The Minor League Baseball season was marked by several highlights in the Baltimore Orioles farm system, including strong individual performances. To honor the best of the best, I join my On The Verge co-hosts Bob Phelan and Nick Stevens to give out our 2022 Orioles minor league awards.
Categories for the 2022 Orioles minor league awards include player and pitcher of the year, along with honors for managing, defense, and breakout performances. While these players vary in their backgrounds and prospect stock, they collectively represent the strides the organization is making.
(You can discuss this on the BSL board here.)
Player of the Year: Gunnar Henderson, infielder
With perhaps the best overall season in Minor League Baseball, Henderson beats a strong field of Orioles prospects to receive this honor unanimously. Beginning with an impressive .312/.452/.573 slash line in 47 games at Double-A Bowie, Henderson shot through the minors and made his major-league debut at the end of August. Before arriving in Baltimore, he posted a .947 OPS with 19 home runs between Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk, adding four more in the majors to give him a total of 23 on the season.
Henderson also played impressive defense around the infield, particularly third base, while striking out at a clip of 23% after whiffing 31% of the time in 2021. His performance in 2022 made Henderson the consensus top prospect in the game, and he should be a preseason favorite to win the American League Rookie of the Year in 2023.
Also receiving votes: Jordan Westburg, Colton Cowser, Connor Norby
Pitchers of the Year: Justin Armbruester, RHP; Ryan Watson, RHP
In a season where several under-the-radar pitching prospects took major steps forward, Armbuester and Watson emerge as our honorees—and do so through completely different paths. Armbruester, a 12th round draft choice out of New Mexico in 2021, was effective in 12 starts for High-A Aberdeen before earning a promotion to Bowie. Despite moving to a higher level and more hitter-friendly confines, the right-hander improved with the Baysox—showing better command (2.3 BB/9 compared to a 3.0 mark in Aberdeen), while slashing his ERA (4.02 to 3.69). Overall, he pitched to a 126:34 K:BB ratio in 117 innings between the two levels with a 3.85 ERA.
Watson, meanwhile, began the season in Bowie and transitioned into the rotation in late April despite having thrown primarily as a reliever since his college days at Auburn. He struck out 100 batters in 95 innings with the Baysox, while walking just 21. A late-season cameo in Norfolk saw Watson pitch exclusively in relief, where he had as many strikeouts as walks (8) in 12.1 innings pitched, giving him 108 strikeouts against 29 free passes in 112.1 innings. Watson could profile a multi-relief option in the majors as soon as next year, as his 2022 season showed he can handle an increased workload.
Note: This award resulted in a tie because of our weighted system for voting. Nick and I had Watson first on our ballots and Armbruester second, with Bob flipping the two on his ballot.
Also receiving votes: Noah Denoyer
Manager/Coach of the Year: Roberto Mercado, Aberdeen IronBirds manager
The IronBirds success under Mercado speaks for itself: The team finished the season 78-54, came just one win away from the South Atlantic League championship, and saw many of its players achieve success upon promotions to higher levels (Armbruester, Connor Norby, Colton Cowser, and Coby Mayo are among several examples).
However, Mercado quickly earned the respect of many around the game—both inside and outside the organization—in his professional debut as a manager. He came to the Orioles with a unique background, having previously worked as a dean and head baseball coach at New Britain High School in Connecticut as well as a coach in the summer-collegiate Cape Cod League.
Also receiving votes: Forrest Herman (pitching coach, Aberdeen), Josh Conway (pitching coach, Bowie), Brandon Becker (hitting coach, Bowie), Tim Gibbons (hitting coach, Norfolk).
Breakout Player of the Year: Darell Hernaiz, infielder
A 5th-round draft pick out of Americas High School (El Paso, TX) in 2019, Hernaiz had a solid full-season debut with Delmarva in 2021. However, organizational depth contributed at least in part to him returning there to start this year. Rather than let that hurt his performance, Hernaiz responded with an excellent run that jumpstarted a season that saw him play across three levels. Overall, he batted .273/.341/.438 with 12 home runs in 452 plate appearances between Delmarva, Aberdeen, and Bowie with an 8% walk rate and 18% strikeout rate. Hernaiz also played solid defense around the infield, including shortstop, and swiped 32 bases in 36 attempts.
Hernaiz will enter next season as a 21-year-old regular at Double-A. He fits the bill of a potential major-league utility player, who could develop into a regular if he continues to make strides offensively. On top of his on-field performance, Hernaiz was praised for his leadership during his time at Delmarva and his response to the adversity he faced this season.
Also receiving votes: Frederick Bencosme, Deivy Cruz, Aron Estrada
Platinum Glove: Joey Ortiz
There is so much positive to say about Ortiz’s season, especially his recovery from a slow start at the plate that allowed him to slug his way to Triple-A and into FanGraphs’ top-100 prospect rankings. While that is part of what Ortiz’s season so special, his defense continues at shortstop continues to earn high praise. He has the quickness, arm, range, and instincts of a big-league shortstop, and seemingly a night did not go by this season without at least one highlight reel play.
Rule 5-eligible this offseason, Ortiz is a lock to receive a 40-man roster spot. Although his name could surface in trade talks if the Orioles deal from their farm system to improve the major-league roster this offseason, there is reason to believe that if he stays in the organization, Ortiz could play his way onto the Orioles roster sometime next season and make an immediate impact with his glove.
Also receiving votes: Maverick Handley, Collin Burns, Gunnar Henderson, Coby Mayo.
For more on our 2022 Orioles minor league awards, you can join the discussion on the message board and listen to the latest episode of On The Verge.
Orioles Analyst
A graduate of the University of Massachusetts, and Loyola University; Spedden has previously spent time in the Washington Nationals organization as a videographer for the Hagerstown Suns. As a blogger, Spedden is an Editor / Writer for the Suns fan club. Additionally, he contributes to The Nats Blog as a prospect writer, and Ballpark Digest. For BSL, Spedden covers the Orioles Minor Leagues. Co-Host of The Verge: https://anchor.fm/the-verge