O's get back in Venezuela
As the Orioles continue to upgrade their international scouting, the organization is now trying to become more of a player in a nation that has produced many Major Leaguers through the years - Venezuela.
O's Director of Player Development David Stockstill has just returned to Baltimore from a four-nation, 17-day scouting trip that took him to the Dominican, Colombia, Curacao and yes, Venezuela.
He scouted many players over four days in that country. And for the first time in about three and a half years, the Orioles have signed some Venezuelans.
Stockstill said the O's have signed about 40 international players over the last year and 11 are from Venezuela.
The Orioles have not yet released any names of the signees, but on this most recent trip, Stockstill signed three 16-year-old players, a left-handed pitcher and two outfielders.
The pitcher is 6'3" and can already hit 89 miles per hour and could grow taller. The outfielders both run 6.3 in the 60-yard dash. The O's will wait for Major League baseball to approve the contracts (which they fully expect to happen) before releasing names.
The O's have signed players from the Dominican, Japan, Colombia, Curacao and Australia in the last year. But getting back into Venezuela is a big step since that nation produces the second most foreign-born big leaguers, trailing only the Dominican.
"About five years ago we made some changes and we let go our Venezuelan staff and we pulled out of the Venezuelan summer league. It has taken us a while to re-establish ourselves there," Stockstill said.
"We are now starting to build a base there. With some of our recent signings, the Venezuelan people now realize the Orioles are back in their country and we'll start to see some of their better players now."
With those 40 signings the club has a nice base and quantity of international players. The club hopes to improve the quality of its signings as well.
"Now that we have two teams in the Dominican Summer League, and now that we have signed a number of athletes, we may actually be signing fewer (international) players, but it may cost more money per player as we go after better players."
Jesus Alfaro, Calvin Maduro and Stockstill have all scouted Venezuela. It's a nation rich in players with speed, shortstops and left-handed pitchers.
In the last 10 to 15 years, the Orioles' roster has included Venezuelans like Melvin Mora, Ramon Hernandez and Oscar Salazar. But no player from that country that was originally signed by the O's ever made it past Double-A ball.
That's a dismal record in a nation where the O's simply must do better.
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Categories (click for archive)Orioles News | Steve Melewski |
The best s.s. the Orioles ever had was from Venezuela
Chico Carrasquel Oh my mistake Little Louis Aparicio
Steve - great article! Especially on the heals of yesterday's article about the future payroll and my lenghty discussion (my apologies) with Jedd.
I have to admit though, Jedd's argument has won me over. The O's signing 40 no-name (literally) prospects is a joke.
OK...my tongue is firmly planted in my cheek.
Nice to hear about the O's international efforts. Particularly, Stockstill's quote:
"Now that we have two teams in the Dominican Summer League, and now that we have signed a number of athletes, we may actually be signing fewer (international) players, but it may cost more money per player as we go after better players."
I somehow doubt that'll placate Jedd though.
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The one thing everyone needs to keep in mind about these 16-yr-old international prospects is how far away they are from the Majors if any of them ever get that far. It may be a year or two where they play in the Dominican Summer Lg before they are even ready to play at Bluefield or Aberdeen's level. Then it's a long climb from there.
Still, the O's must be in Venezuela, there are just too many good players there to overlook the area......Steve
fkterp - best SS O's ever had? Aparicio was a bit before my time, but I'd take a guy named Ripken over Aparicio any day.
Hey Steve, my teammate from college is Venezuelan and he just signed a pro contract with the Evansville Otters. He was a Wallace Watch National Player-of-the-Year candidate prior to the 2009 campaign.
His name is Jose Sanchez.
He hit .364 with 35 doubles, 13 triples, 9 HRs, 98 runs, 134 runs, and stole 26 bases his first 2 years and our team was 48-13 his first 2 years at Alfred State College. At D1 Delaware State University, Sanchez batted .320 (105-for-328) with 77 runs scored, six home runs and 58 RBI in 94 games.
He also plays SS. Great Venezeulan ballplayer.
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Once they play at a US college, I am almost certain they are eligible for the draft. Did he not get taken by any team in the June draft? Steve
Puerto Rico and Venezuela are know for great catchers. Ivan Rodriguez, Ramon Hernandez, Henry Blanco, Geovany Soto, Benito Santiago, ect...maybe we can scrape up a good catching prospect, and flip him for a SS prospect.
Steve...
If the O's are 41-41 at the break, playing .500 ball, will the O's flip Millwood/Tejada/Attkins for prospects?
If they do that, we have a great chance at having another 2nd half swoon, something that we wern't looking to do...I'm just curious.
Andrew
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If they were a .500 team halfway thru, a lot would depend on how many games out they would be in the division and wild card race. This is probably not the year they are going to have to worry about that at that point in the season, but if they are a few games out at the trading deadline, they might be inclined to hang onto what they have......Steve
SoBoHoBoS,
I actually posted a final reply on Steve's piece a lil' while ago. Basically we'll have to agree to disagree, but we are both fans and there aren't many active ones of us around anymore. So I like the debates. I respect your optimism. I just am not there yet.
