The process is pretty simple. All three of us put together our own individual lists and then they are aggregated together to come up with our final list presented below.  

You can listen to the full podcast episode where we break down the list here.  

1) SS Gunnar Henderson– It’s difficult to find another prospect in baseball who took the jump forward in 2022 that Henderson did. While not facing a single pitcher younger than him in Bowie and Norfolk, Henderson walked more than he struck out in Double-A (41 BB/38 K) and continued to excel while being promoted to Triple-A before his 21st birthday. In Norfolk, Henderson slashed .288/.390/.504, hit for the cycle just hours before he turned 21, and hit lefties well, one of the few knocks on his game. Once promoted to the majors, Henderson’s barrel percentage, average exit velo, and hard-hit rate were all well-above major league average, and he showed off a “secret” tool of his that doesn’t get discussed enough- his speed- ranking in the 91st percentile in sprint speed. He’s poised to be the primary third baseman for the Orioles in 2023 where projection systems forecast a potential 5 fWAR season as a rookie.  

2) RHP Grayson Rodriguez– If not for a lat strain, Grayson Rodriguez would have shed his prospect status last year with the Orioles, but he’s healthy entering 2023 and will be given every opportunity this spring to earn a rotation spot, giving the Orioles two of the odds on favorites for AL Rookie of the Year honors. Rodriguez attacks hitters with a fastball that has touched 100 mph, a dominant slider, curve, cutter, and screwball like changeup that has been described in the past as a “unicorn pitch”. He has the makeup of a power ace who works deep into games, but we haven’t seen what he can do with an extensive workload yet and he has yet to make his MLB debut so while there are still plenty of questions to answer, his ceiling is not one of them.  

3) SS Jackson Holliday- With a plethora of high-end high school talent available at the top of the 2022 draft and the hope that last year was the final time for the foreseeable future that the Orioles wold be picking at the top of the draft, Baltimore needed to hit a home run with this pick. They went with Holliday, giving him a record signing bonus for a high school draft pick, and all early signs point to this pick being the correct one to keep the enormously high ceiling of the system intact after the graduations of Adley, Gunnar, Grayson, and DL. His batted ball data and swing decisions show a hitter with few holes in his game and expect his power to start shining through as he matures physically. The Orioles were aggressive with him last year and as long as he can rise to the challenges presented to him, they will surely be aggressive with him again. He will play all season as a 19-year-old and could find himself in Double-A by the end of the year.  

4) OF Colton Cowser– Cowser didn’t do too much in his first full season as a professional, only play across three levels and end the year in Triple-A, collect 57 extra-base hits, and reach base in nearly 41% of his plate appearances. After posting a 184 wRC+ in Double-A, Cowser struggled during his first two weeks in Triple-A, but broke out of a five-game hitless streak by going on a 12-game on-base streak that featured at least one hit in 11 contests just before the end of the season. His impressive 2022 season was a bit overshadowed by elevated strikeout numbers, but he improved in that area as he went from High-A to Double-A and was doing the same in Triple-A before the year ended. If this organization can help Kyle Stowers lower his K-rate from 30-34% in the upper levels of the minors to 25% over the course of a year, expect to see someone with an impressive hit tool as Cowser’s to show the same type of improvement in 2023. And even if the strikeouts remain a bit higher than some may like to see, it’s not a major cause for concern.  

5) LHP DL Hall- Hall made just seven starts in 2021 before being shutdown for the year and didn’t throw a baseball again until December. After a delayed start to the season and a couple of outings in Aberdeen and Bowie, Hall struck out 36% of hitters in 76 Triple-A innings and put together one of the more dominant stretches in baseball in July (21.2 IP, 2 ER, 8 BB, 42 K). We’ve long known that few pitchers in the game can match his raw stuff, but high walk totals have held him back from reaching his potential and led to elevated pitch counts early into outings. In the majors, Hall struck out 30% of batters he faced, was tracking to have the lowest walk rate he’s had at any stop by a considerable margin, avoided barrels and allowed a hard-hit rate of just 18%, well below league average. We obviously need to see him do this across a substantial sample in the big leagues, but his time in the majors last year was effective and promising. Over his final 8 appearances (8.2 IP), Hall allowed just one earned run, walked two, and struck out 11.  

6) 3B Coby Mayo- Bringing eye-opening raw power to the plate, Mayo finished his 2022 season in Double-A at the age of 20 and while his overall numbers in Aberdeen and Bowie didn’t jump off the page last season, his batted ball date and underlying metrics paint a different picture, one of a 21-year-old prospect waiting to showcase his true breakout season in 2023. He shows very little swing-and-miss concerns and still has plenty of room to fill out physically and add even more strength to his 6’5” frame. A major focus has been on his defense and where he ends up. While that’s still up in the air, Mayo plays an above-average third base with an arm that has had 70 grades placed on it. That arm strength could help ease a transition to the outfield if that’s ultimately the move, but for right now Mayo continues to make strides at third base and should be the primary man in Bowie to start the year.  

7) IF Jordan Westburg- A common theme among Orioles draft picks in 2020 was whether or not their COVID-shortened college gains were legitimate or not, with Westburg’s power fitting into that conversation. After hitting 15 home runs across three levels in his debut season, Westburg finished with 27 last season, behind only Connor Norby down on the farm. It’s pull-heavy power but it’s legitimate. Now 250 games into his minor league career, Westburg owns an .851 OPS with 66 doubles, 8 triples, 42 home runs, and even 29 stolen bases. Combine that with reliable defense at second, short, and third and Westburg gives the organzation a fundamentally sound player who can do a bit of everything. He even cut his strikeout rate to a career low 22% in Triple-A last season. There’s really nothing left to prove in the minors but the major league infield is going to be a tough group to crack, barring injury or trade, and Westburg isn’t on the 40-man yet. He is a streaky hitter so it would not be surprising to see Westburg back in Triple-A to show he can be more consistent and maybe even add some outfield to his tool chest. 

8) SS Joey Ortiz- A wizard with the glove, Ortiz shook off any “glove-first” labels still attached to him as he torched AA and AAA pitching, hitting 15 home runs with Bowie and then slashing .346/.400/.567 with 4 HR/7 2B/2 3B in AAA (26 games). It was a slow start to the season for Ortiz, but after taking some time to settle back in after missing most of 2021 due to a major shoulder surgery and a few small tweaks with his swing, Ortiz took off and never looked back offensively. He’s been in the system since 2019 but has played in just 228 games, with 137 of those games coming last season. He’s bigger, stronger, faster, and if the bat he showcased last season can excel against major league pitching, Ortiz will carve out himself a long and successful career in the majors.  

9) 2B Connor Norby- The nation’s hits leader in D1 baseball at ECU in 2021, Norby played across three levels last season and led the farm in home runs with 29 in 121 combined games (missed time due to a scary incident at the plate). Like Ortiz, Norby made a few small tweaks with his swing which led to a breakout offensively and big change in his future outlook. With most of his power going to center/right-center, Norby isn’t just a “hitterish” second baseman, but a second baseman with 20+ home run potential in the big leagues and superb command of the strikezone. Defensively, Norby has worked extensively on improving his abilities at second base, but will likely see some more time in LF back in AAA after getting a few starts out there last season (at his suggestion as he told us in a recent interview). Norfolk’s infield of Westburg, Ortiz, and Norby will be the most exciting unit to watch in the minors at the beginning of the season as all three work to force their way into the big leagues.  

10) OF Dylan Beavers– Despite a number of first-round grades on Beavers going into last year’s draft, the Cal product fell to the Orioles at 33, likely due to concerns over his swing. However, the Orioles weren’t scared off and brought in an outfielder with a high ceiling if he can follow the developmental path many ahead of him have traveled. The organization made a few initial tweaks to his swing and he proceeded to hit .359 with more walks (12) than strikeouts (11) in 16 games with Delmarva before a promotion to High-A to close out the season. He can play all three outfield positions and could be a 30+ home run power hitting corner outfielder with a strong arm.  

11) OF Heston Kjerstad- We had to wait even longer to see Kjerstad make his pro debut after a spring training hamstring injury kept him out until June 10th, but when he finally stepped on the field with Delmarva, Kjerstad put up video game numbers, hitting .463 with a 1.201 OPS in 22 games. He was challenged in Aberdeen and had a tale of two seasons with the IronBirds. He ended the season on a high note and carried that into an MVP performance in the Arizona Fall League. Despite missing years of development, Kjerstad could find himself on Bowie’s opening day roster and back on track to push for the big leagues within the next year or so.  

12) RHP Seth Johnson- The former SS turned pitching prospect underwent Tommy John surgery late last season (same day as RHP Zach Peek), so we very likely won’t see him in any meaningful innings this season, but the Orioles knew that when acquiring him and believe the wait, and having to place him on the 40-man roster when healthy again, will be worth it. We’re buying the ceiling here with his upper-90s fastball and wipeout slider that stand out the most. He’s already 24 and could be 25 before we see him with an affiliate, but he was also still pretty raw before the injury. There are a lot of questions about Johnson, like what will he look like when healthy, is he suited better as a bullpen piece, etc, but there’s alot to dream on when he’s back on the mound.  

13) OF Jud Fabian- It took an extra year, but the Orioles were finally able to land Fabian in last year’s draft and he quickly showed everyone why Baltimore wanted him in this system. After four games in the FCL where he walked six times and collected five hits, Fabian demolished Low-A pitching to the tune of a .386 average, .481 OBP, and a monster 243 wRC+ (100 is league average). Needing more of a challenge than Low-A fastballs, Fabian ended the year in High-A where he homered twice and posted a 1.107 OPS in six High-A playoff games. Fabian’s plus-power and defense, combined with his swing decisions and work ethic could very well lead him down a path of developing into an everyday major leaguer.  

14) LHP Cade Povich- Whether it’s his fastball that touched 97 mph last season, his Clayton Kershaw inspired curveball, sweeper, cutter, or changeup, Povich has a deep mix of pitches to attack hitters with and flashed why the Orioles believe his ceiling is much higher than industry consensus (more matching ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel and his ranking of Povich as the #54 overall prospect in baseball). A full offseason working with Orioles instructors, the stability of knowing he’s likely going back to Bowie to begin the year, and getting some time in big league camp this spring could propel him to a strong start to the season, giving him an open path to move up through the upper levels of the minors fairly quickly.  

15) LHP Drew Rom- Despite endless write-ups about his fastball velo, Rom has excelled at every stop in the minors, owning a career 3.41 ERA and a 414/112 K/BB in 353 IP. Now on the 40-man roster, Rom has a deep pitch mix, utilizes different arm angles to attack hitters, and has a smooth, easy, and repeatable delivery. He finished last season in Triple-A, making seven starts and continuing to pile up the strikeouts limit the home runs while bringing his groundball rate back closer to 50%. He led all minor league arms in the system with 144 strikeouts. The debates about Rom have dragged on for years now. Luckily, he should be given his shot in the big leagues this season where he finally get more answers- can the improved velo and underlying traits make his fastball a reliable option in the big leagues or does he meet the same fate that other lefties with similar profiles have faced in the past?  

16) C Samuel Basallo- The Basallo hype train has been gaining speed this offseason and is just gearing up as he prepares to begin the year in Delmarva as an 18-year-old. During his stops in the DSL and FCL, Basallo has showcased massive raw power and the ability to produce some of the biggest hard-hit rates among players his age. Despite his size (listed at 6’3” and 230 pounds), it’s not hard to find someone who has seen him work behind the plate tell you that there’s a real chance he could stick at the position as he moves up through the ranks. His age, size, and tools all combine to form arguably the most intriguing prospect in the system, one who some believe could be a Top 5 prospect in the system within the next year.  

17) OF Hudson Haskin– A member of the growing Tulane-Baltimore pipeline, Haskin has very quietly and steadily risen through the organization since being drafted in the 2nd round of the 2020 draft. A broken thumb ended his 2021 season early, but even after just 26 games in High-A, the Orioles challenged him in AA where once again he was limited a bit to 109 games, but he posted a 126 wRC+, hit 41 extra-base hits (15 HR) and posted respectable BB and K numbers. Defensively, Haskin is a true centerfielder but may get moved around in Triple-A looking at who he’s likely going to be playing with for much of the season. His speed is not highlighted enough and if getting hit by a pitch at a high rate year after year is a skill, then Haskin is a double-plus in this category.  

18) RHP Chayce McDermott- Acquired as part of the Trey Mancini trade with Houston, McDermott can run his lively fastball up to 96/97 mph (a pitch that seems like to explode on a hitter right as it reaches the plate) and has a a trio of secondaries headlines by a wicked curveball. While he struck out 35.4% of hitters in A+ with Houston and then 31.3% in Bowie, McDermott does walk a lot of batters. We’ll see what the Orioles can do with his control in his first full season in the org, but if it remains an issue, we likely see a move to the bullpen where McDermott’s profile fits pretty well.  

19) OF Luis Almeyda- The 16-year-old SS signed for a franchise record $2.3 million in January, headlining another deep and impressive class for Koby Perez and company. Growing up in New Jersey, Almeyda moved to the DR with his family to care for his grandmother, allowing him to sign as an international free agent this year. Scouting reports rave about his bat speed and power potential, and also note an eventual move to third as he grows physically, but for right now, he’s 16. Almeyda appears to be a very unique international signing, seeing as he could bypass the DSL and begin his pro career in Sarasota, thanks to his experience playing in the States before his move to the DR.  

20) OF John Rhodes– Injuries greatly impacted Rhodes in 2022, limiting him to just 83 games, but he still reached Double-A at the age of 21 and displays some of the better in-zone swing and miss and chase rates in the organization (H/T Jon Meoli’s “Maximizing Playoff Odds” newsletter). On top of the heralded swing decisions, Rhodes is a good defender and is one of the more athletic players in the entire system. A healthy offseason and fresh restart in Bowie could help unlock a breakout season for Rhodes.  

21) 3B Max Wagner- A reserve at Clemson turned ACC Player of the Year over the course of his final collegiate season, Wagner is yet another young college bat with late helium who the Orioles have drafted, a strategy that has netted the system a few high-ceiling prospects. Wagner has his own high ceiling with a powerful bat, high on-base numbers, and little concern about his defense at third base. He didn’t show much of the strikeout concerns some had about him coming out of the draft, but we’ll see how he handles more advanced pitching as he begins 2023 in High-A with a likely final destination of Double-A in his first pro season.  

