In previous years, Baseball America’s launch of its high 10 Orioles prospects has been a time to sit up for the gamers Baltimore would possibly sometime promote in hopes of enhancing its main league roster.
This 12 months’s version, which was launched Tuesday, doubles in giving a take a look at which gamers the Orioles may need to half with to do the identical. In all probability, govt vp and normal Mike Elias must embody not less than one of many gamers within the again half of the checklist to make reliable enhancements to the staff’s lineup or rotation.
For the primary time since 2018, the preseason checklist is topped by somebody aside from Adley Rutschman, however the system’s depth stays on show. Here are three takeaways from Baseball America’s checklist of the Orioles’ high 10 prospects.
Remade infield
The 2019 preseason checklist — the primary with Elias main Baltimore’s baseball operations division — included one infielder within the high 10: Ryan Mountcastle, caught at third base amid his fall down the defensive spectrum.
Six of the newest high 10 are infielders, with all however one taking part in not less than one of many center positions. Top total prospect Gunnar Henderson (No. 1), Jackson Holliday (No. 3), Jordan Westburg (No. 6), Connor Norby (No. 7), Joey Ortiz (No. 8) and Coby Mayo (No. 10) present the work that’s been finished to enhance that space of the group, notably when it comes to funding of draft capital. Holliday was the primary total choose final 12 months; Henderson, Westburg and Norby have been Baltimore’s second choices in Elias’ first three drafts; and Ortiz and Mayo have been fourth-round picks in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
Given the depth right here, it’s a logical space for the Orioles to drag from for commerce packages, with arguments to be made for and towards every of the 4 who isn’t the game’s No. 1 total prospect or a former No. 1 total draft choose. A 3rd baseman who would possibly wind up elsewhere, Mayo is the bottom on the defensive spectrum, however as a participant who reached Double-A at 20 years previous, he may need the very best upside. With various ability units, Westburg, Norby and Ortiz every reached Triple-A in 2022, and that proximity to the majors will increase their worth not solely to the Orioles but in addition as potential commerce centerpieces.
Two arms
In every version of Baseball America’s checklist since 2019, Grayson Rodriguez and DL Hall have been the Orioles’ high two pitching prospects. This 12 months, they’re additionally the one ones within the high 10, coming in at No. 2 and No. 5, respectively.
Many proficient place gamers have entered the system beneath Elias, however there haven’t been practically as many premier pitching prospects. In Elias’ 4 drafts, the group has used one choose sooner than the fifth spherical on a pitcher, then it didn’t signal that participant. With Rodriguez and Hall being the ultimate first-round picks of the earlier entrance workplace, the one pitcher Elias acquired who has appeared in a high 10 checklist was Kyle Bradish, a part of the commerce return from the Los Angeles Angels for Dylan Bundy. Ranked ninth getting into final season, Bradish struggled along with his preliminary style of the majors, however changes after a stint on the injured checklist allowed him to take off.
There’s extra pitching depth to the Orioles’ system than this checklist would suggest. Mike Baumann, Seth Johnson, Drew Rom and Noah Denoyer will seem within the full high 30 and are already on Baltimore’s 40-man roster, and the dearth of one other pitcher within the high 10 past Rodriguez and Hall can also be a product of the variety of high-level hitters.
But with Rodriguez and Hall anticipated to graduate from prospect standing this upcoming season, it’s not instantly clear who will exchange them because the main representatives of the Orioles’ pitching program.
Which left-handed outfielders?
There have been arguably 4 left-handed-hitting outfielders who had a case to be in Baltimore’s high 10, with solely considered one of them — 2021 fifth-overall choose Colton Cowser (No. 4) — assured a spot. For now, just one different made the reduce.
After making his main league debut in 2022, Kyle Stowers landed at No. 9. Even with the Orioles’ major outfield group positioned to return in 2023, Stowers is located for elevated main league time after robust performances down the stretch.
His anticipated commencement, in addition to these of Henderson, Rodriguez and Hall, within the early a part of the season figures to open area within the high 10 for Heston Kjerstad and Dylan Beavers, if a commerce of some members of the checklist doesn’t immediate that first.
Unexpectedly chosen second total in 2020, Kjerstad was the Orioles’ No. 4 prospect getting into the 2021 season, however he missed all of that marketing campaign due to a coronary heart situation and moved right down to No. 8 on the 2022 preseason checklist. An up-and-down 12 months — a left hamstring pressure suffered in spring coaching, success in Low-A Delmarva, struggles in High-A Aberdeen, profitable MVP honors within the Arizona Fall League — resulted in him being exterior the highest 10, however he actually has the potential to play his approach again into its high half.
The identical might show true of Beavers, who the Orioles took thirty third total within the 2022 draft. Rises from Stowers, Norby and Ortiz — who’s 20 spots greater than he was in Baseball America’s midseason checklist — bumped Beavers down, however he confirmed his instruments throughout the low minors and will spend subsequent season at three ranges, simply as most of the hitters who made the highest 10 have lately.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com