I think there is a distinction between my frustrations and some others who just post to be aggressive and get reactions. I am a big fan of certain things and loathe others this team does. But if we had just people posting lovefests for all the O's moves - that wouldn't make for much of a blog.
Blogs are supposed to spur debates - otherwise why let everybody comment. Obviously, everybody on some ego level wants to have their voice heard, but if its just one uniform opinion - it would get old very quick for everybody.
I'd like to see the international prospect rankings on these 40 signings. For example Sano was widely considered #1. And we let that one slip through. How much we actually spent compared to other teams. Are these $5k signing bonuses - $50k...etc. etc.
Just saying - hey we signed 40 guys is not necessarily improvement.
If the O's signed 40 Guatemalan Adam Eatons (i've played that one a few times admittedly) - would that make you jump for joy? I'm all for inventory, but if its just inventory and not quality inventory - I don't think that's improvement. "Having said that" (to throw a Curb Your Enthusiasm reference in there) there is safety in numbers to a certain degree in something as hard to determine as international free agents.
For example, as we all know and i'm sure you do too SoBoHoBo - that "Australian" pitcher had an above 6.00 ERA in Australia. That's a fact. It's a big improvement arc needed to go from 6.00 ERA in Australia to serviceable piece in America.
Is that a good international signing in your book or an inventory one? Personally it doesn't do it for me. I hope some of the others are higher reward ceilings. Certainly the 16 year old ones could be as they may be hidden superstars.
I'll let it go from there. As Steve pointed out - my opinion is well known at this point. I hope you guys don't lose power and all with this snow storm. Good luck with that snow.
I was supposed to get up to Frederick and DC for a bachelor party this weekend, but they shut off all flights on Friday.
Would've probably been the worst bachelor party ever - had they let us all in. Nothing like subbing out girls who are "dancing their way through college" for "snow angels in Frederick."
Steve,
Its great to see that the Orioles scouting has taken a turn for the better. IS better scouting something that Macphail has installed? Or have guys like Stockstill been with the Orioles for a while?
SAm
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The O's seem to be scouting more on the international market, under MacPhail. It is absolutely necessary they do that. The Orioles still come up short, in my opinion, in amount of international scouts. David Stockstill for instance, does some scouting and heads up the minor leagues. That's alot to do. Still they have had the three scouts that I mentioned go into Venezuela and have had at least one part-time scout with connections there working for the club. That is needed.
The O's domestic scouting of amateur players seems to be humming under Joe Jordan's watch. Int scouting is still lacking, my opinion. That is by no means a knock at Stockstill and company, they are doing what they can and need to do, they just need some help.......Steve
Steve,
My impression is that Andy McPhail doesn't like making mid-season trades. I haven't checked his history with other teams, but I can't remember anything other than minor trades with the Os {such as Bradford - PTBNL}.
Baldy
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I would not get wrapped up in his history. The O's could have several possible trade candidates come July 31st, players on one-year deals that might not come back in 2011 anyway. Players like Atkins, Millwood and Tejada. If they could bring a nice prospect, the O's woulde at least have to consider moving them with just two months left in the year.....Steve
Hey Steve, I'll volunteer to be an international scout! Wouldn't mind getting away from this snow and spending more time in the Caribbean or Venezuela. How's baseball in Brazil (one of my favorite places!).
Jedd - saw your reply in the other thread. Enjoyed the debate. Yes, we're both pulling for the success of the Orioles. Me with a more conservative approach. You with a more liberal spending / risk taking approach.
While I never contended that Sano doesn't have a lot of potential, Steve's comment above supports what I'm saying. Its a long ways between a 16-year old's potential and the major leagues.
Lastly, where do you find this list of top international talent you keep mentioning?
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Baseball America sometimes lists top international free agents. In their listing back in July they did have Sano ranked first. I'll ask nicely again, can we move on to other topics.......Steve
Actually that ERA he posted was in a short series for that Australian pitcher (who is also only 16). He already throws in the low 90's and is expected to throw a bit harder when he matures. He is also left handed and the Orioles aren't expecting him to make the team in a year or two. He signed a 5 or 6 year minor league deal and they'll just keep him around based on his natural ability right now.
Steve-
I'd like to respond to the person who asked about what the O's would do if they are at .500 halfway through.
With the torturous schedule the O's have to start the season, then lookin light from August 1 til the end, if the O's are at .500 (which ain't gonna happen), not only will they NOT trade anyone and risk not breaking the 12 season swoon, but....they WILL be on the Horn with the Padres trying to pry Adrian Gonzales away from them, and making a run at the Wild Card.
If the O's are at 500, that means they held the Yanks, Sox, and Rays in check, which mean whoever is in 1st place couldn't be more than 5 or 6 games up.
The Padres will pray for a good offer at the break for AGon, and if the O's are 500, that means Matusz, Tillman, and Bergeson are holding their own, and Macphail may consider dealing some of his stockpile to put us over the top.
Hopefully, Bell belts 15 HR and bats 325 in April, and Miggy is at DH.
I also fore-see a MONSTER year for Markakis. This is it. 26 years old, and he is ready to explode into the elite level.
It all comes into play IF they are at 500.