We’re now two months into the 2022 Minor League Baseball season and it’s already been a roller coaster of a year for the Baltimore Orioles system. Two of the top prospects in the organization in Adley Rutschman and Kyle Bradish are already in the process of adjusting to life as major leaguers, and fellow top prospects DL Hall and Kyle Stowers shouldn’t be that far away from joining them.
But the recent Grayson Rodriguez injury news was a major gut punch to everyone as Rodriguez left what was almost assuredly going to be his final Triple-A tuneup early due a lat strain. It now appears that he could very well be out for the rest of the season. Fingers crossed he’s back by September. Other Top 30 prospects who were expected to be big league contributors, or at least given a chance, like Yusniel Diaz, Terrin Vavra, and Jahmai Jones have also been hit with the injury bug and impacted their timelines, or in Jones’ case, led to him being released. Unfortunately, injuries are part of the game, as are major league struggles for rookies (can we chill with the concern over Adley?).
Luckily, the Orioles have seen impressive results from a number of top prospects, and plenty of positives from guys you won’t currently find on any Top 30 list. I want to take a look at a handful of prospects who have had their stocks rise the most so far this year, based on what my expectations were coming into the season and what I’ve seen watching these guys on a nightly basis (in no particular order)
This piece will only look at hitters. Stay tuned next week for the pitching list.
SS Gunnar Henderson
I just recently highlighted Henderson’s success this season, but am going to do so again because I think it’s important to understand just how well Henderson is playing. Expectations were already high coming into the season, but based on his play up to this point in Bowie, he’s exceeding even those high expectations and is quickly developing into one of the top prospects in all of baseball.
The 20-year-old has played in 47 games in Bowie and has yet to face a pitcher younger than him. It’s a pretty unbelievable note when you consider his .312/.452/.573 slash line, 22 extra-base hits, and a 20% walk rate that continues to exceed his strikeout rate of 17.6%. After striking out 143 times across three levels last year, he’s stuck out just 36 times in 2022 and needs just 15 walks to tie his 2021 total. His production against LHP is a bit eye-opening (.502 OPS vs a 1.168 OPS vs RHP), but he’s made major adjustments to work on last year’s strikeout issue and is showing sustained improvement. I’m confident his numbers against lefties will improve as well.
We all knew Gunnar was good, but this is a new level, with still plenty to unlock. That’s scary.
2B César Prieto
The scouting report on Prieto after he signed with the Orioles was that he’s a high floor prospect with a big time hit tool, little power, and likely limited to second base in the big leagues. Consensus appeared to be that if Prieto could show a little more power and, more importantly, transfer his plus-hit tool to the States, he’s a possible everyday second baseman. His adjustment period to pro ball in the US lasted maybe a week as Prieto has hit exceptionally well in his first 141 at-bats, showcased more power than I think anyone expected, and has shown a pretty advanced control of the strikezone.
The 23-year-old LHH hit .340 with a 1.000 OPS in 25 games with Aberdeen, slugging seven home runs in the process. His early dominant play earned himself a promotion to Double-A where the bat remains steady. Through his first 10 games, Prieto is hitting .295 with three doubles and has struck out just five times in 44 at-bats (15% K-rate in High-A). He’s been held hitless in just one game since being promoted to Bowie. Defensively, he may very well end being best suited for second base, but he’s look serviceable at short and third base in limited opportunities.
The Orioles may have landed quite the signing for a major discount here.
SS Darell Hernaiz
If it wasn’t for a very deep group of middle infield prospects that include Henderson, Jordan Westburg, Prieto, Joey Ortiz, Terrin Vavra, and Connor Norby, the hype around Hernaiz would be a lot higher. Instead, the 20-year-old continues to fly way under the radar as one of the more underrated prospects in this system.
He began the year in Delmarva, again, and quickly channeled any frustrations that stemmed from that initial assignment into big production at the plate. In 32 games, Hernaiz hit .283 with a .341 OBP, .852 OPS, and a 135 wRC+. He matched his 2021 home run total (6) in about 270 fewer plate appearances, tapping more into his raw power which has grades between 50-60, depending on the outlet. It’s surprising power when looking at his frame, but easy spot when you watch him take hacks at the plate.
Hernaiz is not only showing off more power, but striking out less (around 15% on the year), is a threat on the basepaths, and has shown more consistency in the field. If I were to rank everyone on this list of terms of the biggest risers, Hernaiz would probably second to only Henderson. Not saying they are on the same level in terms of prospect status, but if Hernaiz hits as well in Aberdeen as he did in his start with Delmarva, the Orioles have yet another legitimate middle infield prospect on their hands.
OF Isaac Bellony
A 2018 international signing out of the Virgin Islands, Bellony has been an intriguing name in the system for a while now, but with the quality of international signing classes increasing under Mike Elias/Koby Perez, no 2020 season to build on his decent pro debut in 2019 with the DSL Orioles, and not much hype coming out of his 2021 season in the FCL, Bellony wasn’t on the radar of many coming into 2022. He wasn’t on our Top 50 list over at On The Verge and received just a small note in Eric Longenhagen’s write up on FanGraphs as a projectable bat with impressive raw power, but a very long ways to go with his development.
The 20-year-old switch-hitter has shown that he’s much further along in his development than originally thought. In fact, he’s probably the most advanced hitter on Delmarva’s roster now that Hernaiz has been promoted. Now 42 games into his season, Bellony is hitting .253 with a .369 OBP, an .822 OPS, has already tied his career-high in home runs with six, and is walking at a 14.5% clip with a 135 wRC+.
If you would have told me before the season that one young, international signing in Delmarva would be leading the way, I would have guessed Mishael Deson, Elio Prado, Isaac De Leon, Moises Ramirez, or maybe even Noelberth Romero. I would have never guessed Isaac Bellony. Strikeouts have been an issue for the young hitter, but the power and walk numbers are shining through right now. Bellony may also eventually follow the Cedric Mullins approach, in ditching the switch-hitting. He’s hitting just .046 when batting right-handed.
There’s still a lot of baseball to be played, but these four are certainly exceeding expectations up to this point. A few other names I’m watching closely are OF Hudson Haskin, IF/OF Adam Hall, and OF Elio Prado. Haskin has tapped into more power this season while remaining consistent against Double-A pitching after just 83 games in A-ball last season, while Hall has been improved at the plate, but still lacks any sort of power, is striking out more than you would like to see, and continues to keep driving the ball into the ground. He’s trending up, but still a ways to go with Hall and his development. As for Prado, he has a hit in eight of the ten games he’s played this season and looks much more poised and mature than I imagined a 20-year-old who hasn’t played competitive baseball in three years would look.
Next up, a look at the pitchers who have made a legitimate rise in 2022. Early spoiler, learn the name Noah Denoyer.
Orioles Analyst
A former high school teacher and coach in the mountains of Virginia, Nick Stevens has been writing about the Baltimore Orioles and their minor league system for five years. When he isn’t at a minor league stadium, he’s enjoying a Wizards game or supporting his alma mater, James Madison University. Co-Host of The Verge.