ERA, 28 H, 11 R, 8 ER, 10 BB, 27 K
Eduardo Rodriguez – LHP – (A+) 4 GS, 22.0 IP, 2.05 ERA, 24 H, 11 R, 5 ER, 5 BB, 17 K
Tim Berry – LHP – (A+) 5 GS, 31.2 IP, 2.56 ERA, 32 H, 11 R, 9 ER, 8 BB, 21 K
Trent Howard – LHP – (A+) 5 G, 3 GS, 16.1 IP, 1.65 ERA, 10 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 6 BB, 14 K
Tyler Wilson – LHP – (AA) 4 GS, 21.1 IP, 2.95 ERA, 15 H, 7 R, 10 BB, 15 K
Chris Jones – LHP – (AAA) 6 G, 1 GS, 21.0 IP, 1.29 ERA, 24 H, 3 R, 6 BB, 11 K
Tucker Blair was born and raised in the Baltimore area and currently lives in Elkridge, Maryland. He graduated from York College of Pennsylvania with a B.S in Entrepreneurial Studies and is currently a Project Analyst for a Management Consulting Firm in Federal Hill, Baltimore. Tucker was previously the Managing Editor at Orioles Nation, where he worked on prospect lists, reports, and analysis on the Orioles minor league system. He also previously wrote his personal blog, The EntreprenOriole.