2012 Orioles Top 30 Prospect List (30-21)
20. Tyler Wilson – RHP
Mr. Wilson was not high on my list at the beginning of the year. I simply did not notice his ability until he had to force it down my neck, which he absolutely did this season. It’s not very often you see a player toss up consecutive 10+ K games. Wilson did that this year at Frederick and really anchored the staff all year. A college student drafted out of Virginia, Wilson shows a strong cognizance of the game. He is a player within the system that truly improved in quite a few areas. His fastball sits around low 90’s, and he has a little funky action towards the plate. There was improvement from the secondary arsenal, consisting of a curve ball and change up. He already had decent control and command, and that only heightened his approach this season. Like I said above, he is a thinker on the mound, and that can also take his pitching to the next level. It’s always nice to see players break out, and it should be exciting to see Tyler at the start of the 2013 season.
19. Devin Jones – RHP
At the beginning of the year I was dead-set on Jones strictly being a reliever. While I will admit that was a little premature on my part, I still was fairly shocked to see him move to Frederick and string together a handful of masterful games. Jones has a good frame and there seems to be some growth left. Depending on how he fills out, I could see a tick in velocity and some more durability. It’s funny now that I say this, because that was something I did not catch onto at the beginning of the year. He throws low 90’s with the fastball but has a nice two-seam action and the bottom simply falls out of his sinker. He may not become a K machine, but he can get some weak contact with that pitch. Add along a slider and you now have a guy who can possibly start. I really have to give Devin credit for 2012, as I came away surprised. He probably will start out in the Frederick rotation next season. This time, I will not prematurely write him off as a starter.
18. Roderick Bernadina – OF
The cousin of Roger really shot up the rankings with some strong games and performances this season. In one of the first games I saw him this season, he promptly went 3-4 with three line drives to the outfield. He has lightning bat speed and it really makes a pleasant sound when he gets the barrel on the ball. He is a free swinger, and will get himself out a lot. He’s calmed down a little from the beginning of short-season, but he has a violent swing and he still has trouble staying back on secondary pitches. He gets a little too antsy at times, almost like he desperately needs a hit. When calm and relaxed, he can be a real treat to watch. The main improvements he needs at the plate is patience and staying back. All the other tools will take over if he can just relax. There is some power and he can run into some home runs due to that bat speed. He has above average speed and can stick in center field without question. While not a true base threat, he will steal some bases and his speed will play up occasionally. In reality, he is very similar to his cousin Roger. They both play the same mold of game, although Roger is obviously much more refined at the moment. Roderick was the best position player in Aberdeen during his time there. He can be the best player at Delmarva or Frederick next season if he improves in the spots mentioned above. There is a ton of talent here, but I do worry at times on him against better secondary arsenals.
17. Lex Rutledge – LHP
Lex was a 6th round pick in the 2012 draft. He is a power LHP, which is already enough to boost him above some other players within the organization. When I saw him, he was sitting around 92-94 with his fastball, although reports say he can hit 96 at times. His fastball has some life on it and he occasionally mixes in his slider and curve, but is primarily a bullet thrower. He was constantly attacking hitters when I saw him, although he seemed to look a little tired after the first inning. I have not spoken with one person whom thinks he sticks as a starter, and some of that is due to lack of refinement on the secondary arsenal. The other end is that the control and command is not efficient enough currently. Regardless, he is a rare mold that all teams cannot have enough of. His numbers from 2012 are irrelevant, as he was just getting the feet wet. Look for him to show his ability in 2013.
16. Tim Berry – LHP
Berry was a late-round pick for the Orioles; mostly due to injury. The talent was evident right out of the gate. I have always been fairly intrigued by Berry, although never completely satisfied with his arsenal. He is left-handed, so that was also going for him. The fastball will touch 92 MPH although generally sits around 90. He has a curve ball which is a decent pitch. Going into this season, he did not use a change up much. However that was a pitch he worked on and it became a good friend in 2012. You can read more about the change up in this Interview by Jordan Tuwiner of Orioles Nation. the only thing I worry about with Berry is his command against better talent. His stuff is certainly getting better, but he does not have a fastball to truly blow by a hitter, thus meaning he will have to be extremely effective with his location. Bowie will be a great test for this, and he should see there at some point next season. He could possibly even start there.
