Tillman and Matusz make the top ten
According to Baseball America, the Orioles now have two of the best ten prospects in all of baseball. Today, BA released its list of the game's top 25 prospects at mid-season and Chris Tillman was rated 8th and Brian Matusz 9th.
Earlier this year, Norfolk Tides right-hander Tillman seemed to be limited to 80-90 pitches in most of his starts. But now Tillman has thrown 94 or more pitches in six straight starts.
The pitch increase is not by design or part of any grand plan the O's have for the 21-year-old top pitching prospect.
"He had a groin injury early in the year and we were being cautious with his pitch count," O's Director of Player Development, David Stockstill said. "Now he is pitching with better command and getting deeper in games. He has real good command right now with all his pitches within the strike zone."
Tillman has pitched 13 2/3 scoreless innings over his last two starts and is 7-5, 2.50 on the year in 16 starts. In 86 innings he has walked 22 and fanned 88. He pitched six scoreless frames last night at Charlotte.
Tillman by month:
April: 1-0, 1.29, three starts
May: 4-0, 2.63, five starts
June: 0-5, 3.89, six starts
July: 2-0, 0.00, two starts
Meanwhile, last year's first-round pick, lefty Matusz, has been amazing in his first four starts with Bowie. He is 4-0, 0.34. In 26 1/3 innings he has allowed just 11 hits and one earned run with six walks and 32 strikeouts.
Despite his dominance with Bowie, it's only been four starts there and at the moment, the O's are not planning to move him to Triple-A.
"Not at this point," Stockstill said. "He is on an incredible streak right now and we hope it continues. He has made dramatic improvement in a short amount of time with his fastball command.
"He has really learned to pitch off his fastball so well and that makes his other pitches look that much better. The other night he was pitching off his fastball all night long, spotting it on the inside and outside corners."
Matusz by month:
April: 2-1, 3.32, four starts
May: 2-1, 1.85, six starts
June: 2-0, 0.52, three starts
July: 2-0, 0.00, two starts
Matusz and Tillman will be on the U.S. team for the Futures Game this Sunday at St. Louis.
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Categories (click for archive)Orioles News | Steve Melewski |
Both guys will be in the starting rotation with the orioles next season
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I think you are right about that. - Steve
Wow, they are rated in the top 3 pitching prospects in all of baseball with the Giants bumgarner. Tillman is the top righty, amazing the arms we have in the minors. Arrieta is in the next 25 but that was listed alphabetically.
The numbers on Matusz are incredible. Combined(A and AA) in hos last 49 and a third innings he has allowed ONE run!
Thanks, Steve for keeping us up to date!
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You got it, Ray. - Steve
Not to be greedy but I wish we had a position player up there too. Considering how far the farm system has come this is great news.
Thanks Steve
And we shouldn't forget that Wieters rightfully belongs at #1 on this list, and would be if we didn't call him up at the end of May.
By the way, Tillman better than Matusz?!?!? Everything we're witnessing is pointing otherwise. I hope when these guys all get up they compete in the same vein Smoltz, Maddux, and Glavine used to. Sometimes the best competition is among each other.
Can't wait till 2010. I guess Tillman in the second half will give us a taste of the future.
It is very possible that this time next year, our rotation could be: Bergensen, Hernandez, Matusz, Arrieta and Tillman. This is going to be a lot of fun to watch.
what does his fastball top out at? Matusz I mean, but I guess Tillman also...
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Matusz is 91,92 with his fastball velocity. Tillman throws harder and can crank it into the mid 90's at times. - Steve
Thanks Steve. In your mind what would the rotation be like in order for; Matusz, Tillman, Bergesen, Arrieta, Hernandez/Guthrie
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I don't know. That is getting ahead of ourselves a little. We'd have to see how everyone is pitching at the time. But certainly the big three of Matusz, Tillman and Arrieta all have a shot to be in the rotation next year at the start or sometime during the year. - Steve
I know it's only been four starts, but--why would they not move Matusz up to AAA soon? How does this help him when it seems from his numbers that he isn't even being seriously challenged by AA hitters? Makes zero sense to me.
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Maybe they just need more evidence than four starts, although they have been four awesome starts. - Steve
Are the Angels looking for a 1st baseman (Huff) or a pitcher (Guthrie)? I would trade 1 of them for Brandon Wood! What do you think about Wood? I think he's not in the majors yet because he's being blocked!
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I have a hard enough time keeping up with the O's Majors and Minors to really know what the Angels or looking for or who they like on other clubs. Also, don't they see Wood as replacing Figgins at third if he leaves via free agency???
Steve
Steve- Do you think what happens with Sano determines whether or not they might meet Givens signing demands?
I have read in several places where Givens really fell in the draft, that he was a STEAL at 54, in fact, a couple said he could have been a mid-1st rounder any other year. The O's look at Sano as a mid to late 1st rounder as well, so I just thought, if Givens is looking for a huge bonus for where he was taken, that maybe that would affect whether or not the O's kick out a little more for Sano?
I personally would rather have Sano, here is why...Givens is compared to J-Roll, but they question his ability to hit for avg at the higher levels...Sano, they say is a cross between Miguel Cabrera and Hanley Ramirez. Christ, put Hanley around Nick, Adam, Luke, Matt, and Nolan, with a leadoff hitter who might try once in a while and BOOM, PENNANT BABY PENNANT!!!
Could you maybe ask Macphail or someone if the one negotiation has anything to do with the other? Might make sense.
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Keep in mind both are young and years from the Majors. Sano is only 16 and might even play a year or two in the Dominican summmer lg before he even gets to the US minors. - Steve
The scary thing is, some say Arrieta is the best of the big three! It's an exciting time to be an O's fan! And don't forget about Britton in high A, he was matching Matusz start for start when they pitched together!
Hey Steve,
Do you know who the other 8 players were / where I could find them?
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Baseballamerica.com. - Steve
Are the Orioles Intrested in B.J. Ryan at all?
Who are the Orioles top 15 pitchers?
1.Chris Tillman
2.Brian Matusz
3.Jake Arrieta
4.Troy Patton
5.Zachary Britton
6.Brandon Erbe
7.Matt Hobgood
8.Timothy Bascom
9.Richard Zagone
10.Oliver Drake
11.Nathan Moreau
12.Ryan O'Shea
13.Kenny Moreland
14.Robert Bundy
15.Justin Moore
It did make me cringe a little to see Matusz was behind Justin Smoak, whose name I was *really* hoping to hear the Orioles call last June. No complaints though; these rankings are nowhere near a science. Looking forward to seeing Matusz in an O's uniform next May!