22) OF Reed Trimble- A second round pick out of Southern Miss in 2021, Trimble saw limited action as a pro after the draft and then underwent shoulder surgery in December, putting his 2022 season in jeopardy. He made his season-debut with Delmarva on July 22 and didn’t take long to settle in, hitting .319 with an .812 OPS in August, including a pair of homeruns. Trimble is an athletic switch-hitter with lots of power potential ready to shine through. Despite missing an extensive amount of time, Trimble didn’t show a ton of swing and miss, which is one of the more promising signs entering 2023. He has breakout written all over him in 2023.  

23) IF Frederick Bencosme- A relative unknown entering 2022, Bencosme played just two games in the FCL before being promoted to Delmarva and ultimately ending the season in High-A as a 19-year-old. He hit a combined .311 and struck out just 40 times, showcasing premier bat-to-ball skills and the type of swing decisions the organization preaches. He started flashing more power as the season progressed and after putting in a bunch of work in the offseason on getting stronger, don’t be surprised if you see a spike in home runs. The hype surrounding Bencosme is very real and well deserved. He’s a future Top 10 prospect in this system, probably even by the end of the year. Truly #Fregendary.  

24) RHP Jean Pinto- Our prospect darling of 2021, it was great to see national outlets eventually lean into the hype as well entering the 2022 season. He experienced an up-and-down season, but showcased enough positives to keep him within the Top 30. Pinto spent the entire season in High-A where he struck out more than 10/9 IP, but saw his walk rate take a big jump to to 11.6%. He works extremely fast, so fast I think he needs a reverse pitch clock to slow him down sometimes, His slider and changeup are quality pitches and he tends to rely on them heavily. He just turned 22 and if he starts in Double-A, will be 3-4 years younger than his peers. If he can pound the strikezone and miss Double-A bats, he will be right back on track.  

25) IF Cesar Prieto- Due to the timing of his defection from Cuba and availability, the Orioles were able to sign Prieto for $650,000 last year, adding one of the more prolific hitters in Cuban history to an already stacked farm system. We knew the hit tool was top-notch, but Prieto surprised many by mashing 7 home runs in 25 games with Aberdeen before spending the vast majority of the year in Double-A. Prieto didn’t showcase the same power in Bowie, hitting just 4 in 90 games with a .255 average and .296 OBP (77 wRC+). Defensively, he was moved around, playing mostly third where he was adequate. Despite the struggles in Bowie, the Orioles have been aggressive with Prieto, sending him to the AFL and now to big league camp. Adjusting to a new life in the States is enough for anyone to handle, but Prieto was also challenged on the field, so we’ll gladly give him another season to settle in. One thing is for certain, his work ethic is unquestioned. 

26) RHP Carter Baumler- It’s been an incredibly long road for Baumler since he was selected in the 5th round of the 2020 MLB draft. His final high school season was impacted by the pandemic, 2021 was spent recovering from Tommy John surgery, and 2022 was cut short after just four outings due to shoulder inflammation. Still, Baumler has one of the highest ceilings among pitchers in the organization and showed impressive swing and miss stuff with an ability to work the strikezone in his 11.2 innings of work. He tossed nine scoreless innings with 15 K to 4 BB in his first three starts, fueling the excitement for a big pro debut before he was shut down after just one more start. He likely begins 2023 in Delmarva where health will be one of the biggest concerns.  

27) RHP Noah Denoyer- One of the more remarkable stories in the organization, Denoyer went undrafted through 40 rounds of the 2019 draft and enters 2023 on the Orioles 40-man roster. Touching 96 mph with a beautiful 12-6 curveball, Denoyer posted a 2.61 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, a .167 average against, and a 69/11 K/BB in 51.2 IP with Bowie last season, being used mainly as a bulk-relief arm. He used a stint in the Arizona Fall League to refine his secondaries and makeup for some time lost on the IL in 2022 and now finds himself likely ticketed for Norfolk where a major question becomes whether the Orioles keep him in his bulk-relief role, or is he stretched out and used as a starter. Either way, Denoyer should make his MLB debut in 2023. 

28) RHP Justin Armbruester- Labeled as “just an org guy” by one national publication very early on in 2022, Armbruester split last season between A+/AA, posting a combined 3.85 ERA with 126 K to 34 BB. He was solid in Aberdeen, but took his game to another level in Bowie, topping out in the mid-90s with an improved slider. The changeup has been a major focus this offseason for Armbruester, giving him another weapon as he prepares for his Triple-A debut. The 6’4”, 12th round pick out of New Mexico has rotation upside and still a decent gap between where he’s at now and his ceiling.  

29) SS Leandro Arias- A switch-hitting, plus-defender who signed for $600,000 out of the Dominican Republic last year, Arias brings good speed and big power potential to the plate. His DSL numbers last season may have been pedestrian, but all of the batted ball date we’ve been privy to paint a much different story for Arias. He should play in Sarasota this season and we’ll see just how much he’s bulked up and if that raw power can start shining through.  

30) RHP Ryan Watson- Watson was a career reliever until he started last season in Double-A where he would make 18 starts, striking out 25.9% of hitters and walking just 5.4%. He got a cup of coffee in Triple-A and ended 2022 by taking home Orioles Minor League Pitcher of the Year honors. His velo jumped to 93-95 (T97), his slider (like many in the org) also took a big jump and he’s now on the 40-man roster and should be in Norfolk’s rotation to begin the year. He’s a bulldog on the mound (maybe tiger is a better descriptor? Don’t want to ruffle any SEC feathers) who can work deep into games while holding his velo with a deep pitch mix and seems to have the mentality of a late-inning power arm.  

31) SS Carter Young- Once considered one of the top amateur talents in the country, Young went from posting an .899 OPS with 16 home runs as a sophomore at Vanderbilt to hitting just .207 with a second-straight 30% strikeout rate campaign. Some credit his struggles to his shoulder injury, others disagree. The Orioles gave him just north of $1.3 million as a 17th round draft pick last year, clearly believing they can get more out of the bat. There’s little debate about the glove and arm which will carry him up through the organization, but if the bat starts clicking this season, Young could catapult into the 10-15 range, easily. He’s going to be of the most intriguing case studies down on the farm in 2023.  

32) LHP Deivy Cruz- Going into 2022, Cruz was a teenage lefty with big velo, massive strikeout numbers, erratic control, and an ERA over 5 in the DSL. By midseason, Cruz was showcasing his stuff in Delmarva and had cracked Baseball America’s Top 30 list. Cruz can run his fastball up to 95 mph and features a slider and changeup in his repertoire. He showcased solid swing and miss rates with Delmarva and pitched well as an 18-year-old who faced just three batters all season who were younger than him. He will need to reign in the control in 2023, but he should find himself pitching in High-A at just 19.  

33) OF Braylin Tavera- Signed for a then franchise record $1.7 million signing bonus (eclipsed by Almeyda this year), Tavera had an up down debut in the DSL as a 17-year-old, hitting .286 with a pair of home runs and an .875 OPS in his first month of play, followed by a .451 OPS month of July with 20 K/10 BB, and then a .952 OPS in August with more walks (14) than strikeouts (7). Reports suggest he has the defensive abilities to stick in center as he moves up the organization and his strong finish to the year with a season-long .411 OBP is encouraging. It will be exciting to get our eyes on him for the first time in Sarasota this season. 

34) RHP Carlos Tavera- If not for a shortened 2022 season due to what has been reportedly labled as “non-baseball medical issues” (per Baseball America’s Top 30 list) Tavera would have ended the year in Double-A, but he still made the most of his 16 starts with Aberdeen. Armed with one of the best changeups in the organization, a slider that jumped in 2022, and a fastball that he can run well into the mid-90s, Tavera struck out 33% of hitters he faced and hitters struggled to stay above the Mendoza Line against him (.205 BAA). His walk number was a big focus going into 2022 and while he posted a 13.8% walk rate, nearly a third of his walks came from two outings, one of which he was clearly far from 100%. He will be reunited with pitching coach Forrest Herrmann who gets the bump to Bowie this season, setting up Tavera for a potential big breakout year.  

35) RHP Kyle Brnovich- The former Elon standout was tracking towards a potential big league debut in 2022, but he made just two starts before undergoing Tommy John surgery. Despite sitting in the upper-80s/low-90s, Brnovich fills up the strikezone with excellent command and hitters have consistently struggled to barrel him up. His famed double-knuckle curve is his go-to out pitch. We should see him back on the mound mid-season, allowing him time to work his way back to Norfolk before the end of the year, when he will be Rule 5 eligible again so a 40-man roster decision will be necessary.  

36) RHP Zach Peek- Peek was the biggest unknown when he came over in the Dylan Bundy trade, but he quickly emerged as not only a fan favorite, but an intriguing starting pitching prospect who was settling in pretty nicely in Double-A before succumbing to Tommy John surgery. We likely won’t see him in affiliate ball in 2023 as he recovers, but Peek features an elite-spin curveball and emerging slider that he started leaning in to last season before the injury, to go along with his FB/CH, giving him a deep mix that he commands well. He’s got the ceiling of a major league starter. 

37) RHP Chris Vallimont- A waiver claim last season who had a 9.95 ERA and a 20/23 K/BB ratio in 19 IP at the Double-A level with Minnesota, the Orioles tweaked Vallimon’ts game a bit and watched him allow one run in 13 IP, with 18 K/4 BB before being promoted to Triple-A. It was an up-and-down ride for him with the Tides, but Vallimont showcased a fastball that he can run up to 95 mph as part of a four-pitch mix with improved control since joining the O’s organization. The stuff is there to be a backend starter and if things click in 2023, he could get that opportunity.  

38) SS Maikol Hernandez- Signed for $1.2 million in 2021, Hernandez had aspects of his game and physical stature comped to Alex Rodriguez and Manny Machado, but it’s been a rough go the last two seasons. After a decent debut that saw Hernandez post good K/BB numbers, he struggled in the FCL last season, posting a 34% strikeout rate, a .155 average, and a wRC+ of 51. He will play all of 2023 as a 19-year-old and the organization said at the end of last year that he was working through adjustments made to his game. Like the next guy on this list, while Hernandez has dropped considerably on our list, his age and tools keep him in our Top 50, for now.  

39) OF Mishael Deson- 2022 was a disappointing season for Deson, the PTBNL in the Mychal Givens trade with Colorado that also brought over Tyler Nevin and Terrin Vavra, but given his age, tools, and ceiling, he remains firmly in our top 50 with another chance to figure things out. A 30% strikeout rate and 67% groundball rate isn’t going to get him to Aberdeen, but peak Deson is corner outfielder with decent pop, good speed, and solid defense.  

40) RHP Trace Bright- Drafted in the 5th round of last year’s draft out of Auburn, Bright is being heralded as a notable sleeper in the Orioles system as he enters his first full season of pro ball. He was touching 97 mph at Auburn and Baseball America graded his fastball and slider as the best pitches among the entire Orioles 2022 draft class. His FB had more than 19 inches of induced vertical break (IVB) as a pro, which is firmly in elite territory. Standing at 6’4” with four quality pitches, Bright could be a workhorse starter in this system, or a quick riser if the organization puts him on a reliever track (which seems unlikely this early on). 

41) OF Donta’ Williams– Williams had a lot of fans after the Orioles drafted him in the 4th round back in 2021 out of Arizona, and not just because of his speed and flashy defense. Williams has flashed a bat that could make him a really intriguing prospect with his plus speed and defensive tools, but injuries hampered his first full season as a pro. Still, Williams was able to produce a 14.8% walk rate and filled in admirably with Double-A Bowie for the final series of the season, hitting a home run and walking four times in three games (just two strikeouts).  

42) IF Anderson De Los Santos- Another name among an incredibly deep group of infielders in this systeam and someone who could honestly be one of the bigger breakout prospects in Birdland next season. The 18-year-old, who has predominantly played third base in his DSL and FCL stints, walked just as many times as he struck out (15%), puts up impressive exit velo numbers and even more impressive in-zone whiff numbers (10% per Jon Meoli’s “Maximizing Playoff Odds”). His maturity and baseball IQ have also been highly praised since he joined the organization. He will play all season as a 19-year-old in Delmarva with an opportunity to make an insane amount of noise.  

43) C Maverick Handley- Noted for his strong defensive skillset coming out Stanford (Co-Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year with Adley in 2019), Handley put in extensive work with the bat at Driveline last offseason and the work showed in his first season at the Double-A level in 2022. While maintaining his 11% walk rate from 2021 in Aberdeen, Handley saw his strikeout rate plummet from 30% to 20% while putting up a .352 OBP, .769 OPS, and a 114 wRC+ across 78 games. If the bat continues to play well in Triple-A, Handley should find himself in the big leagues soon. 

44) RHP Juan De Los Santos- Signed back in 2019 for $25,000 as one of the very first international signings of the Koby Perez era (first J2 class wasn’t signed for another three months), De Los Santos flashed his stuff as a 20-year-old in Delmarva with a fastball that he can run up to 98 mph and a slider that could emerge as a plus offering. He dominated Low-A competition while throwing strictly fastballs (for the most part) and went through an adjustment period has he started mixing in his full repertoire, but ended the year on a high note. De Los Santos likely begins 2023 as a 21-year-old in Aberdeen where a strong showing could propel him up prospect lists as more people finally get eyes on him.  

45) LHP Juan Rojas- One of the four pitchers acquired for Jorge Lopez at the 2021 trade deadline, Rojas is a 6-foot lefty with a four-pitch mix who has put up very impressive rookie-ball numbers in his first two seasons and should be a big contributor for Delmarva as a 19-year-old (turns 19 on January 31). He struck out 50 hitters while walking just nine in 38.2 IP last season with the Twins and O’s complex league teams. At the time of the trade, Rojas was throwing 88-91 mph per multiple reports, but already has good feel for his slider, curve, and changeup, and throws a ton of strikes. He’s a pitcher to watch closely as he grows and begins facing more advanced competition.  