15. Michael Belfiore – LHP
Many will remember him as the prospect that was brought back in the Josh Bell deal with Arizona. While he is no longer the starter that was envisioned by some when drafted, he has become a nice option in the bullpen for the Orioles. While he has potential to be a solid relief guy, I think his true calling may be a solid LOOGY. This is not a knock, because those pitchers are very so in-demand. He is extremely tough on lefties, and could become a rather good LOOGY if put in the role for a MLB bullpen. Belfiore mostly works a fastball/slider combo but also has a change up. The fastball ranges from 90-92 and has hit 94 occasionally. His slider is more sweep-oriented on lefties and this is the pitch he will break the bank on against them. Usually, he wins the battle. The change up is not nearly thrown as much as the other two, but it is another pitch that could really be effective against lefties. I really was impressed with Belfiore at times this season, and I thought he was a pleasant surprise for the Orioles since they traded away a player whom they had essentially given up on. While he may end up only being a LOOGY, there is always a chance his command and effectiveness against righties could improve enough for him to be a solid overall guy in the bullpen, almost like a Troy Patton.
14. Zach Davies – RHP
If there is ever a pitcher that screams “size does not matter”, it is Zach Davies. He might not be any larger than 165 pounds, and that is being a little on the optimistic side. As we all know, size does not always mean a pitcher will be better. Just ask Tim Lincecum about that. Davies has surprising life on his fastball, which generally sits around 88-90 MPH. He has a curve ball and a slider, along with the makings of a really solid change up. From all reports given, it seems as if Davies can stick as a starter if he puts on a little more weight and muscle and continues the refinement of his secondary arsenal. He has a great mentality for the game, and really seems to ooze of confidence. He should start the 2013 season in Frederick, and this will be a big test going down the road to see how his stuff plays up.
13. Clay Schrader – RHP
Schrader is probably the Orioles best pure-relief prospect in the system. He is a power pitcher with the fastball in the mid 90’s and solid movement. His delivery also has some deception on it and at times a hitter can really have a tough time picking it up. Sometimes he overthrows his fastball and it can really carry all over. This was more noticeable at Bowie this season compared to Frederick where hitters would still sometimes swing at it. He has a plus slider which can baffle hitters at times. This pitch is deadly for both sides of the plate, although it can really move around too much sometimes. Essentially it is a great pitch but he has trouble locating it. His control and command are the parts of his game that need obvious improvement, and that is partially the reason they have him in the AFL. He has super stuff, and has posted super results at times. He’s not too far off from breaking into the show, but he will need to settle down and learn to be more consistent. If the control and command improve just a little, he could take off.
12. Adrian Marin – SS
The Orioles took Marin in the 3rd round of the 2012 draft and he quickly turned some heads. Originally slotted as a 4th round pick in most mocks, the Orioles saw a few things they obviously liked. From the reports I have been given, he has all the tools you want to see in the middle of the diamond. He has quickness and agility, a solid throwing arm, soft hands and above average range. His speed is probably the biggest asset of his game. While he probably is not a true burner, he is an athletic player. I have been told he has solid instincts, which are not something that can be taught. At the plate, he has above average bat speed and is more of a gap hitter. Unfortunately, he is one player I have not been able to see in person. I had originally planned on making an end-year trip to Delmarva, but it never happened. His first season showed plenty of promise, and he should start the 2013 season as the starting SS at Delmarva.
11. Bobby Bundy – RHP
It was an ugly season for the older Bundy Brother. The statistics are terrible and he ended the year early due to injury. Of course, the main reason why he had such an awful season is due to injury. If not aware, Bobby had a bone spur in his elbow and it was a primary reason for his ineffectiveness this season. In fact, I am willing to completely write off the 2012 season because it does nothing for us in a evaluative way. He is entirely too talented for numbers and struggles like he had this season. During the heat of the moment, it is easy for us to say “this player struggled and his stock fell”. However, I urge people to relax on those thoughts with Bobby and allow him to pitch in 2013 with a clean slate. He is still a very talented pitcher and is still right where the Orioles want him on a development standpoint. It’s also not fair to really judge him based off Dylan Bundy. They are two different prospects and should be looked at individually. Dylan is obviously coming on this list later, but let us remember that there is still a ton of ability with Bobby. He has a solid fastball that ranges within the 91-94 mph range and has good life on it just like his brother. He has a curve ball and change up that need a little more refining, but otherwise the arsenal is solid. I am excited to see him pitch again healthy in 2013. I am sure Bobby is excited to get back on the mound in Bowie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM_-PcLUjOc
Tucker Blair was born and raised in the Baltimore area and currently lives in Elkridge, Maryland. He graduated from York College of Pennsylvania with a B.S in Entrepreneurial Studies and is currently a Project Analyst for a Management Consulting Firm in Federal Hill, Baltimore. Tucker was previously the Managing Editor at Orioles Nation, where he worked on prospect lists, reports, and analysis on the Orioles minor league system. He also previously wrote his personal blog, The EntreprenOriole.