This will be the last Minor League update of the year. I really appreciate everyone reading and following throughout the season, and hopefully I was able to shed some light on the upcoming prospects within the Orioles system. I’ll be doing a Season Review for each Minor League Affiliate, so look for that shortly.
(Discuss this article on the BSL Message Board here)
Position Player of the Month: Conor Bierfeldt – OF
.345/.441/.667 (30/87) with 9 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR, 18 RBI, 14 BB, 22 K, 1 SB (A-)
Bierfeldt has largely gone unnoticed in the realm of prospect talk this season. However, he could actually be the biggest bat on the Ironbirds’ roster, especially in terms of raw power. He has a big swing with legitimate force in it, and I have seen him crack a ball over the Left-Center fence in Ripken Stadium. He also has some discipline troubles, and swings at too many pitches outside the strike zone. The swing can be a little long at times too, but he has absolutely improved since the beginning of short season. The reason I like him in terms of players drafted and stashed at Aberdeen in years past, is that he actually has a tool that stands out. If he can cut down the swing a little bit and lessen the noise, he could show even more of his raw power. He should most likely play the entire year at Delmarva next season.
Starting Pitcher of the Month: Eduardo Rodriguez – LHP
6 GS, 33.2 IP, 2.94 ERA, 30 H, 11 R, 11 ER, 9 BB, 35 K (AA)
The youngest pitcher in the Eastern League might have had the best month of any starter in the Eastern League. It’s quite amazing to believe that some within the industry were on a wait-and-see approach with Rodriguez based off what he did in Frederick. Of course, that is more amazing because Rodriguez was able to prove he was more than capable of handling Frederick. He then went on to show that he belongs in Bowie. This month, he has shown better command than his first month in the Eastern League. This has obviously led to better results, and he is still missing a good amount of bats. All signs lead to Eduardo Rodriguez being a top prospect in baseball, even if the buzz throughout the league is not all the way there yet. At the very least, he is one of the Orioles’ best prospects.
Relief Pitcher of the Month: Michael Belfiore – LHP
8 G, 20.1 IP, 0.89 ERA, 19 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 7 BB, 19 K (AAA)
I have been a Belfiore advocate since my time watching him pitch in AA last season. I think he has a legitimate chance to help the Orioles this season as a September call-up. It also helps that he happened to put together his most productive month of the season in August. Belfiore has solid deception on his fastball, and the slider is almost unhittable for Lefties once he gets them down in the count. I really think he has the ability to be a good LOOGY in the majors, and who knows? Maybe he becomes more than that. He is a guy that can help the Orioles right now, and they might need some more bullpen depth if their Starters can’t get past the 6th inning.
Other Notables:
Trey Mancini – 1B – (A-) .344/.418/.479 (33/96) with 5 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 12 BB, 12 K, 2 SB
Gregory Lorenzo – OF – (A) .314/.341/.421 (38/121) with 9 2B, 2 3B, 8 RBI, 4 BB, 37 K, 14 SB
Torsten Boss – 2B – (A) .305/.402/.427 (25/82) with 7 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 13 BB, 22 K, 4 SB
Michael Ohlman – C – (A+) .343/.433/.490 (35/102) with 12 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 15 BB, 27 K, 2 SB
Dariel Alvarez – OF – (AA) .356/.390/.603 (26/73) with 4 2B, 1 HR, 4 HR, 10 BB, 10 K, 1 SB
Sebastian Vader – RHP – (A-) 5 G, 4 GS, 31.0 IP, 2.03 ERA, 29 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 8 BB, 23 K
Janser Severino – RHP – (A-) 7 G, 3 GS, 26.2 IP, 3.71 ERA, 22 H, 12 R, 11 ER, 8 BB, 22 K
Mitch Horacek – RHP – (A-) 5 GS, 31.0 IP, 3.19 ERA, 28 H, 13 R, 11 ER, 5 BB, 21 K
Alex Santana – RHP – (A-) 6 G, 2 GS, 15.2 IP, 0.57 ERA, 9 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 9 BB, 21 K
Donnie Hart – LHP – (A-) 8 G, 9.1 IP, 2.89 ERA, 11 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 13 K
Hunter Harvey – RHP – (A-) 2 GS, 7.2 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 10 K
Parker Bridwell – RHP – (A) 5 GS, 31.1 IP, 3.73 ERA, 31 H, 16 R, 13 ER, 8 BB, 34 K
Mark Blackmar – RHP – (A) 6 G, 17.2 IP, 2.55 ERA, 14 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 6 BB, 10 K
Bennett Parry – LHP – (A) 6 GS, 30.0 IP, 27 H, 13 R, 10 ER, 10 BB, 20 K
Zach Davies – RHP – (A+) 6 GS, 35.0 IP, 3.60 ERA, 37 H, 20 R, 14 ER, 9 BB, 34 K
Tim Berry – LHP – (A+) 6 GS, 33.0 IP, 3.55 ERA, 33 H, 16 R, 13 ER, 13 BB, 21 K
Miguel Chalas – RHP – (A+) 21.0 IP, 3.00 ERA, 22 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 3 BB, 13 K
Mike Wright – RHP – (AA) 6 GS, 35.1 IP, 2.29 ERA, 37 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 7 BB, 25 K
Eduardo Rodriguez – LHP – (AA) 6 GS, 33.2 IP, 2.94 ERA, 30 H, 11 R, 11 ER, 9 BB, 35 K
Clay Schrader – RHP – (AA) 8 G, 13.0 IP, 15 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 7 BB, 18 K
Chris Jones – LHP – (AAA) 8 G, 15.1 IP, 2.93 ERA, 18 H, 8 R, 5 ER, 11 BB, 13 K
Tucker Blair was born and raised in the Baltimore area and currently lives in Elkridge, Maryland. He graduated from York College of Pennsylvania with a B.S in Entrepreneurial Studies and is currently a Project Analyst for a Management Consulting Firm in Federal Hill, Baltimore. Tucker was previously the Managing Editor at Orioles Nation, where he worked on prospect lists, reports, and analysis on the Orioles minor league system. He also previously wrote his personal blog, The EntreprenOriole.