46) RHP Brandon Young- Oh what could have been in 2022. Young made just three starts with Bowie before his season ended with an undisclosed injury, but he’s a prospect of real intrigue that we tabbed as soon as he was signed as a UDFA after the 2020 MLB Draft out of UL-Lafayette (where he worked with former O’s pitcher BJ Ryan). Armed with a four-pitch mix, including a curve and change that seperate him from much of the pitching pack, the 6’6” righty struck out a third of all hitters he faced in his 2021 debut with Delmarva and Aberdeen and has all the makings of a potential big league starter. With his exact injury and the severity unknown, it’s difficult to predict what or how much we see out of Young in 2023, but a healthy Young who pitches well in Bowie could see him end the year as a potential Top 30 guy again.  

47) 2B Aron Estrada- The 5’8” switch-hitting second baseman out of Venezuela exploded onto the scene in his organizational debut with the DSL Orioles, earning an All-Star nod after hitting .368 with a .483 OBP and more walks (29) than strikeouts (23). Estrada likely won’t steal a lot of bases or develop much power, but his advanced bat-to-ball skills and dominance in the DSL could lead him down a similar path to what Frederick Bencosme took last year.  

48) SS Edwin Amparo- Given the fourth-highest signing bonus in franchise history at the time ($650,000), Amparo finished his first season on an impressive note, slashing .373/.424/.593 with a 1.017 OPS in August. Clearly things started clicking for Amparo which is exactly what you want to see from a 17-year-old making his pro debut. He’s listed at 6’0” and 165 pounds, with plenty of physical projection remaining. The switch-hitting shortstop has the tools to stick at the position based on all reports and we’ll have a better idea of what the future holds for his bat as he makes his FCL debut this season. With all the middle infield depth in the system and bigger hype from Leandro Arias in the same signing class, Amparo will likely remain overlooked until a big breakout happens. Will that be in 2023? 

49) IF Isaac De Leon- Signed by Miami out of the Dominian Republic for $275K in 2018, De Leon became the PTBNL in the 2020 Richard Bleier trade and has since worked his way up to High-A after two successful seasons in the Orioles organization. For a month stretch that spanned parts of July/August, De Leon was arguably the hottest hitter in the O’s system with an OPS just at tick under 1.000 and showing home run exit velo’s ~110 mph while maintaining a 17% walk rate in Delmarva. Strikeouts were an issue and he’s profiling more as a corner IF now who will have to show more at the plate, but his improvements as the season progressed were notable and he will be just 21 in Aberdeen next season.  

50) C Silas Ardoin- Heralded as the best defensive catcher in the 2022 draft, Ardoin had a memorable pro debut, drawing nine walks in his first 10 plate appearances. His dad, Danny Ardoin, was a big league catcher himself (played for the Orioles in 2006). If the bat develops as Ardoin moves up the ladder, many we talk to believe he can be a future starting backstop in the big leagues. Expect him to move up this list significantly this season. 

The post On The Verge Top 50 Baltimore Orioles Prospects February 2023 appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

Delmarva broadcaster Sam Jellinek recently joined On The Verge to provide a detailed wrap-up of the Shorebirds’ 2022 season, which I strongly encourage you to listen to if you haven’t already. Sam provided some great context to the season and told a few really good stories that show the extent to which the Orioles organization is going to make sure the transition from Sarasota to Delmarva is as smooth as possible for the up-and-coming international prospects.

Just as I did last week in my FCL/DSL review, I want to highlight a few players who spent the majority of their seasons in Salisbury and stood out for one reason or another, giving fans a list of players to keep in the back of their minds ahead of next season, beginning with the big man himself, Creed Willems.

Willems was one of the prospects who On The Verge followers had the most questions about this season for various reasons after quickly becoming a bit of a polarizing prospect for his lack of numbers that jumped off the page. However, he’s still firmly on my radar for a variety of reasons. Willems hit .190 with a .585 OPS through 68 games, logging nine doubles and just as many triples as home runs (4). Keep in mind he was called up at 18 after just 10 FCL games in 2021 and felt the same effects of the elimination of short-season ball that many players at this level have since felt.

Behind the plate, Willems made an immediate impact with his arm and showed a lot of those same leadership traits which we praised Adley Rutschman for having as he came up through the system. The connection between Willems and his staff is very clear. Speaking of that staff, Delmarva’s pitching staff experienced a high-degree of turnover this season and featured a large number of spanish-speaking players, resulting in more variables to consider when looking at Willems’ development this season, on top of the fact that he plays a position that typically sees offensive maturation occur much later in the development process.

Willems closed out the year with a .276 average and .816 OPS across his final 24 games, showing noted improvements at the plate, the Orioles believed in him enough to give him a $1 million signing bonus, and he will get to repeat Delmarva next season as a 19-year-old. The duo of Willems and Samuel Basallo is going to be must-watch baseball next season.

Elsewhere around the diamond for Delmarva, Isaac De Leon ended his season with a surprise promotion to Aberdeen, but it was certainly warranted. It was surprising only because he’s 20 years old and it came soon after Orioles Director of International Scouting Koby Perez mentioned that a number of the young guys in Delmarva would be repeating the level in 2023, something that may end up being all part of the plan as teams try to adjust to a lack of short-season ball.

De Leon hit just .222 between the two levels, but had the organization’s highest walk rate at 17% with the Shorebirds and he saw his efforts pay off with a big month of August where he put up an .864 OPS and started really showcasing some notable power.

Originally signed by Miami for $275,000 and acquired by Baltimore as the Player To Be Named Later in the 2020 trade of Richard Bleier, De Leon is another example of a young, up-and-coming international prospect in this system who didn’t receive the big signing bonus payday, but could end up being a notable contributor in the organization.

Fellow infielder Luis Valdez entered the season as a complete non-prospect, but someone who I mentioned could be a fun player to watch in the lower levels of the minors with his speed and athleticism. That proved to be true as Valdez swiped 71 bases on the season, the second highest mark in all of minor league baseball (71/86 on the season). The question was all about the bat. Could he hit enough even to earn a jump to High-A? Yes. After hitting .196 in May, Valdez hit .333 in June and .297 in July, finishing with a .265 average in 115 games across two levels after getting promoted to Aberdeen for his final 20 games. The power will never be there but if he can continue to hit as he moves up the org, he’s the type of speedster who you consider keeping on the end of your bench, especially with new rules coming to baseball to help increase stolen bases.

Reed Trimble gave us one of the more pleasant surprises of the 2022 season, making his 2022 FCL debut in mid-July and eventually his Delmarva season-debut on July 22nd after undergoing shoulder surgery in December and facing a real possibility of missing the entire 2022 campaign. Trimble saw 33 games of action and appeared to very quickly and steadily show more comfort at the plate. The 65th overall pick in the 2021 draft is now off to the Arizona Fall League for additional work and will enter 2023 fully healthy and ready to climb up the prospect rankings, ready to show exactly why the Orioles used a high draft pick on the draft-eligible sophomore.

On the mound, there were six pitchers who stood out, with four of them being international prospects are currently 18-20 years old. RHP Juan De Los Santos was able to transition from a super fastball heavy approach to flashing multiple secondaries to complement a powerful fastball that can reach the upper-90s from his 6’3” and 250 pound frame. He allowed just five runs across his first 27 innings before the results started to be a mixed bag, but the process was right with De Los Santos as the numbers started to crater a bit as he started using his secondaries more, but balanced out after gaining more feel. An innings limit ended his season early, but he enters 2023 with a chance to establish himself as a legitimate starting pitching prospect.

19-year-old RHP Moises Chace overcame injuries and walk issues to close out the year on a high note, throwing back-to-back five inning starts (first time going 5 IP all season) and allowing a combined two earned runs and two walks while striking out 11. He has a solid fastball/slider combo to build on going into next season where he likely begins back in Delmarva’s rotation with a chance to be in Aberdeen not long after his 20th birthday. Fellow teenage arm LHP Deivy Cruz could follow the same path, but be in Aberdeen as a 19-year-old next season. Cruz struck out 52 in 53.2 innings with Delmarva and saw his prospect status skyrocket to Top 30 ranks by midseason with a 93-95 mph fastball, slider, and changeup repertoire and impressive swing and miss numbers. A big start in 2023 will surely earn Cruz much more national attention. Looking at all of the arms that saw action in Delmarva and in rookie ball this season, I think Cruz is the most exciting pitching prospect with the highest ceiling.

One thing that has stood out among some of the younger prospects in the system is how impactful many of the younger trade targets have been (see Jean Pinto last season). Typically, those PTBNL and teenage “throw-ins” in deals don’t get much attention since they usually aren’t the focal point in trades or don’t end up hanging around their new orgs for very long, but so far the Orioles have been able to turn these types of players into intriguing players. That includes RHP Juan Nunez (Jorge Lopez trade) and RHP Yaqui Rivera (PTBNL in Cole Sulser/Tanner Scott trade).

Nunez began his Delmarva career with a very uncharacteristic seven walk performance, but don’t let that outing fool you. Nunez didn’t allow a single run over his last three outings (11 IP) and has received very high praise from some outlets, including Baseball America which recently named him one of the top prospects of note in the FCL this past season, citing his mid-90s fastball, “potential plus-slider”, work-in-progress changeup (a pitch we know the Orioles feel confident in developing), and “potential MLB role”. As for Rivera, holy curveball. He was clearly very raw out on the mound this season, but he’s just 19 and was not only able to showcase a 6 IP, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K outing at one point, but was able to transition into a late-inning arm for Delmarva with a fiery demeanor perfectly suited for a lock-down ninth-inning arm. He’s near the very top of my intrigue list for 2023.

Last but not least, I want to mention RHP Ryan Long. Listed at 6’6” and 240 pounds, Long was a 17th round pick in 2021 out of Pomona-Pitzer (CA) and fits the mold of a few other mid/later round arms the Orioles have recently taken and developed into impressive arms now in the upper levels of the minors (see Justin Armbruester, Peter Van Loon, Noah Denoyer, Ryan Watson, etc. Although, Denoyer and Watson went undrafted). Long finished with 73 K in 72.2 IP and gave up just five earned runs over his last 27.2 IP (included a scoreless stretch of more than 20 innings). Impressive side note with Long, not only is he working towards a possible major league career, but he’s also working on his goal of going to law school.

I usually don’t take much stock into draft year performances from guys, especially pitchers, seeing as they are making a major life adjustment, playing through a 50-60 game pro season after a full year of college ball, and other reasons, but I will take a moment to highlight Jackson Holliday and his time in Delmarva. He played with the poise of an advanced college bat in his first taste of pro ball and worked some of the more impressive at-bats I saw at any point during Delmarva’s season. Mike Elias said after the draft that Holliday wasn’t going to end up with Delmarva this year, yet he played in 12 games and walked more than he struck out (15 BB/10 K in 12 games). With a strong offseason and minor league camp, I won’t be shocked at all to see him start the year in Aberdeen.

Speaking of Aberdeen, we’ll take a trip there next week to highlight one of the most successful teams in all of Minor League Baseball in 2022.

The post Baltimore Orioles Prospects Who Shined In Delmarva In 2022 appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

As of September 16th, the Dominican Summer League, Florida Complex League, and Low-A Delmarva Shorebirds have all wrapped up their seasons, leaving just the Aberdeen IronBirds fighting for a South Atlantic League championship, the Bowie Baysox fighting for an Eastern League playoff spot, and the Norfolk Tides going through the end of September with high-profile prospects like Jordan Westburg, Colton Cowser, Joey Ortiz, and Grayson Rodriguez aiming to close their seasons on a high note.

For the teams who have wrapped up, I wanted to highlight a few standout players to keep your eyes on entering 2023. This first article will just focus on the Dominican Summer League and the Florida Complex League rosters. Since I’m not able to do really deep dives as I can with prospects in affiliated ball, this is more of a guide of intriguing names to note for next season when they come stateside or find their way to Delmarva.

Dominican Summer League

One of the more refreshing things about the Baltimore Orioles minor league system is the recent emphasis on scouting and bringing in international talent. What’s been most impressive is that the early returns on the Mike Elias-era international signing classes haven’t fully featured just the high-dollar signings, but players like Frederick Bencosme, Deivy Cruz, and Juan De Los Santos are all finding notable degrees of success in affiliated ball as teenagers, without having received big signing bonus paydays.

DSL games aren’t streamed anywhere and video coming out of the DSL is limited to a few highlights posted by players on their Instagram, so we don’t have much to go on in terms evaluating guys outside of stat lines and the few bits of information I’ve been able to gather from sources throughout the season. While scouting the stat line, especially for DSL and FCL players, tells you next to nothing about a player, there are a few indicators of possible breakout potential and there were a handful of players in the DSL this season who stood out in that way.

IF Aron Estrada– The 17-year-old switch-hitting infielder was a DSL All-Star in 2022 and finished with a .368/.483/.566 slash line with 18 extra-base hits and more walks (29) than strikeouts (23). His 175 wRC+ ranked 5th in the DSL and he featured one of the lowest swinging-strike rates in the league. There’s no doubt that he will be in Sarasota to begin 2023, with a chance at ending the season in Delmarva if his bat continues to play this well. He didn’t receive the highest signing bonus (not even close), but he’s easily planted himself at the top of my must-watch list next season.

OF Braylin Tavera/IF Leandro Arias– These two signed for the highest amounts back in January and although their stat lines don’t jump off the page, all reports this season were promising. Tavera finished with a .411 OBP, drawing 36 walks in 47 games, and there were a number of balls put in play at 100+ mph off the bat of Arias throughout the season. The more I’ve heard about Arias, the more I understand why FanGraphs had him so highly ranked in this system before the season started.

SS Edwin Amparo– Amparo struggled out of the gates after receiving the third highest signing bonus in this past international class, but finished his debut campaign strong, posting a 1.017 OPS and .373 average with nine extra-base hits, including his first two career home runs (just 5 XBH through first two months). It will be interesting to see if the switch-hitting shortstop can tap into more power as he fills out, adding yet another impressive middle infield prospect to this system.

