It's been busy during prospect ranking season

During a lockout, we can't say it's baseball season yet. Hopefully, sooner than later. But we can say it is prospect ranking season. Multiple outlets have been coming out with player and team rankings. Today let's review what we have seen so far.

Six Orioles were in the ESPN top 100:

1 - Adley Rutschman
8 - Grayson Rodriguez
74 - Colton Cowser
94 - DL Hall
96 - Gunnar Henderson
98 - Coby Mayo

Five Orioles were in the Baseball America top 100:

1 - Rutschman
6 - Rodriguez
52 - Hall
57 - Henderson
98 - Cowser

The Athletic placed five Orioles in the top 100:

1 - Rutschman
14 - Rodriguez
52 - Cowser
73 - Henderson
81 - Hall

ESPN also released farm system rankings this week and the Orioles were ranked No. 1. They were also No. 1 in the latest from MLBPipeline.com, which came out in August. The Orioles ended last year No. 2 by Baseball America and now are No. 4 in their latest ratings. The Orioles are No. 10 via The Athletic.

A few of my quick thoughts on all this.

* Rutschman continues to top these rankings which is pretty impressive considering that Kansas City's Bobby Witt is younger and an elite talent that plays shortstop. It speaks to just how highly regarded Rutschman and his potential are right now.

Witt, 21, batted .290/.361/.575/.936 last year between Double-A and Triple-A with 35 doubles, four triples, 33 homers, 29 steals, 99 runs and 97 RBIs. And he played 62 games, more than Rutschman, at the Triple-A level.

But Rutschman's elite talent, on both offense and defense, at the premium position of catcher seem to be a small separator here.

* Mayo is getting more and more notice. He had such a big year last season and now if he does it again, spending all 2022 in full-season ball, he could move into the top 50, maybe higher. And maybe Cowser will join him there. Jordan Westburg seems to be on the doorstep of the top 100.

* Hall is going to have to prove his health this year. It seems he's a full-go for the season, and after making just seven Double-A starts last year, pitching well over a full season will be big for him. Not only will it get him once again rated higher on some of these lists, but more importantly, it will ease any concerns the organization may have not to mention get him closer to the major leagues. Or maybe even in the major leagues at some point in 2022.

* The process of building an "elite talent pipeline" is going well. When he was hired, Mike Elias said this was a stated goal and also that one can lead to two. Build the talent pipeline and then carry that to major league success and wins. With new hires, new technology and new ideas on the farm on Elias' watch, the Orioles seem to be humming along pretty well on the farm right now. Add to that international investments in players and facilities and the pipeline now has a great foundation.

This was always going to be a multi-year building process and patience would be needed from a fan base desperate for major league success. But during prospect season, outlets not affiliated with the Orioles seem to be telling us the Orioles have done quite well.