As Coby Mayo, Colton Cowser and Connor Norby packed their baggage and headed for Double-A Bowie on Monday, the higher realm of the Orioles’ minor league system gained one other trio of extremely ranked prospects.
With these additions, 10 of the highest 11 prospects in Baseball America’s organizational rankings are within the higher minors or the main leagues. It’s a step in the fitting course for the Orioles’ rebuild. The glut of prospects acquired by way of trades and excessive draft picks are displaying the promise the regime is banking on coming to fruition.
Several of these prospects carried out at an particularly excessive stage throughout the previous week, together with Mayo. Each week, The Baltimore Sun breaks down 5 of the highest performers within the Orioles’ prospect ranks and fingers out some superlatives for many who didn’t make that lower.
1. High-A Aberdeen infielder Coby Mayo
Before Mayo’s promotion, the third baseman’s closing efficiency for the IronBirds signaled he was prepared for a step up in competitors. The 20-year-old hit a double and a house run as a part of a three-hit efficiency, bringing his extra-base hit complete to twenty-eight. His 13 homers are tied for probably the most within the group.
Mayo, a fourth-round decide within the 2020 draft, completed his week with a .350 batting common and a 1.059 OPS. In 63 video games in High-A earlier than his promotion, the fifth-ranked prospect batted .249.
2. Low-A Delmarva infielder Noelberth Romero
After being acquired in a 2019 commerce that despatched right-hander Andrew Cashner to the Boston Red Sox, Romero noticed his improvement sidetracked by the cancellation of the 2020 minor league season due to the coronavirus pandemic. But now with constant at-bats at an affiliate for the primary time, the 20-year-old is discovering extra of a groove.
During the previous week, Romero took off for the Shorebirds, hitting three homers whereas driving in 10 runs with a 1.202 OPS. The energy surge got here as a shock; coming into the week, Romero had 4 lengthy balls in his first 47 video games. But the ball jumped off his bat this week, with six hits in 18 at-bats.
3. Triple-A Norfolk infielder Jordan Westburg
Life at Triple-A Norfolk has been good for Westburg, who arrived earlier this month and hasn’t missed a step regardless of the bounce in ranges. Overall, Westburg went from hitting .247 in 47 video games for Bowie to .366 in 16 video games for the Tides.
The previous week confirmed what he can accomplish on the plate. The 23-year-old, a first-round choice from Mississippi State in 2020, had 9 hits. Two left the ballpark and three went for doubles, and he drove in six runners and compiled a .931 OPS.
4. Double-A Bowie left-hander Drew Rom
Rom, who’s ranked because the No. 19 prospect in Baltimore’s pipeline, hasn’t had the steadiest of seasons. In his first Double-A marketing campaign, the 2018 fourth-round draft choice has averaged a career-high 1.442 WHIP.
But his begin final week for the Baysox was one among his finest this yr, as he accomplished 5 innings whereas permitting two hits and two runs with seven strikeouts. His 90 pitches had been a season excessive, and he accomplished 5 innings for the primary time in practically two months. It was additionally his second scoreless outing of the season, as he bounced again from giving up 4 runs in 4 innings June 17.
5. Low-A Delmarva outfielder Heston Kjerstad
For the second straight week of Kjerstad’s skilled profession, the 2020 first-round decide raked on the plate. Kjerstad launched the primary homer of his profession Friday and had two doubles amongst his eight hits throughout the week.
Along with a 1.081 OPS as a professional, Kjerstad is using a nine-game hitting streak for the Shorebirds. His debut was delayed as a consequence of a coronary heart situation that was found after he was drafted and a hamstring pressure throughout spring coaching this yr. But now that he’s right here, Kjerstad isn’t losing time on the plate.
Top prospect not featured up to now
With catcher Adley Rutschman within the majors and right-hander Grayson Rodriguez present process rehab work in Florida after an indirect pressure, left-hander DL Hall is the highest prospect nonetheless taking part in within the minors for Baltimore. But his most up-to-date performances confirmed what’s holding him again from a spot with the Orioles.
The 2017 first-round choice has walked 5 batters in every of his previous two begins for Norfolk. And whereas protection contributed to his poor outing June 21 — three of the 5 runs towards him had been unearned — he nonetheless completed with 9 earned runs in 7 2/3 innings the previous week.
Hall has proven the flashes of nice potential, with a high-90s fastball and a sweeping slider that attracts loads of whiffs. But his incapability to work deeper into outings is impacting the 23-year-old’s anticipated arrival within the majors.
International acquisition of the week
In the time since Isaac Bellony was promoted to Aberdeen earlier this month, his manufacturing on the plate has wavered. But Bellony, who signed as a 16-year-old in 2018, turned issues round within the closing two video games he performed for the IronBirds this previous week. He hit .094 in his first 9 video games earlier than rebounding with a .417 common in his subsequent 5, which included a house run and three RBIs.
The finest former top-30 prospect of the week
Defensive skill has by no means been a query for outfielder Zach Watson, who ranked No. 19 in Baltimore’s farm system in Baseball America’s 2020 preseason rankings. His energy potential has been extra of a holdup for the 2019 third-round decide from LSU.
The 25-year-old doubled his dwelling run rely this season in a single week, nonetheless, sending two balls out of the stadium for Bowie. Although he struck out 9 occasions, Watson recorded seven hits in his finest stretch of the season, shifting a .177 batting common north to .192.
Time to present some shine to …
Right-hander Zach Peek wasn’t the headliner within the return package deal of a commerce that noticed Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy head to the Los Angeles Angels in 2019. Right-hander Kyle Bradish, the highest-ranked prospect in that deal, made his main league debut this season whereas Peek continues to be at Bowie.
Peek has proven potential this season, although, with a 2.68 ERA in 10 begins. His most up-to-date outing may’ve been his finest this yr, as he accomplished six innings with one unearned run towards him. Peek allowed 4 hits and struck out 4 batters on a season-high 87 pitches.
Short-season snippets
Many of the Orioles taking part in within the Florida Complex League have began the season slowly. Outfielder Luis Gonzalez, 19, has been among the many most constant of the bunch, with 10 hits in 45 at-bats. During the previous week, Gonzalez recorded three hits and walked seven occasions in 4 video games. Right-hander Miguel Padilla, a 20-year-old within the FCL, turned in his finest outing this month with 5 scoreless innings through which he allowed two hits and struck out six.
In the Dominican Summer League, outfielder Braylin Tavera — who in January obtained the most important signing bonus the Orioles have ever given a Latin American newbie — has raised his common to .298 with two doubles in 4 video games.
ORIOLES@MARINERS
Tuesday, 10:10 p.m.
TV: MASN2
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
ORIOLES@MARINERS
Wednesday, 4:10 p.m.
TV: MASN2
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
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Source: www.bostonherald.com