IF Alfredo Velasquez– You won’t find much, if anything, written publicly about Velasquez, but his stat line peaked my interest. The 17-year-old put up a .572 OPS in June, then a .728 OPS in July, and a 1.060 OPS in August, walking more than he struck out (12/13 K/BB), and swiping a bag in 14 of 17 attempts. His numbers show exactly what you want to see at this level- steady progression. He also had the third-lowest swinging strike rate in the DSL at 12.9%.

OF Jean Mata/Raylin Ramos– Mata has received high praise for his baseball IQ, speed, and defense in centerfield, and after a slow start to the season, started showing more with the bat. Mata ended the year with a .963 OPS in August with 12 walks to 6 strikeouts in 16 games. He had a .403 OBP and 24/22 K/BB on the season. Ramos has a bit of a different profile, bringing more power and size to the table. Ramos posted a .288/.359/.410 slash line with a pair of home runs and an impressive 21/15 K/BB line. For all of these guys at this level, the K/BB numbers are the first thing I tend to look at and are probably the only numbers you can take much stock in.

SS Cristian Benavides– Tabbed by Baseball America’s Ben Badler as the sleeper of this past class in the O’s system, Benavides saw his month-to-month OPS jump from .566 to .756 to .917 and collected six extra-base hits in August after recording just two through the first two months of the season. Described as having “plus speed, a plus arm, and big power for his age”, be sure to keep close tabs on Benavides in Sarasota next season.

On the mound, 6’3” RHP Bryan Bautista was actually a December 2021 signing, but put together one of the better campaigns. He finished with a 48/10 K/BB in 43.2 IP and a 2.81 FIP that was a run and a half lower than his ERA. 6’4” RHP Harif Frias was a DSL All-Star in 2022, striking out 51 hitters in 31.1 IP while allowing 11 walks and no home runs (2.01 ERA, 1.15 WHIP). He’s a bit older and he was repeating the level, but he seemed to show significant improvements this season and finished second in the DSL in FIP (1.17/ min 20 IP) and fifth in strikeout percentage (37%).

Finally, a big group of lefties who stood out on the mound. Andres Parra stands just 5’11” but he showcased a pair of impressive breaking balls and a bit of a unique arm motion in his delivery that seems to make it more difficult for hitters to pick up. Parra recorded a 2.43 ERA and 28 K in 29.2 IP. Noelin Cuevas, another December 2021 signing, fanned 40 across 30 innings while allowing 12 walks and no home runs. 19-year-old Jose Ramirez was repeating the DSL this season after an injury limited him to just 16 innings last saeson. He struck out 73 in 52 IP and held hitters to a .205 average, but he did allow 42 walks. We have seen pitchers in the lower levels of the minors clean up their control as they move up the ranks, so based on the strikeout total alone, Ramirez should be an interesting player to watch in Sarasota next season.

Then there’s probably my favorite two among this group, a pair of 6’3” lefties in Jose Leandro and Luis De Leon. Leandro didn’t sign until May of this year and finished with a 1.91 ERA across 10 outings, but that includes one outing in which he gave up three runs. He only gave up three total runs in his other nine outings. De Leon logged only 28 innings, but struck out 38% of batters he faced and produced a groundball rate north of 60%. He did have a 5.14 ERA, but the FIP (2.63) and xFIP (2.87) were both much more impressive.

Florida Complex League

Despite winning just 16 games this season, the FCL Orioles started to see the results match the work being put in as the season progressed, and saw a breakout name or two emerge as guys who could make a bigger name for themselves when more eyes are on them with Delmarva. A few of the better performers were moved up to Delmarva before the end of the season, so I’ll discuss them next time. For this peice, I’ll focus on guys who spent all or the vast majority of the season in Sarasota.

No point in waiting to talk about the biggest (in more than one sense) performer from the FCL in 2022, catcher Samuel Basallo. Basallo played half the season as a 17-year-old yet finished tied for the league lead in home runs (6), hit .278 with a .350 OBP, and ranked among the league’s best with a strikeout rate of 20%. He’s likely going to make his Delmarva debut as an 18-year-old, forming quite the catching duo with fellow teenage prospect Creed Willems. His future defensive home will be figured out later, for right now, Basallo has received high praise for his defensive abilities behind the plate and very strong arm.

One of the breakout names among this group was 18-year-old infielder Angel Tejada. After hitting .063 in July (seven games), Tejada posted an OPS of .787 in July and hit .391 with an 1.136 OPS over his final seven games. He logged three home runs and was able to do what the Orioles want to see their hitters do- keep the ball off the ground. Tejada now has an .813 OPS through his stops in the DSL and FCL.

I would not be shocked to see IF Anderson De Los Santos emerge as one of next year’s biggest risers. The 18-year-old had a .904 OPS last year in the DSL and while his numbers didn’t pop in the FCL this year, reports on his baseball IQ, dedication to the development process, and ability to mash baseballs with impressive exit velos are all very positive. De Los Santos walked just as many times as he struck out (23) and finished the season with a .345 average and .907 OPS over his final ten games. He ranked among the league’s best in strikeout and swinging strike rate.

I’ll throw out one more name for the real diehards out there, catcher Carlos Rodriguez. Rodriguez was signed in 2021 out of Venezuela and made his stateside debut this year in Sarasota as an 18-year-old. An injury ended his season early but he ended up waking 17 times to 18 strikeouts in 28 games (.403 OBP) and hit a pair of home runs. Like Cristian Benavides, Rodriguez was tabbed by Ben Badler at Baseball America as his signing class sleeper one year prior (“He’s extremely athletic for a catcher, with slightly above-average speed underway and a good arm from behind the plate.” per Badler). He likely repeats in Sarasota next season but if he plays like did in his limited time in 2022, he could find himself in Delmarva before the end of the year. Reports coming out of Florida on Rodriguez matched the scouting reports coming out of the 2021 signing period. He’s yet another catcher in this underrated and deep group of catchers in the Orioles system.

But what about Maikol Hernandez? I don’t know yet. We’ve heard about his five-tool potential and premature physical comps of Alex Rodriguez and Manny Machado thrown on him (can we stop making comps a thing? They are pointless and always lazy), but he’s now played in 82 games between the DSL and FCL and owns a .191 average, .560 OPS, a 92/39 K/BB and has yet to hit his first career home run. Koby Perez, Orioles Director of International Scouting, mentioned before the end of the FCL season that the organization made some adjustments to his game and he was working through those. He did see an uptick in production immediately after that, but we’ll see what 2022 brings.

Overall, it was great to see new names pop up in 2022 and see some familiar names take a step forward this season. With the Orioles already being connected to one of the top international signings in next year’s class (could possibly become the first Orioles signee to get more than $2 million), 2023 is sure to provide even more excitement at these levels.

The post These Rookie Level Orioles Prospects Stood Out In 2022 appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

As usual, final rankings are based on all three of us at On The Verge submitting our own personal lists and then averaging them together. You can listen to our breakdown of the list in podcast form here.

1) SS Gunnar Henderson: It’s hard to find another prospect in baseball who has seen their stock rise as high as Henderson’s has this season. He made it to Triple-A before his 21st birthday after appearing in just 47 games with Bowie in 2022, walking more than he struck out (38 K/41 BB) and putting up an OPS of 1.025 and wRC+ of 175. After moving up to Norfolk, Henderson has matched his Double-A home run total in nearly 50 fewer at-bats, has maintained an OBP of over .400, and has seen the strikeouts rise a bit, but still lower than at any stop he made in 2021 by a significant margin. Whether he sticks at short or moves to third, he’s going to be a plus-defender. He has not had one single at-bat in 2022 against a pitcher younger than him.

2) RHP Grayson Rodriguez: Rodriguez has firmly established himself as the top pitching prospect in baseball, with a five pitch repertoire and plus-command. After striking out 161 batters in 103 IP across two levels in 2021 (2.36 ERA/0.83 WHIP), Rodriguez found yet another gear in 2022 while excelling in Triple-A before an unfortunate injury sidelined him on June 1. All signs point to Rodriguez being a future ace with the organization. Ideally, he’s able to get back on the mound before the end of the season and is in the major league starting rotation on Opening Day 2023.

3) SS Jackson Holliday: The Orioles didn’t play any financial tetris when it came to their 1.1 pick in the 2022 draft, giving Holliday the largest signing bonus ever for a high schooler. A potential five-tool player, the left-handed hitting shortstop brings with him an extremely high ceiling and the potential to be a power-hitting All-Star in the middle of a big league lineup for a long time. After watching Gunnar Henderson’s development over the last two years, it’s easy to dream on what the Orioles will be able to do with Holliday’s already advanced skill set. His full-season debut will likely be the most anticipated storyline entering 2023.

4) LHP DL Hall: The good news with Hall is that he’s remained healthy all season, his stuff is still electric, and more specificially, his secondary offerings have been impressive. He entered the midseason break on one of the more dominant stretches you will see, allowing three earned runs across 21.2 IP with 42 strikeouts and 8 walks. The evaluation remains the same, Hall’s ceiling is a rotation piece as one of the hardest throwing lefties in baseball and there’s still a chance that he becomes a high-leverage reliever who can rely on his upper-90s fastball and plus-breaking stuff. Either way, he has the stuff to be an impact arm in the big leagues in the very near future.

5) OF Colton Cowser: A little patience and a few tweaks have gone a long way in Cowser’s development this season. He began the year in High-A where he hit just .258 with a 28% strikeout rate and struggled against lefties, but the Orioles promoted him to Double-A and he’s shown that it was the right move at the right time. The strikeouts have ticked down in AA while his walk rate has remained at 16%, the doubles are turning into home runs, and he’s played a fine CF with a series of highlight reel catches already. Cowser commands the strikezone with one of the lowest swinging-strike rates in the organization and we’re now seeing the advanced hit tool that made him an attractive draft prospect. All arrows are pointing up as his play possibly leads to a trip to Norfolk before the end of the summer.

6) 3B Coby Mayo: Now in Double-A at the age of 20, Mayo combines his immense raw power with an advanced approach at the plate and an absolute cannon for an arm at third base. While being 2.5 years younger than his peers in High-A and playing in an Aberdeen environment that isn’t always very fun for hitters, Mayo hit 13 home runs and put up underlying metrics that proved he was ready for a new challenge after just 65 games. Like Henderson, Mayo’s entire season (outside of six PA) has come against older competition. Back spasms have limited his time in Bowie but he will have the opportunity to settle in at the Double-A level over the final six weeks of the season, all while not turning 21 until December.

7) SS Jordan Westburg: Tapping into even more power this season, Westburg brings a quick, compact swing to the box and produces impressive exit velos that have led to more over the fence power as he hits the ball in the air more (16 HR at the time of this writing between AA/AAA after hitting 15 across three levels last year). Defensively, Westburg is one of the more sound defenders in the organization with the ability to play second, third, or short. When you combine his athleticism, defensive abilities, and power the organization has been able to extract, Westburg projects as a 20+ home run hitter in the majors who can stick on the left side of the infield.

8) OF Kyle Stowers: With all the excitement Henderson and Westburg have brought to Norfolk, Stowers’ big year has quietly gone under the radar (up until now as the demands for his call-up intensify). Producing 47 extra-base hits in his first 86 games this season and slashing his strikeout rate by nearly 10% compared to last year, Stowers has done everything we were hoping we would see from him entering the season- avoid extended slumps, cut down the strikeouts, keep the line-drive/fly ball rates trending in the right direction, turn Harbor Park into a launching pad. All checks. Stowers should be in the big leagues for good well before the end of the season.

9) OF Heston Kjerstad: He’s finally back on the field playing regularly and that’s the biggest win. Kjerstad put up video game numbers in a short stint with Delmarva and now finds himself adjusting to High-A and a not-so friendly ballpark. Without having much to go off of since his two-year layoff between playing competitive baseball, we’re keeping him in the same range we’ve had him in, hoping he can still develop into a power-hitting right fielder who holds down a middle of the order spot with the bat.

10) OF Dylan Beavers: The Orioles grabbed the 6’4” power-hitting lefty out of Cal with the 33rd overall pick in the 2022 draft and he was a popular pick with many within the industry. His power is the carrying tool right now but if the organization is able to tweak a few things and the hit tool develops, Beavers projects as a 30+ home run hitting corner outfield with above-average speed. Similar to many recent later round draft picks, Beavers has a lot of impressive pieces to his makeup, it will just be up to the player development process to put the pieces together. If they can, the ceiling is a fun one to dream on.

11) RHP Seth Johnson: Acquired from Tampa Bay as part of the Trey Mancini trade this year, fans likely won’t get to see Johnson pitch until 2024 due to his Tommy John surgery in early August, but there’s a lot to like about this pickup for the Orioles. Orginally a shortstop in college, Johnson is still fairly raw on the mound but the first sign that there’s something there is when the Rays drafted him 40th overall in 2019 and gave him $1.7 million. Armed with an upper-90s fastball, slider, curve, and in progress changeup, Johnson’s ceiling is a mid-rotation starter with a floor of a bullpen arm who utilizes his high velo fastball and elite slider.

12) 2B Connor Norby: Lauded for his hit tool coming out of the draft in 2021, Norby has shown big-time bat speed as a pro and a keen eye at the plate, becoming a prime example of what the Orioles mean when they preach making good swing decisions. As impressive as that is, Norby’s power has been even more eye-opening, highlighted by a 444-foot home run recently, part of double-digit home run barrage this season from the former ECU Pirate. He may not have the defensive versatility that others like Terrin Vavra and César Prieto do (although he has seen some time in LF this season) but Norby does have the tools to be an everyday second baseman in the big leagues who hits around 20 home runs per season. The arrow is pointing up. Way up.

13) 2B Terrin Vavra: Vavra has since made his big league debut with the Orioles so he likely won’t be on this list for too much longer, but in a very small MLB sample, Vavra is showing fans exactly what he was so good at doing in the minors- take smart at-bats, work deep counts, get on base. We’ve always profiled him as a big league utility player who can play second base and the outfield and it seems as if that’s the path the Orioles have him on already, which is fine. Vavra is going to be a pesky big leaguer for a very long time.

