No hitting prospect beneath the Orioles’ present regime has put up higher numbers in Triple-A than Joey Ortiz.
In 63 video games on the highest minor league stage, Ortiz is slashing .350/.403/.579 with 35 extra-base hits, 11 stolen bases and stellar protection. Those numbers are higher than any prospect who has performed at the least 40 video games for Norfolk since Mike Elias took over as govt vp and normal supervisor earlier than the 2019 season.
That truth is nearly laborious to imagine contemplating the Orioles have the game’s No. 1 farm system and that Baltimore barely performed Ortiz, who was demoted final week in favor of fellow infield prospect Jordan Westburg, throughout his time within the majors this yr. Ortiz, the membership’s No. 5 prospect in response to Baseball America, was as soon as seen as a weak-hitting prospect with defensive prowess, however he’s now paired his slick glove with offensive success in three straight seasons.
His .982 OPS is healthier than Westburg’s profession Triple-A mark of .899, though, to the latter’s credit score, his constant manufacturing got here in 158 video games. Colton Cowser, the group’s No. 2 prospect who continues to be in Triple-A, has a profession .920 OPS on the stage. Adley Rutschman’s was .879; Gunnar Henderson’s was .894.
The thriller of why Ortiz, contemplating his spectacular offensive numbers at Triple-A, totaled simply 34 plate appearances within the 24 video games he was on Baltimore’s roster should stay one for now. His time with the Orioles got here throughout three stints as he’s been shuttled backwards and forwards between Triple-A and the majors.
Each time he returned to the Tides, although, he picked up proper the place he left off. Last week was no totally different, as Ortiz went 11-for-22 with 4 doubles, three walks, 4 stolen bases and 7 RBIs. On the season, Ortiz is hitting .353 with a .992 OPS.
But Ortiz wasn’t the one Orioles prospect to face out on the farm. That’s why every week, The Baltimore Sun will break down 5 of the highest performers in Baltimore’s prospect ranks and hand out some superlatives for individuals who didn’t make that lower.
1. Low-A Delmarva catcher Samuel Basallo
Perhaps no prospect within the Orioles’ system has raised his inventory extra this yr than Basallo. The 18-year-old backstop continued his stellar 2023 this previous week by hitting two dwelling runs, together with a grand slam Sunday, and driving in eight runs. Now a prime 100 prospect on Baseball America’s record, Basallo is ranked No. 7 in Baltimore’s system. Basallo, who the Orioles signed out of the Dominican Republic for a then-organization-record $1.3 million in January 2021, is hitting .294 with an .851 OPS.
2. Triple-A Norfolk outfielder Colton Cowser
Cowser had his greatest week since coming back from the injured record in early June, going 7-for-17 with three multi-hit video games, a house run, 4 RBIs and 5 walks. The 2021 first-round decide has been among the best hitters in Triple-A this season with a .330/.459/.537 slash line — good for a .996 OPS.
3. Double-A Bowie infielder Coby Mayo
The Orioles prospect placing up the most effective numbers within the minor leagues isn’t Ortiz, Cowser and even Jackson Holliday — it’s Mayo. Baltimore’s No. 9 prospect is placing up monster numbers with the Baysox. In 73 video games, Mayo is slashing .316/.431/.628 — good for a 1.059 OPS — with 29 doubles and 17 dwelling runs. In the previous week, the third baseman, who has additionally began to discover ways to play first, went 9-for-26 with three homers, three doubles, three walks and 5 RBIs.
4. Triple-A Norfolk right-hander Grayson Rodriguez
In his 5 begins since being optioned to Triple-A in late May, Rodriguez has both struck out 10-plus batters or allowed one run or fewer in every of them. After battling a 7.35 ERA by means of his first 10 main league begins, Rodriguez was despatched down to enhance his fastball command and sharpen his off-speed pitches. He delivered one other strong begin final week, delivering six innings of one-run ball Wednesday whereas hanging out eight. In 28 1/3 innings since his demotion, the group’s prime pitching prospect has a 2.22 ERA and 39 strikeouts.
5. Low-A Delmarva right-hander Zack Showalter
Showalter, a 19-year-old right-hander, wanted simply 10 innings in rookie ball earlier than being promoted to Low-A Delmarva. In his first two appearances with the Shorebirds, he’s allowed six hits and one run throughout 7 1/3 innings. He struck out six batters and gave up only one hit in 3 1/3 scoreless innings Saturday. Showalter, the Orioles’ Eleventh-round decide in 2022, is ranked as Baltimore’s No. 24 prospect by Baseball America.
The prime prospect not featured thus far
After a torrid first two months of the season, Holliday has cooled down over the previous few weeks. Since June 15, the Orioles’ No. 1 prospect is hitting .204 with a .646 OPS. That’s to not say, after all, that each one has been unhealthy for Holliday, who continues to be hitting .317 with a .970 OPS. On Friday, Holliday blasted a walk-off dwelling run for his seventh lengthy ball of the yr.
International acquisition of the week
When Frederick Bencosme was promoted to High-A Aberdeen final yr, he struggled to regulate to the brand new stage, hitting simply .154 in 12 video games. Then he hit .209 with a .600 OPS in his first 50 video games of the 2023 season. The 20-year-old shortstop has began to warmth up, although, batting .364 with an .895 OPS in his previous 13 video games. Last week, Bencosme, who the Orioles signed out of the Dominican Republic in August 2020, went 5-for-16 with two doubles, 5 walks and two stolen bases.
Time to provide a shout-out to …
Right-handed pitcher Cooper Chandler. After taking part in 5 years in faculty, Chandler signed with the Orioles as an undrafted free agent in August. In his first full season {of professional} baseball, the 24-year-old has a 2.54 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 49 2/3 innings with High-A Aberdeen. Last week, he delivered among the best begins of his profession, pitching 5 innings of one-run ball whereas hanging out eight. In his previous 22 innings, Chandler is 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA, 13 hits allowed and 25 strikeouts.
Short-season snippets
Outfielder Braylin Tavera reached base in eight of his 14 plate appearances this previous week, going 3-for-9 with 5 walks and a solo dwelling run for Baltimore’s Florida Complex League staff. Tavera, who the Orioles signed out of the Dominican Republic for a then-organization-record $1.7 million in January 2022, is ranked as Baltimore’s No. 23 prospect by MLB Pipeline. … Also within the FCL, left-hander Luis De León, a Dominican Republic native the Orioles signed in December 2021, pitched 5 scoreless innings with 5 strikeouts Thursday. … Right-handed pitcher Jesús Palacios, a Dominican Republic native the Orioles signed in January 2022, struck out 10 and allowed simply three batters to succeed in safely throughout six shutout innings Monday for Baltimore’s Dominican Summer League membership. … Also within the DSL, Luis Vicioso, a catcher the Orioles signed out of the Dominican Republic in January and the youthful brother of shortstop Jorge Mateo, went 10-for-19 over the previous week with two dwelling runs, a triple and 7 RBIs.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com