14) 2B César Prieto: First, I have to link to a recent documentary put out by SI.com that followed Prieto’s defection from Cuba. If you haven’t watched these three short videos, I strongly encourage you to do so. Prieto came to the Orioles as one of the more prolific Cuban hitters of all-time, but surprised everyone by hitting seven home runs in 25 games for Aberdeen to begin his career in the States. The power hasn’t been there since moving up to Bowie but Prieto continues to be a dependable contact hitter who may not walk much at all, but he’s rarely going to strike out. With Norby taking over second base duties and Joey Ortiz holding down short, Prieto has been primarily a third baseman with Bowie where he’s showing a stronger arm and more fluid movements as the season has progressed. Will be interesting to see which direction he goes at this point, whether it’s rising through the system as a high-contact hitter or do the Orioles try and tap into more of that power he showed in Aberdeen.

15) LHP Drew Rom: Rom’s report is largely rinse and repeat. He moves up a level, continues to be 2-3 years younger than his peers, sees the strikeouts go up, and the walks stay consistently on the lower side. Evaluators have been hesitant to push him up rankings because of his low-90s fastball velo, but the velo is up, his breaking balls continue to miss a high number of at-bats at the Double-A level, and he’s clearly right there on the verge of a breakthrough that will take him to the next level. An extended non-injury IL stint right as the weather was starting to warm and he was starting to ramp up greatly delayed him in getting it going this season, but Rom has been more effective as the season has progressed.

16) OF Hudson Haskin: Much like his debut season last year, Haskin is having a solid season, but now he’s doing so at the Double-A level. The “funky” swing that some thought would hold him back certainly hasn’t. Haskin has seen his ISO jump nearly 100 points from his tenure in High-A last year, logging 11 home runs, 18 doubles, and 3 triples in 75 games, while seeing an OPS jump of about 70 points (.850 as of August 5th). He’s got the athleticism and arm to stick in centerfield and the uptick in power has him trending up. Arguably one of the more underrated players in this system.

17) LHP Cade Povich: Has taken off since joining pro ball, including a noticeable velo bump that now has him sitting in the mid-90s. Armed with four pitches that scouts all have projected as above-average pitches, Povich has the ceiling of a mid-rotation piece as he continues to refine his repertoire and develop physically. He struck out eight across six innings of one hit ball in his Orioles organization debut with Aberdeen.

18) OF Braylin Tavera: After receiving the highest international signing bonus in Orioles history this January ($1.7 million), the 17-year-old outfielder began his career with a seven-game hit streak in the Dominican Summer League. Since then, his DSL stats aren’t jumping off the page but we know that scouting the DSL/FCL stat line is a fool’s errand. Orioles Senior Director of International Scouting Koby Perez recently highlighted the fact that Tavera has some of the best tools in the DSL right now and we should expect to see him in Florida next season. Going into the signing period, scouting outlets regarded Tavera as a Top 20 international prospect with five-tool potential.

19) C Samuel Basallo: The 17-year-old backstop has been one of the more impressive stories coming out of the FCL this season. Hitting for average and power, Basallo has eclipsed double-digit home runs as a professional before the typical teenager finishes their junior year of high school and has flashed impressive catching metrics behind the plate, including a strong arm. If he sticks behind the plate, the stock skyrockets, otherwise, he emerges as a first base prospect who will need to hit and show big power numbers as he moves up through the system. At the moment, it’s hard not to be amazed at his production.

20) OF John Rhodes: One of the more athletic prospects in the entire organization, Rhodes put up an .817 OPS 58 games with Aberdeen, earning a promotion to Bowie by August, even after missing a few weeks with a wrist injury. He hits the ball hard and is able to drive the ball to all fields, routinely taking some of the more impressive at-bats night after night. His offseason work on focusing on his agility and getting back his high barrel and damage rates has clearly paid off this season. Rhodes has the lowest swinging-strike rate in the organization  and we should start to get a much more clear picture of who he is as a hitter once he settles in against Double-A pitching.

21) RHP Jean Pinto: The darling of 2021, Pinto has risen up the prospects ranks over the last year. We were the first to plant our flag on Pinto and going to continue to hold firm on that. Armed with a mid-90s fastball and slider with big shape and the ability to land at various spots in the strikezone, Pinto has had an up and down season in High-A, but he’s still just 21 and more than two years younger than his peers at the level. Working extremely quickly (imagine the fastest pitcher you’ve seen work and then put that on 1.5x speed), Pinto’s control has been the big issue in 2022, having seen his walk rate jump about five percentage points to nearly 12%, but he’s still striking out nearly 11/9 IP and has consistently run an xFIP nearly a full run lower than his ERA. There’s relief risk considering his size and arsenal, but there’s still starting potential here.

22) SS Joey Ortiz: His 2021 breakout appeared to be real, until a torn labrum ended his season soon after being promoted to Double-A. After a slow start and a slight hand adjustment, Ortiz has emerged as one of the hottest hitting prospects in baseball. Since July 1, Ortiz has put up an OPS of 1.159, a 210 wRC+, 7 home runs, and 10 doubles while striking out in fewer than 13% of his at-bats. For comparison, he had a .733 OPS, 106 wRC+, and just 4 home runs from April-end of June. With his MLB-ready defense and huge exit velo numbers, Ortiz has put himself firmly on the map and will make for an interesting discussion when it’s time to discuss who is protected from the Rule 5 this winter.

23)  SS Maikol Hernandez: Signed for $1.3 million last year (largest signing bonus in O’s history at the time), Hernandez didn’t light up the stat sheet in the DSL last season but reports outside of the organization noted improved metrics as the season progressed. It’s been another rough go for the Venezuelan shortstop in the FCL but recent reports note some changes the organization has made with his game, leading to an adjustment period. The early physical comps to Alex Rodriguez and Manny Machado naturally led to plenty of excitement about his signing, and there’s still plenty to like physically to keep interest alive. However, unless he starts producing some time soon, it’s fair to start asking some big questions about his potential.

24) RHP Michael Baumann: Between injuries, velo swings, role changes,  and being moved up and down between Baltimore/Norfolk, it’s been a journey for Baumann over the last two years. Now 26, Baumann has had his ups and downs in Triple-A this season, struggling with control some nights. Appears more likely that he could find more major league success out of the bullpen with his plus-slider and possible uptick in fastball velo with shorter outings. To note, Baumann needs just one more day on the active roster to shed his prospect status.

25) OF Jud Fabian: His draft story is well known by now, getting picked up by Boston in 2021 when the Orioles were targeting him, not signing with Boston, improving the plate discipline at Florida, and then ultimately getting drafted by Baltimore this year. The power and defense Fabian brings to the organization are real, but if the hit tool develops and the strikeouts continue to improve, Fabian becomes a possible future everyday big league outfielder. He’s sure to be one of the more scrutinzed 2022 draft picks as he begins his pro career.

26) SS Darell Hernaiz: In most other systems, Hernaiz is a Top 15 guy, but with the depth of middle infield talent the Orioles have acquired over the last few years, Hernaiz continues to get pushed down the rankings and overlooked. He’s got the power, bat-to-ball skills, and batted ball data that all point to a legitimate prospect. He was the true leader of Delmarva’s clubhouse early in 2022 despite being just 20 years old and he has the skills to stick at short, with defense being one of his more notable improvements this season.

27) RHP Carter Baumler: Baumler made his pro debut earlier this season after having 2020 wiped away and missing 2021 as he recovered from Tommy John. He’s since missed some more time due to a setback, but it’s not a serious setback and just a slight delay, nothing to be concerned about now. The 20-year-old showed big time swing and miss stuff in his debut with one of the more beautiful curveballs in the system. Hopefully, he can close 2022 with a few more innings in Delmarva and be a full-go in 2023.

28) OF Reed Trimble: Shoulder surgery back in December delayed the start of his 2022 season to mid-July. He also missed some time in 2021 after being drafted, so viewings of Trimble have been limited. However, the former 65th overall selection is still just 22, is a switch-hitting centerfielder known for having more power from the left side (of course), and had some national evaluators buzzing about him after the draft. Ideally, fall workouts go well and Trimble can begin 2023 with Aberdeen where we get a full-season worth of looks.

29) RHP Chayce McDermott: Acquired as part of the Trey Mancini trade, McDermott has some big fans within the industry and has the skill set and stuff to become a future major league starter, or a big leaguer reliever with a fastball that he can run up to 98 mph and a big, 12-6 curveball. Throughout college and at every stop in the minors, McDermott has shown plenty of swing-and-miss stuff. He’s also a product of some college injuries and COVID disruptions, so his current age/level isn’t worth harping on. He will be a fun case study to follow as the player development staff is able to work with him more.

30) 3B Max Wagner: Second-round pick of the Orioles this year. Wagner is the reigning ACC Player of the Year after hitting 27 home runs with a 1.348 OPS for Clemson, all while beginning the year on the bench. Like many recent draft picks of the Orioles (Rhodes, Trimble, etc), the Orioles are hoping they can grab Wagner early and continue his upward trajectory using their own player development processes and turning him into a high-value draft pickup.

31) RHP Chris Vallimont: A pretty solid waiver claim find for the Orioles, Vallimont had disastrous numbers in Double-A with the Twins organization, but found immediate success after coming over to Baltimore. Vallimont is able to create some uncomfortable looks with his 6’5” frame, but control issues have crept back in after a promotion to Norfolk. If that can be cleaned up, Vallimont is already on the 40-man and could get a major league look before the end of the season.

32) RHP Zach Peek: Peek’s stuff took a noticeable jump forward in 2022 and while the 11-12K/9 IP he showcased with Delmarva and Aberdeen wasn’t there this year in Bowie (7.94K/9 IP), Peek cut down on the free passes and showed a knack for producing weak ground balls/double plays when necessary. He was pushing fairly hard for a promotion to Triple-A before undergoing Tommy John surgery (same day as Seth Johnson), so we may not see Peek again until 2024. His injury was a crushing blow after watching him make one of the highest jumps on our list.

33) SS Leandro Arias: A true shortstop prospect currently making his pro debut in the DSL, Arias received the second-highest signing bonus in this past international class, with some national outlets aggressively ranking Arias within the Top 15 of the organization. His elite exit velo numbers that we’ve been given help explain why.

34) RHP Carlos Tavera: Named as one of the top sleepers in the organization before the season started, Tavera has flashed exactly why during his time in Aberdeen. Armed with a deceptive fastball that find its way into the upper-90’s, an improved slider, and a plus-changeup, Tavera has seen his strikeout rate jump to 33%, but walks remain to be arguably the biggest thing that’s holding him back. Injuries seemed to have disrupted his second-half, otherwise, Tavera was trending towards a promotion to Double-A by now.

35) RHP Kyle Brnovich: The command artist made it just eight innings into the season before having Tommy John surgery, haulting what was likely going to be a season that saw Brnovich make his MLB debut. He can fill a strikezone, avoid barrels with the fastball, and work deep into games due to his efficiency. Still viewed as a possible rotation piece.

36) OF Mishael Deson: Deson’s name has been pushed out by the organization often since acquiring him as part of the Mychal Givens trade with Colorado, with Orioles Director of International Scouting Koby Perez even describing Deson as a potential five-tool player. He hasn’t taken off this season as expected, but the 6’4” outfielder has plenty of physical projection left, budding power at the plate, and the athleticism to be a fine centerfielder. Repeating Delmarva next season may be better for Deson’s development. He doesn’t turn 21 until July 2023. It’s not time to lower the expectations with Deson.

37) SS Frederick Bencosme: Some of the best bat-to-ball skills in the organization, one of the more confident players you will watch, and one of the biggest surprises of the 2022 season. Bencosme played in just two FCL games before being promoted to Delmarva where he’s walked more than he’s struck out and has held a batting average over .350 since July 2nd. The 19-year-old has started to slowly flash more power as he’s grown more confident in Low-A. If that part of his game can develop more, he could be one of the biggest risers on national lists come next season.

38) RHP Brandon Young: Young had a bit of a breakout in 2021, posting some of the bigger strikeout numbers in the organization and showing off an impressive four-pitch mix. 2022 was supposed to be the year where we saw how his stuff could hold up across 100+ innings against Double-A competition, but an undisclosed injury has sidelined him since April 22nd. When healthy, the 2020 UDFA has the makings of a big league starter.

39) LHP Deivy Cruz: An 18-year-old lefty with legitimate strikeout stuff, a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and impressive slider, Cruz has the makings of a future starter if he can develop his changeup and smooth out the control. Walks have been a big issue in a few outings this season, but he’s an 18-year-old making his full-season debut. Very raw, but a big ceiling for Cruz.

40) RHP Noah Denoyer: One of the more interesting stories in the org, Denoyer went undrafted in 2019 (40 round draft), but has now emerged as one of Bowie’s more dependable pitchers. Hitting 95-96 mph with the fastball and showing improved breaking stuff, Denoyer’s 72/15 K/BB and sub 1.00 WHIP are some of the more impressive numbers you will see in the org and his stuff fully backs it up.

41) RHP Garrett Stallings: Another command artist, Stallings had an ERA of 28.50 and a WHIP of 4.17 in June, only to turn that around to a 1.46 ERA, 0.81 WHIP, and a 31/2 K/BB in July. A truly remarkable turnaround. Without a true, elite weapon in his arsenal, Stallings has to stay ahead in the count and not rely on his fastball to remain effective, which is what he’s been able to do since that June meltdown. There’s a path for him to be an effective reliever in the majors.

42) SS Anthony Servideo: It’s been another season derailed by injuries for Servideo, seeing just 15 games of action between the FCL/Delmarva. He’s a plus-defender and can work a walk with ease, but health has been a major issue.

43) LHP Antonio Velez: Acquired from Miami as part of the Sulser/Scott trade, the changeup is a real weapon (named best changeup in Miami’s system), but he’s spent the majority of 2022 on the IL with multiple trips. His K/BB numbers have been impressive when healthy. Hopefully, a fresh, healthy start in 2023 will be a benefit.

44) RHP Ryan Watson: One of the bigger breakout prospects in 2022, Watson has done nothing but impress with Bowie as he piled up 98 strikeouts to just 19 walks throug his first 91 innings this season, working out of Bowie’s rotation after being predominately a reliever in college and his first season in the pros last year. He has a deep pitch mix and can routinely go into the 5th/6th innings of his starts, often getting better as his outings progress. Dont’ be surprised to see him much higher on all prospect lists next season.

45) OF Yusniel Diaz: It’s been a lot of the same for Yusniel Diaz in 2022. He came out of the gates hot, got hurt, tried to come back, got hurt again, and is now trying for one last shot at a big league role with the Orioles. He has enough power to give you 15+ home runs a season and a cannon of an outfield arm, but he’s not afraid to chase a pitch and the health issues have been constant. He has just a few more weeks to prove he belongs.

46) OF Donta’ Williams: Speedy outfielder who can draw a large share of walks, Williams has had his season interrupted with trips to the IL, causing disruptions with his development. The strikeout rate has ballooned since moving up to High-A, but his power numbers have increased, he’s playing his home games in Aberdeen, and he’s regularly run a low BABIP. More batted ball data would be helpful in getting a better idea of Williams’ year, but we’re remaining optimistic that he can turn things around and still profile as a fourth-outfield type at the next level.

47) OF Robert Neustrom: The power-hitting lefty has made strides in his defense and made improvements in just about every offensive category this year in Triple-A, compared to last year’s stint. The power numbers are up a tick, while the strikeouts have decreased significantly, fanning at about a 17% clip in 2022, which is down around 7% from last season. A crowded OF situation in Baltimore makes his future more complicated, but he’s earned a big league opportunity at this point.

48) SS Anderson De Los Santos: Hard-hitting shortstop prospect who has received rave reviews for his baseball IQ and the way he approaches the game. Breakout potential for De Los Santos when he moves up to Delmarva next season.

49) C Maverick Handley: Finally getting regular playing time, Handley has set career-highs in most offensive categories, showcasing power, a notable on-base ability, and even some sneaky speed. His truly elite defense is still what makes him a prospect to watch, but the offensive output is a huge benfit to his development. Handley has all the tools to be around the game for a very long time.

50) SS Isaac De Leon: De Leon has faced the same issue many in Delmarva have this year, the elimination of short-season ball forcing them to make a bigger jump than what they may have been ready for. Despite struggling to hit for average, De Leon has shown flashes of power has the highest walk rate in the organization (18% over 85 games). Like Deson, he’s still 20 and repeating Delmarva may be in his best interest. Many prospects in Delmarva may have reached their limit this season, but De Leon hasn’t.

Some names who didn’t crack our list but were either on one of our individual lists or seriously considered: RHP Justin Armbruester, RHP Brenan Hanifee, catcher Creed Willems, IF Aron Estrada, RHP Moises Chace, IF Collin Burns, and RHP Ignacio Feliz.

The post Baltimore Orioles Top 50 Prospects August 2022 appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

We’ve seen many of the top prospects in the organization rise even higher, from Grayson Rodriguez cementing himself as the top pitching prospect in all of baseball before an unfortunate injury, to Gunnar Henderson catapulting to number five on MLB Pipeline’s latest Top 100 Prospects update, Jordan Westburg mashing Triple-A pitching and emerging as a Top 100 prospect, DL Hall putting together one of the greatest months of pitching I can think of, Kyle Stowers piling up 43 extra-base hits while lowering his strikeout rate significantly, and 2021 first-round draft pick Colton Cowser getting promoted to Double-A and kicking off his Bowie career in pretty impressive fashion.

I could continue, but I think the point has been made. While we’ve seen some notable players struggle or succumb to injuries, the top prospects in this system are performing at a high level, and doing so in the upper levels of the minor leagues, positioning themselves for big league call-ups in the near future.

As for some of those players who did not have standout first halves, there are a few who are showing signs of a turnaround and I wanted to highlight them here. These are the five prospects who I think are primed to close out the season in a big way, whether it’s recovering from an injury/first-half struggle, or it’s building on under-the-radar first-halves.

Bowie Baysox SS Joey Oritz

With Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg peforming as well as they have been this season, along with the arrival of César Prieto and overall depth of middle infield prospects in the organization, guys like Joey Ortiz and Darell Hernaiz have gone overlooked (recent story on Hernaiz here). The addition of Jackson Holliday is sure to command a good bit of attention as well, once he begins playing in games.

But let’s not forget about Joey Ortiz. The 24-year-old hit just .188 in April, .227 in May, and .204 in June, but he’s been one of the hottest hitters in the system in the month of July. It’s important to note the significant lack of experience for Ortiz when looking at his slow start to the season. The 2019 fourth-round draft pick played in 56 games with then short-season Aberdeen in 2019 before having his 2020 season wiped away. After 89 plate appearances in High-A last season, the Orioles were comfortable enough to promote him to Double-A, where he saw just 67 plate appearances before a torn labrum and surgery ended his season.

Ortiz is now playing in his first full season as a pro and it’s coming at the Double-A level. After taking some time to settle in, Ortiz is showing exactly why he received so much praise coming out of the 2020 Alternate Site and promoted as quickly as he was last season.

In 18 July contests, Ortiz is hitting .373 with a .411 OBP and eight extra-base hits. Eight of those 18 contests have been multi-hit efforts, six of them coming in his last eight games.

The power is there, the defense has been major league ready for a long time now as he’s arguably the best defender in the organization, and now the steady bat is coming along. When you watch Bowie and their roster that’s loaded with top prospects like Colton Cowser, Coby Mayo, Connor Norby, and others, Ortiz and his play stand out and demands your attention. That’s not easy to do among this group. If his last month of play is a sign of things to come, the final two months of the season should be quite the show.

Aberdeen IronBirds OF Heston Kjerstad

One of the best storylines of the 2022 season is the arrival of Heston Kjerstad. Having last played in 2020 as part of a COVID-shortened college campaign at Arkansas, Kjerstad has overcome a battle with myocharditis and then a hamstring injury that delayed his 2022 debut, but returned to the batter’s box with Delmarva and acted like he never left.

Playing in 22 games with the Shorebirds, Kjerstad hit .463 with a .551 on-base percentage, nine doubles, two home runs, and a 17/13 K/BB across 80 at-bats. On July 13th, the 2020 first-round pick was promoted to Aberdeen, giving him an opportunity to earn another promotion and end the season in Bowie, as long as he checks all of his developmental goals the organization has for him. We’re all well aware at this point that the Orioles aren’t going to promote someone unless each and every one of those boxes has been checked.

Despite the extended absence, Kjerstad showed impressive plate discipline in Delmarva and a real knack for collecting high-velo line drives, posting one of the higher line drive rates in the organization. On the flip side, he’s posted one of the highest groundball rates and lowest flyball rates which is notable but not a huge deal considering his time in Delmarva was all about getting his timing back, facing live competition, getting used to playing nine innings in the field, and settling any nerves/shaking off the rust that’s been building over the last two years.

Now in Aberdeen, he’s going to face more advanced pitching, but with his legs under him and what is sure to be a high degree of confidence after putting up video game numbers against Low-A pitching, I wouldn’t be surprised if we start seeing more fly balls in Aberdeen and as a result, more home runs. He’s only played in eight games as of this writing so we’re looking at an extremely small sample size here, but those numbers are already beginning to trend in the right direction. Aberdeen is notorious for zapping power out of guys so raw home run numbers aren’t the best numbers to look at for guys in this lineup, which will be important to note as Kjerstad continues his tenure there. Regardless, Kjerstad has positioned himself for a big run in Aberdeen and possible promotion to Bowie by the end of the season, putting him right in line for a late-2023/early-2024 big league debut. Remarkable considering everything he’s been through.

Norfolk Tides RHP Chris Vallimont

When the Orioles claimed Chris Vallimont off waivers from Minnesota back in late May, the move went largely unnoticed, outside of a few “why would you even bring this guy in” comments when looking at his 2022 season numbers in the Twins organization. I won’t lie, I was guilty of that. Shame on me. Two months later, Chris Vallimont is in Triple-A and ranked as the 22nd best prospect in the organization per Baseball America and 32nd per FanGraphs. The three of us at On The Verge will be releasing our mid-season Top 50 update shortly, where Vallimont will also likely rank somewhere between 25-35.

I’m including Vallimont on this list because as long as he can adjust to Triple-A, he has a real opportunity to be a notable contributor in the big leagues by the end of the season. He’s already on the 40-man roster, so step one is complete.

Vallimont started the season in Double-A with the Twins organization, pitching to a 9.95 ERA, 2.68 WHIP, .329 average against, and more walks than strikeouts. I’m no scout, but my thoroughly researched analysis says…that’s not good. His immediate turnaround after joining the Orioles organization is almost unbelievable. In three Bowie starts, Valllimont allowed just one earned run across 13 innings, while striking out 18 and walking four. His overall numbers in Triple-A haven’t been as great, but he responded from a 4 IP/6 R AAA debut with five no-hit innings as part of a one-hit shutout with DL Hall. Overall, he’s continuing to strikeout guys at an impressive clip and keep the walk numbers low. Honing in on his pitch mix and command should allow the rest of his numbers to fall in line as he continues to adjust to not only Triple-A quality hitters, but a new baseball as well.

Standing at 6’5” and armed with a four-pitch mix, including a fastball that he can run up to 96 mph with notable carry and break, Vallimont has a real opportunity to be quite the success story for this organization. Going from an ERA near 10 in Double-A to a big leaguer with the Orioles thanks to a few tweaks is pretty fun to think about. If Jordan Lyles happens to be traded or the Orioles find that they will need some length from guys as the season starts to wind down, Vallimont could be one of the better options. However, it’s more likely that he finds his way into Baltimore’s bullpen. If multiple moves are made at the trade deadline, Vallimont can fill that void as well, relying more on his high-velo, quality fastball and sweeping slider.

Aberdeen IronBirds OF John Rhodes

At the conclusion of the 2021 season, I tagged John Rhodes as the big sleeper of the 2021 draft class. Despite struggling in his final season at Kentucky, the Orioles drafted Rhodes in the third round and gave him around $550,000 above slot value to get him into the organization instead of letting him slip away back to Kentucky to bet on himself and try to improve his stock. Looking at the early results on Rhodes, the Orioles have clearly began to unlock some of his potential, and I’m sticking with my pick as Rhodes being the big sleeper.

There were notes last season from some national outlets of Rhodes having a high swing-and-miss rate on pitches in the strikezone and concerns about how his hit tool would develop. Entering this week, only César Prieto has a lower swinging-strike rate in the organization and before a wrist injury sidelined Rhodes for a few weeks, he was .339 with a 1.020 OPS to begin his first full-season as a pro with Aberdeen. He’s clearly feeling good and has found his timing again after his injury, collecting eight hits over his last six games.

I only have my amateur eye test skills to to go off since I don’t have access to all of the good minor league data (yet), but watching Rhodes on a nightly basis, it looks familiar to what we saw with a few of his former teammates who were recently promoted to Bowie in Cowser, Norby, and Mayo. The baseball card stats in Aberdeen aren’t jumping off the page, but the real metrics the organization uses to evaluate players may be telling quite the different story. If that’s the case (which I have a strong suspicion it is), once some dominos in the majors/upper levels of the minors fall and open up some space, expect a promotion to Bowie for Rhodes and a nice offensive boost in more friendly confines.

Delmarva IF Frederick Bencosme

Every chance I get to talk about Frederick Bencosme, I’m going to take advantage of it. Bencosme hasn’t struggled or missed time due to an injury, but I’m envisioning a big second half for Bencosme in terms of firmly planting himself on the national radar.

Bencosme, who doesn’t turn 20 until Christmas, opened a few eyes with his performance in the Dominican Summer League last year, hitting .310 with 12 extra-base hits and an 18/10 K/BB ratio across 44 games. He came Stateside to begin 2022 and the Orioles decided that two games in the Florida Complex League was enough to be moved up to Delmarva. He hasn’t disappointed since.

In 36 games as a Shorebird, Bencosme is hitting .366 with a .426 OBP and almost as many walks (13) as strikeouts (14). The bat-to-ball skills are quite impressive, without a doubt some of the best in the lower levels of the organization, if not the best. As the Shorebirds make the turn for the final stretch of the season, it will be interesting to see if Bencosme starts to show some more power, even if it’s gap-to-gap power and not over-the-fence power. He has just six extra-base hits up to this point (.060 ISO) but has flashed some more game power and has plenty of room to continue to develop physically, while maintaining his game-changing athleticism.

Bencosme was just recently noted in a Baseball America Hotsheet column, finally getting some national love after an impressive debut. It’s not crazy to think that when the 2023 preseason prospect lists start rolling out, you see a Jean Pinto-esque rise for Bencosme.

The post Five Baltimore Orioles Prospects Primed For A Big Second Half appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

Gunnar Henderson is making his case to be one of the top prospects in all of baseball, and evaluators are taking notice. Jordan Westburg has already slugged 15 home runs this season, is off to a phenomenal start in Triple-A Norfolk, and appears to be major league ready in the very near future. A trio of second base prospects in Terrin Vavra, Connor Norby, and Cesar Prieto are showcasing their impressive hit tools and plate discipline, and in Norby and Prieto’s case, some unexpected power. And Joey Ortiz has seen his offensive production come in spurts after missing most of last season with a torn labrum, but his defensive highlight reel is still one of the best you will see in the entire system.

If you look further down the ranks, Maikol Hernandez (received $1.2 million as part of last year’s international signing class) hasn’t shown impressive numbers at the plate yet, but reports on his overall play and development have been positive up to this point. More recent international signings like Leandro Arias (who FanGraphs has ranked as the 14th best prospect in the Orioles system) and Aron Estrada are off to impressive starts in the DSL. We’re starting to see why Arias is ranked so high on some lists. When you can hit a home run at 102 mph off the bat and then shoot a double at 101 mph later in the same game at 17 years of age, people are going to take notice.

However, no one is talking about Darell Hernaiz. A fifth-round draft pick out of the Texas high school ranks back in 2019, Hernaiz flashed his power in the Gulf Coast League (now Florida Complex League), reached base at a 37 percent clip, and was prepared to enter the 2020 season as a Top 30 prospect in the Baltimore Orioles system (21st to be exact).

After 2020 was wiped out due to COVID, Hernaiz made his full-season affiliate debut in 2021 with Delmarva at the age of 19 (more than two years younger than his peers). Overall, Hernaiz slashed .277/.333/.358, but didn’t show much power at the plate (just 18 XBH in 410 PA), saw his walk and strikeout rates trend in the wrong directions, and as other highly-touted infield prospects in the system began to take off in 2020, Hernaiz very quietly grinded his way through Delmarva.

While his raw power wasn’t shining through in game action, Hernaiz did put up on-base streaks of 27 games, 18 games, 15 games, and 11 games. There were a lot of 1-4 with a single games and 0-3/0-4 with a walk days to extend these streaks, but he was consistent all season long, never finding himself in any extended slumps, and only eight of his at-bats came against pitchers younger than him. Even while facing pitchers older than him all season, Hernaiz had the fourth lowest strikeout rate in the organization (17.1 percent) among qualified hitters, and second-lowest strikeout rate among hitters in full-season ball. Only Adley Rutschman struck out at a lower rate.

I assumed that his consistency, ability to get on base, and his success against older competition all year would be enough to start the 2022 season in Aberdeen. Surely, Hernaiz thought that was going to be the case as well, but the Orioles had other plans. He was sent back to Delmarva to begin the current season.

How did Hernaiz respond? He slashed .283/.341/.512. Matched his 2021 home run total in 272 fewer plate appearances. Slashed his already impressive strikeout rate from 17.1 percent to 15.9 percent. Saw his ISO jump from .081 to .228 and upped his wRC+ from 92 to 133. Yes, he was repeating the level, but he was still nearly a full year younger then his peers and rarely faced pitchers younger than him, even in his second season with Delmarva.

Since then, Hernaiz has been promoted to Aberdeen, where he continues to impress. After missing some time (private matters, not injury or COVID), Hernaiz is settling in well and is back to playing against peers nearly three years  younger. In 23 games, Hernaiz is hitting .303 with a .391 OBP, has seen his walk rate jump from 5.8 percent in Delmarva to 9.6 percent and with five extra-base hits in his last seven games, is starting to flex his power in an environment known to suppress power.

A lot of the same descriptions used to discuss top prospects like Henderson and Westburg can be used to describe Hernaiz. High degree of success against much older competition (not so much Westburg in that sense, but there’s more), high defensive IQ with the ability to stick at short or move to third or second (if he does move, it’s not because he can’t remain at short), mature approach at the plate, clubhouse leader, and the tools and ceiling that make you sit back and dream on what he can become.

One thing we constantly hear from coaches and players who come on On The Verge is how supporting and encouraging each clubhouse is up and down the system. I think a story told by Sam Jellinek, voice of the Delmarva Shorebirds, on a recent episode of On The Verge best highlights this. Despite being sent back to Delmarva, Hernaiz took full advantage of his opportunity, not only putting up big time numbers at the plate, but instantly become a leader and mentor to a roster full of 18/19-year-old international players who were adjusting to the cold weather and cultural shock of calling Salisbury, Maryland home after growing up in their home countries and spending their early days in the US in Florida. Hernaiz could have become frustrated and focused on only his game, but he didn’t.

Darell Hernaiz is a legitimate prospect and should be getting the credit and attention as one.

A new exciting arm join the ranks in Delmarva.

Speaking of players who deserve more attention, I wanted to also take this time to mention the name Deivy Cruz.

At the beginning of the season, teenage arms RHP Moises Chace and RHP Raul Rangel came out of the gates strong and started flashing the impressive tools that have made them noteworthy prospects since they joined the organization as international signees who didn’t receive top dollar, but have plenty aspects to their game that led to national evaluators taking note. Unfortunately, injuries have derailed their seasons. Luckily, Chace doesn’t turn 20 until next June and Rangel won’t turn 20 until October.

It didn’t take long for a new, young international arm to step up and start demanding attention. Enter 18-year-old LHP Deviy Cruz.

As a 17-year-old in the Dominican Summer League last year, Cruz struck out 63 in 45 innings pitched to begin his pro career. DSL and FCL stats don’t tell you much of anything, but I do pay attention to strikeouts and walks for both pitchers and hitters. It’s a good first indicator of, should I pay attention to this guy right now or take a mental note to check back in down the road? Striking out 32 percent of batters faced in the DSL qualifies as “pay attention right now.”

He made just three starts in the FCL to begin the summer, striking out 17 in 13 IP. It was enough for the Orioles to promote him to Delmarva, where many fans had the opportunity to watch him live for the first time.

In his full-season debut, at the age of 18, Cruz struck out five, walked one, and allowed one earned run on three hits across three innings. Not bad. In his second outing, Cruz went five innings, allowed no runs on two hits, walking one and striking out five.

Just like 2021 breakout pitcher Jean Pinto and many of the first group of international pitchers we have seen reach full-season ball, Cruz is on the shorter side (listed at 5’11”) but the tools are loud and the ceiling is fun to think about.

Cruz sat 93-95 mph while he tossed five shutout innings, lighting up the broadcast radar gun with a whole lot of 94s. You can see in the video the 90 mph changeup that fades away from right-handed hitters, and the makings of a good slider.

Cruz is still pretty raw and there’s a very long way to go in his development, but his start to full-season ball shouldn’t go unnoticed. The Orioles have done a decent job recently of turning international signings who received low bonuses into noteworthy prospects and possible serviceable pieces. That makes the idea of what they can do with more highly touted prospects, like the previously mentioned Leandro Arias, even more exciting.

While the big name guys like Henderson, Westburg, Stowers, and Hall are all showcasing impressive skills in Triple-A and banging on the major league clubhouse doors to be let in, don’t overlook what’s happening at the lower levels, especially what Darell Hernaiz is up to in Aberdeen.

The post The Orioles Prospect No One Is Talking About appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

When talking about this duo and their defensive abilities, DeJohn told us a story about taking Westburg and Henderson to the side during a winter camp and telling them that their job was to prevent the other from playing shortstop in the major leagues. Like many relationships we’ve learned about within the Orioles farm system, this didn’t create a “me vs. him” mentality between the two, but has only pushed both top prospects to become better each day.

“I think they care about each other and want the best for each other’s career” said DeJohn about the relationship between Westburg and Henderson.

Westburg, aka “Mr. Fundamental”, lived up to his self-proclaimed nickname while manning short and third last season across three different levels and has split his time almost evenly across the board at short, third, and second base this year while with Bowie and Norfolk. The question is where does he fit best in the majors and while I can’t answer that question, he’s going to end up where he’s supposed to and regardless of which position becomes his dominant position, Westburg will be an above-average defender for years to come and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him claim a Gold Glove or two.

As for Henderson, national writers have been pushing him off shortstop since he was drafted, largely thinking he would outgrow the position. Too tall to play short? I’m not buying it. It’s difficult to find another position player in the Orioles system who has improved their defense more. The biggest issue with Henderson wasn’t getting to balls, but the throwing errors. Those have been greatly cleaned up this year.

And some work from shortstop…

Without understanding how the organization evaluates defensive talent and what the future holds for players like Jorge Mateo and Ramon Urias, all I can say is that Jordan Westburg and Gunnar Henderson are doing everything they can to earn an everyday job at the major league level. While the defensive abilities are impressive, Orioles fans aren’t looking for Jose Iglesias, Freddy Galvis, or Jorge Mateo type players to hold down the middle of the field. How about some offense?

Providing offense hasn’t been much of an issue for this duo.

Westburg slashed .247/.344/.473 in 47 games with Bowie to begin the season and although his strikeout numbers did tick up a bit (27 percent), his walk rate exceeded 12 percent and we saw Westburg’s game power really emerge. Coming out of the draft, a common note on just about every scouting report on Westburg asked whether or not he would be able to tap into more of his raw power and if he could, his path to the majors becomes much more clear.

After hitting 15 home runs last season in 117 total games across three levels, Westburg hit nine home runs in 47 games at Bowie and is already up to four while playing in Triple-A, giving him 13 home runs, more than any other hitter in the Orioles minor league system. The picture is becoming more clear.

Westburg has now played in 12 games with the Norfolk Tides and is hitting .365 with a 1.169 OPS and is striking out at a career-low rate. That OPS and his 201 wRC+ obviously aren’t sustainable and we haven’t seen him walk at his normal pace yet, but 11 extra-base hits in 12 games is extremely impressive and the fact that Westburg has come out of the gates so hot against Triple-A pitching, it means he’s seeing the ball well against the most talented pitchers he’s faced in his career up to this point and feeling good.

Once again, while Westburg’s 2022 season has been impressive and put him on the doorsteps of OPACY, what Gunnar Henderson has done this season is truly eye-opening. I’ve already written about his tenure in Bowie a few times recently (more reading here and here!), but let’s talk about his time in Norfolk.

Still just 20 years old, Henderson is hitting .277 with a .453 OBP, three doubles, two home runs (one of those was on the second pitch he saw as a Triple-A hitter), and a 154 wRC+. Best of all, the uber-impressive K/BB numbers have moved up to AAA with him. As of this writing, Henderson has walked 15 times and struck out just 12 times, giving him 56 walks to 50 strikeouts on the season. He struck out 143 times last season. If anyone can find another prospect who has shown this level of plate discipline improvement over just one offseason, please let me know because his development in such a quick timespan and at such a young age is truly impressive.

We’re no longer talking about Henderson putting up big numbers in Delmarva or Aberdeen. It’s only been two weeks or so in Triple-A, but you couldn’t ask for a better start in the highest level of the minor leagues. The same goes for Westburg, who played an impressive third base in spring while with the major league club.

“After every session…he will come in and say, what do you got for me? He wants to hear things all the time. He wants to get better. He’s not one of those guys who just because he’s playing well, doesn’t want to hear constructive criticism.” said DeJohn about Westburg. As for Westburg the person, De John agreed with my thinking that Westburg could become a fan favorite in Baltimore in the pretty near future, even saying that “if I had a son, I’d want him to be just like Jordan Westburg.” As a father with a young son myself, that stood out the most to me. There’s no higher praise you could place on someone than that.

So when will we see this pair in the big leagues? Seeing as it’s still only June and they are playing as well as they are, finishing the season in Baltimore is certainly a real possibility. For Westburg, let’s make sure he can avoid the extended cold stretches he has found himself in a number of times before. For Henderson, just keep doing what he’s doing. As he starts facing teams a second or third time in Norfolk, can he adjust to their adjustments. The Orioles seem pretty adamant about making sure that once a prospect of Henderson or Westburg’s caliber gets called up, it’s for good. I know telling Orioles fans to be patient about prospects is pointless, but there are still a few more boxes for each of these two to check before they are fully ready. But let’s be honest, there aren’t many boxes and they aren’t that big.

“Never like to get out ahead of myself with guys that are still in the minors, but those two have a a very good chance of locking down our infield, I think for a while” said Mike Elias when recently talking about this pair of prospects and their early success with Norfolk.

They have moved up the organization together, even being promoted to Norfolk on the same day this year. Hopefully, both of the two friends get the call on the same day again, this time to pack their bags for Baltimore.

Will the Orioles infield consist of Adley Rutschman behind the plate, Ryan Mountcastle at first, Terrin Vavra at second, and a Gunnar Henderson/Jordan Westburg combo clamping down the left side by the end of the year? My money is on yes.

The post A New Look Infield For The Baltimore Orioles Is Quickly Coming appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

I would say it’s time to sprinkle some of that good luck magic upon the pitching prospects I’m going to highlight here, but it appears that the talented group of pitching coaches in this system have already done so.

The biggest criticisms of the Orioles farm system always focus on the pitching talent, more specifically the lack of depth, which I wholeheartedly disagree with, but the narrative pushed by national outlets who haven’t watch these arms in years (or ever) will dominate. It’s only going to make watching the success of this group that much sweeter.

Just as I did with the hitters, here are four Orioles pitching prospects who are exceeding my expectations in 2022 and emerging as either legitimate pitching prospects, or at least notable names to keep a closer eye on as they continue on their player development journey.

Bowie RHP Noah Denoyer

There were 1,217 players selected in the 2019 Major League Baseball draft. Noah Denoyer was not one of them. After signing with the Orioles after the draft as a free agent, Denoyer logged four innings in the GCL, had one quick note in a Roch Kubatko piece about showing some good velo in Sarasota, and that was it. Denoyer was just another arm in rookie ball with heavy odds stacked against him. He continues to fly completely under the radar, but it’s only a matter of time before that changes.

After a canceled 2020 season, Denoyer didn’t get a chance to pitch across a full season until last year where he made 20 appearances between Delmarva and Aberdeen, posting a combined 2.76 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and an 81/30 K/BB mark across 71.2 IP. The one issue that seemed to hold Denoyer back was the walks. He allowed 22 free passes in his first two months of action (nine starts), but then came the month of July. He walked three in a four inning start against Lynchburg on July 3rd, then followed that outing up with five-straight starts where he combined to walk zero batters (23.1 IP). That stretch led to a promotion to Aberdeen to close out the season.

Now with Bowie, Denoyer has made six appearances with the Baysox, posting a 1.93 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, a .152 average against, and a 31/5 K/BB mark. With Aberdeen to start the season, Denoyer’s walk rate hovered around 10 percent (what he allowed in Delmarva and Aberdeen last season), but he’s slashed that rate to just six percent in Double-A, while seeing his strikeout rate jump to a career high 37 percent.

Armed with a four-pitch mix that includes a fastball which he can run up to 96 mph and a big, breaking curveball, Denoyer still has a good amount of projection left when it comes to his stuff (at 24 years of age and listed at 6’5” and 225 pounds he’s maxed out physically). He’s not a “fully baked” arm as he shows four different pitches with potential. Noah Denoyer has continued to develop into a legitimate pitching prospect in this organization and as he continues to refine his repertoire, could be in the mix for a starting rotation spot, but like his fellow Bowie teammate Ryan Watson who has also emerged as a name to watch, I’m not exactly sure where the organization believes they may work best, either as a potential rotation piece or out of the bullpen. Denoyer has worked exclusively out of the bullpen in 3-4 inning stints, so while he may not be on a starter’s track at the moment, the fact that a UDFA out of the JUCO ranks is now having this level of success in his second full-season of pro ball and at the Double-A level is very impressive.

Aberdeen RHP Carlos Tavera

I hear this critique a lot…”the Orioles don’t draft pitchers.” No, they just don’t spend early round draft picks on pitchers. They draft plenty of pitchers, many of whom are quickly working their way through the upper level of the minor leagues as relief options.

But there are a slew of fast-rising starting pitching prospects down in Aberdeen making big names for themselves, including 2021 5th round pick out of UT-San Antonio, RHP Carlos Tavera.

Tavera has made 10 starts with Aberdeen, putting together a 3.73 ERA, a 1.12 WHIP, and a .188 average against in 41 IP. The biggest thing that stands out with Tavera is his K/BB numbers. He’s fanned 52 hitters while walking 18, good for a 31.5 percent strikeout rate and 10.7 percent walk rate. The walk number may be a tick higher than what you would like to see, but coming into the 2022 season, the biggest question facing Tavera was whether or not he would throw enough strikes this year and keep the walks down. A third of the way through the season, he’s doing just that. In fact, Orioles Director of Player Developmenet Matt Blood mentioned before the season that as long as Tavera could limit the walks, the organization viewed him as a rotation piece.

Tavera recently highlighted his changeup as the pitch that he relied on the most during a recent roll (one of the best changeups you will see in the entire system), racking up strikeouts with the pitch against lefties and righties. His fastball can touch 96 and it appears that he’s holding a higher velo than his 91 mph from college (now 93-94). If he can hold that increased velo with his fastball and locate the slider, Tavera will be a starting pitching prospect who will quickly rocket up the prospect lists at the end of the year. Coming out the draft, MLB Pipeline said Tavera’s slider was his best pitch. It’s probably his third best pitch now. A good amount of projection here.

*Update*: I finished writing this before I saw that Carlos Tavera was pitching Tuesday night for Aberdeen. I should have waited. Tavera went 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 10 K. I’m normally one to strongly believe in slow-playing prospects along, but challenging Tavera in Bowie sometime soon may not be a bad idea. Also, ignore those velo readings from the tweet below. Whatever you see, add 5-6 mph. This was confirmed with someone from the organization.

Aberdeen RHP Justin Armbruester

Justin Armbruester, like all four names I’m highlighting here, are really good case studies to follow to get an idea of what this Orioles player development system can do with pitchers. Can you take less-heralded arms with a few tools and turn them into successful arms? It’s been one of the more intriguing storylines to follow in 2022.

A 12th round pick out of New Mexico, Armbruester has already added 2-3 mph to his fastball that now routinely sits 93-94 and I’ve seen touch 96 multiple times. There’s some deception and hitch in his delivery that can make it more difficult for hitters to pick up the ball early and he’s shown a good ability to pound the strikezone and produce whiffs instead of relying on getting inexperienced hitters to chase junk.

Now 11 starts into his season, Armbruester is 2-0 with a 3.62 ERA, a 1.05 WHIP, .203 BAA, and a very impressive 61/15 K/BB.

The fastball is a high-spin pitch that he can locate well in the top of the zone to produce swings and misses and his slider is one of his secondaries that flashes potential. There’s still plenty of development to go with Armbruester but the tools are there to continue to work as a starter as he moves up the ladder and if he can develop one of his secondaries, like the slider, into a real wipe-out pitch, there’s potential as a late-inning, high-powered bullpen arm. In the meantime, he’s put himself on the map with a great start to his 2022 season and has established a pretty notable foundation to build on.

Delmarva RHP Juan De Los Santos

My only exposure to Juan De Los Santos coming into the season was a handful of Instagram videos, easy bullpens in shorts and a t-shirt from his home in the Dominican. Anyone can make themselves look good in the situation, obviously, but the 6’3”/250 pound righty drew my attention as someone to watch when Delmarva’s season began. I was right.

The now 20-year-old (turned 20 on May 25th) has made 11 appearances with the Shorebirds (10 starts) and has pitched to a 3.62 ERA and 1.31 WHIP across his 49.2 IP. Control has been an issue at times for De Los Santos, but then he comes out with an outing like he had last week, striking out 10 and walking none across six innings with one earned run allowed.

But it’s critically important to realize what’s going on in Delmarva this season. There’s no more short-season ball and we’re seeing a team full of 18-20 year olds who are making not just big jumps in terms of baseball, but making a major life adjustment from life in their native countries to life in Salisbury, Maryland. My co-hosts at On The Verge just sat down with Sam Jellinek, the voice of the Shorebirds, this week and Sam did a fantastic job of putting all of this into context. I strongly encourage you to take a listen.

De Los Santos has shown quality stuff early on in 2022 and he’s sure to take some lumps as the season progresses. Early on in the year he was getting by with throwing mainly fastballs to overpower Low-A hitters (around 75% fastball to be somewhat exact). Now that he’s settled into a routine and has shown himself that he can do deep into an outing and dominate throughout, what can he do with his slider and changeup? Can he continue to refine his control? He’s still very raw, but was someone no one was talking about coming into the season. Now, he’s a key rotation piece in Delmarva who is making some early waves.

There are a few other names who deserve some credit here as well, in terms of exceeding expectations. Zach Peek didn’t get much time to settle into Double-A before he was on the IL for about a month, but he’s now thrown 13 innings in June, allowing one run with two walks and 12 strikeouts. Ignacio Feliz opened a lot of eyes in Delmarva last season, but was rocked after being promoted to High-A. He’s back with Aberdeen this season and has struck out 71 hitters in 41.2 IP with a 3.67 ERA (that includes one clunker where he gave up 8 ER in 1.2 IP). Grayson Rodriguez (80) is the only Orioles minor league arm with more strikeouts.

Peter Van Loon (Aberdeen) hasn’t really exceeded my expectations (I’m going to say that you won’t find very many people who were higher on Van Loon coming into the season) but he’s someone else that is rarely talked about. He’s 6-0 with a 3.00 ERA and 49 K in 39 IP this season. He’s made five starts this season but his high-powered repertoire would look really good out of the bullpen. Lastly, Carter Baumler technically fits here, since no one really knew what to expect in his return after not pitching regularly since his 2019 high school season. Baumler is locating his fastball well and showing one of the more beautiful curveballs in the system, logging nine scoreless innings to begin his pro career (15 K/4 BB).

One common thing about every single pitcher listed here is that they don’t come from high-profile backgrounds, notable SEC programs, or have the early-round draft pick connected to their name. Will Noah Denoyer or Justin Armbruester become elite-level starters in the big leagues? The odds are certainly stacked against them, but that’s what the player development process is for.  The Orioles are showing that they can find pitching talent from the depths of the college ranks and turn late-round draft picks into viable pitching options. And you never know…maybe a guy like Carlos Tavera does end up making himself a home in the starting rotation. He’s certainly pitching like that could be the case right now.

The post Baltimore Orioles Pitching Prospects Opening Eyes In 2022 appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

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.

The post These Baltimore Orioles Prospects Are On The Rise In 2022 appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

A new era of Baltimore Orioles baseball was ushered in on May 21, 2022 when Adley Rutschman took the field in his first MLB game. The 1.1 of the 2019 draft and player selected by Mike Elias and his regime to lead the way into this new era, Rutschman took it all in from behind home plate for a moment and then proceeded to go 1-3 with a walk in his debut, joining Matt Weiters and Manny Machado in the “my first MLB hit was a triple” club.

The Orioles lost Saturday’s contest to Tampa Bay, but it didn’t matter. Adley Rutschman was behind the plate and Kyle Bradish was on the mound. Two of the organization’s top prospects were battling against Tampa Bay, not Durham. After watching Rutschman toy with Double-A and Triple-A pitchers last season and listening to promises of “he’s coming when he’s ready” for long enough, the waiting was finally over.

I enjoyed the game with my wife and kids from our home, yet I could feel the weight of the moment flowing through my living room, making it feel like I was in the ballpark, celebrating with all of Birdland. For everyone who stuck by this franchise, has bought into the Mike Elias plan, and has painfully followed the major league club for the last few years, Saturday night was a momentous occasion and a major sigh of relief. There’s still an immense amount of work to be done, but Adley Rutschman is a Baltimore Oriole now, and he’s here to stay.

The rebuild isn’t over. We won’t see notable prospects traded for veteran starting pitching help and major league pieces quite yet, but the journey to respectability and yearly playoff races took a big step forward this weekend.

However, that doesn’t give enough credit to what much of this major league roster has already achieved this season. Austin Hays, Cedric Mullins, and Anthony Santandar are all playing well. Ryan Mountcastle will hit his stride soon enough. Jorge Mateo has been a very pleasant surprise. And this bullpen is quite the unit. Currently ranking fifth in terms of FanGraphs Wins Above Replacement, young arms like Felix Bautista, Dillon Tate, and Keegan Akin are shining. There are plenty of holes on the major league roster, but just like throughout the minor league system, the top guys who are clear pieces (or hopeful pieces when talking about prospects) to a future Orioles playoff team are cementing their roles.

I don’t like taking one singular game out of a 162 game season and over analyzing it, but take Sunday’s game as an example of the spirit and determination of this roster. Spenser Watkins failed to record a single out before being hit by a linedrive comebacker and exiting the game. In the midst of a brutal stretch of no days off, the Orioles needed 27 outs (ended up needing 33 outs) from an already heavily taxed bullpen, and found themselves down 4-0 in the first inning to a Tampa Bay team which has had Baltimore’s number, to put it lightly.

More than four hours later, Adley Rutschman crossed home plate in the bottom of the 11th inning, giving the Orioles a 7-6 victory, their third walk-off victory in four games, and a series win over the Rays.

If there was one moment that stood out, it wasn’t Adley’s triple. It wasn’t the fact that his first at-bat resulted in a barrage of changeups and a strikeout, only to watch Rutschman lay off said changeups in subsequent at-bats, forcing Tampa pitchers to adjust their strategy (unsuccessfully). It wasn’t even watching Rutschman frame a pitch so well it led to an ejection and a Kevin Cash whine fest. It was watching him channel all of the energy from the weekend and using it to give fans a glimpse of who he is as a leader.

So, where do the Orioles go from here? Well, as Mike Elias stated on Sunday afternoon, there are “blue skies ahead” for Birdland. Technically, there were black skies and downpours over Birdland not too long after that statement was made, but it didn’t take long for the rain to move on and allow Orioles fans to celebrate one of the most impressive wins witnessed in a long time. Quite the metaphor there. The dark days aren’t completely gone, but like a passing summer thunderstorm, they won’t be around long.

On Sunday afternoon, Grayson Rodriguez largely breezed through six full innings with Norfolk, striking out nine and finishing with 86 pitches under his belt. If he throws another six innings or can top 90+ pitches in his next start, the discussions on when Rodriguez makes his MLB debut will only intensify. He’s weeks, not months, away from throwing to Adley Rutschman at OPACY. Fellow top pitching prospect DL Hall isn’t too far behind him. Elias has said multiple times that as long as Hall can throw strikes and stay healthy, he will be in the big leagues sooner rather than later. The latest update on Hall from Elias was that Hall’s performance has been so good, he’s ahead of the timeline they had set for him.

The Orioles entered 2022 with Jordan Lyles as the number two starter. They could end the year with a rotation of Grayson Rodriguez, DL Hall, and Kyle Bradish as the top three arms. Upgrade is an understatement.

More bats are on the way as well. As of May 23, Kyle Stowers is riding an eight-game hitting streak and coming off a game in which he hit three home runs, giving him five home runs last week (hit .480 in six games at Charlotte). Stowers is going to force a decision soon. Either he assumes a major league job after a Santander trade or some other trade involving big league pieces, or Stowers becomes a highly attractive trade piece, making my earlier point about it still not being time to trade big prospects a moot point.

Gunnar Henderson is playing with very little, if anything, left to prove in Double-A, with Jordan Westburg hitting very well after an early slump and showing everyone exactly why every single one of his teammates and coaches who has spoken with us at On The Verge says, without hesitation, that Westburg is a future major leaguer, no questions asked.

Terrin Vavra, who had been using his advanced approach at the plate well in a seemingly smooth transition from Double-A to Triple-A, will begin rehab games in the coming days and should be full-go shortly. He’s an underrated player in this system who fits the mold of a longtime major league utility man, allowing the Orioles to finally move on from someone like Chris Owings.

Just like the rotation, we’re very close to seeing an infield of Mountcastle, Vavra, Westburg, and Henderson. Three of those four pieces could be in place by the end of the season.

I should also briefly mention the upcoming draft, since that literally is coming up next for the Orioles. Here’s what we know….not much. The list of potential 1.1 picks has been narrowed down to a small handful of names, but as to who is on the list and how they rank, that’s unknown. With five picks within the first 80 or so selections of the draft and a recent influx of around $1 million added to their draft pool (thanks to the Tanner Scott/Cole Sulser trade with Miami), the Orioles have a massive bonus pool to play with and a quartet of high-upside high school talents to choose from. I could be wrong, but I don’t see the likes of a Druw Jones, Termarr Johnson, or Jackson Holliday slipping past Baltimore. There’s too much money available to the Orioles and too many other places where they can save some early-round money to spend later on.

Combine this draft class with an impressive 2021 international signing class and what is sure to be an even better 2022 international signing class, and an already deep minor league system, and the Orioles will have the makings of a talent pipeline ready to be switched over to full flow, meaning regular promotions and dealings. Envision AJ Preller’s recent barrage of trades for proven pitching talent, while being able to keep his most prized prospects who are already, or will soon be, making an impact at the major league level (hopefully with some much better injury luck though for the arms Elias acquires).

The Orioles are no longer in the phase of waiting 3-4 years for teenage prospects to blossom and reach the upper levels of the minor leagues. Those top prospects are now in Baltimore or will be in Baltimore in the coming weeks. The major league product is fun again, with home run chains, on-base celebrations, on-field kisses, and gritty victories. The players feel it, the coaches feel it, and the messaging coming from the front office is even a little different.

While there’s still work to do, real money to spend, never ending development to happen, and a bit more losing before winning becomes a regular thing in Birdland, it’s ok to take a moment after this weekend, take the Adley Rutschman look around, and soak it all in. The Baltimore Orioles are coming.

“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”

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