Taking a look at the top 30 Orioles prospects per Baseball America
Earlier, we took a look at the top 10 prospects in the Orioles farm system and today we expand that to look at a list of the club's top 30 prospects according to Baseball America. You can find it all in the publication's Prospect Handbook.
A review of the top 10:
1. Dylan Bundy
2. Hunter Harvey
3. Christian Walker
4. Chance Sisco
5. Dariel Alvarez
6. Zach Davies
7. Tim Berry
8. Mike Wright
9. Mike Yastrzemski
10. Jomar Reyes
Now a look at the rest of the list with notes on each player:
11. Pat Connaughton, RHP: This two-sport athlete from Notre Dame is currently playing on the Irish basketball team. There is some speculation that he'd consider pro hoops for a career, but when he signed with the Orioles he said he was going with baseball. He impressed in 14 2/3 innings last summer at short-season Single-A Aberdeen, showing a fastball that touched 96.
12. Tyler Wilson, RHP: While he still doesn't break the top 10 of these lists, it is time to give Wilson props for quietly climbing the O's minor league ranks. He was their 2014 minor league Pitcher of the Year and clearly deserved the honor. Now on the 40-man roster, a fastball that ticked up in velocity last year and a set of solid secondary pitches could make their way to Camden Yards at some point this year.
13. Jon Keller, RHP: This big, strong right-hander with a power arm could be on a fast track to Baltimore in a bullpen role. He shows a strong fastball-slider combo with a heater that reaches the mid 90s.
14. Henry Urrutia, OF: Don't forget this guy. The combination of his sweet swing and some of what Buck Showalter calls "want to" might get him back to the bigs this year. Sports hernia surgery put a real damper on his 2014, but he still has plenty of supporters in the organization.
15. Drew Dosch, 3B: O's executive Dan Duquette himself scouted Dosch in the Cape Cod League in 2012. Dosch has a mature approach and solid swing. He finished seventh in the South Atlantic League in batting last year. Should be Single-A Frederick's starting third baseman this year.
16. Stephen Tarpley, LHP: He was ticketed for Single-A Delmarva's rotation until he got traded to Pittsburgh for Travis Snider. He made strong improvement in 2014, culminating in his last two starts for Aberdeen when he fanned 18 over 15 innings.
17. Jason Garcia, RHP: The O's sure like his arm, but can a pitcher that has yet to pitch above low Single-A go right to the majors as a Rule 5 pick? He impressed the O's brass in instructional league when pitching for Boston, he faced 18 O's batters and struck out 14. His hit list included Sisco, Walker and Chris Davis.
18. Steven Brault, LHP: This former two-way college star has pitchability. Brault profiles as a command and control lefty with a fastball that ranged from 88-92 mph. His changeup was his best secondary pitch. He should start 2015 in Frederick's rotation.
19. Michael Ohlman, C: Ohlman was recently designated for assignment and traded to St. Louis for cash considerations. Amid speculation he might be changing positions and stop catching, Ohlman told me this week he had not been told that. He assumed he would still be catching this season if he had remained in the organization.
20. David Hess, RHP: The club's fifth-round pick last June out of Tennessee Tech, Hess showed a fastball that could reach the mid 90s. One front office executive said Hess reminds him of current Orioles pitcher Bud Norris, with a similar body and delivery.
21. Adrian Marin, SS: Scouts say he shows average tools across the board with slightly above average speed, but adds a high baseball IQ and the ability to make adjustments. He hit just .232 at Frederick, but still could start 2015 as Double-A Bowie's shortstop.
22. Parker Bridwell, RHP: He again showed above average stuff in 2014 with a fastball that sits in the 90-93 range, touching 94 and 95. His changeup made big strides last season to become his best secondary pitch. Should start 2015 in the Baysox rotation.
23. Brian Gonzalez, LHP: The O's top pick in 2014 as a third-round selection. Gonzalez impressed the Orioles with his maturity and advanced pitchability while flashing a little more velocity than he had in high school with a fastball than ranged from 88-94 mph. Should start in Delmarva.
24. Logan Verrett, RHP: Another O's Rule 5 pick, Verrett faces long odds to make the opening day roster. But after a solid 2014 at Triple-A, he's ready to at least take his shot at a big league roster spot.
25. Josh Hart, OF: The 37th overall pick in the 2013 draft, injuries have slowed him in his two years on the Orioles farm. But he's still just 20 and it's very early in the developmental process for Hart, who projects as a speedy top-of-the-order type hitter.
26. Branden Kline, RHP: Like Wilson, Kline is a University of Virginia product. He spent most of 2014 at Frederick, but made his final three starts at Bowie, where he should begin this year. If he can improve and command his secondary pitches better, he could be on his way.
27. Mychal Givens, RHP: The infielder-turned-pitcher made solid strides last season. Pitching with a unique low three-quarters arm slot, Givens has shown a plus arm with a fastball touching 95 and 96, rare for someone throwing with that arm slot. He could be a future late-inning reliever.
28. Jonah Heim, C: The O's are intrigued by the potential for this switch-hitting catcher, whose defense is ahead of his offense right now. A smart kid and real student of the game, he should be Delmarva's starting catcher.
29. Ofelky Peralta, RHP: After his first year in the Dominican Summer League in 2014, Peralta showed the Orioles the mid-90s arm strength they knew he had. But he is very much a raw prospect right now that needs to improve his mechanics and command as his career progresses. He will turn 18 in April and likely will pitch in the Gulf Coast League when play starts in June.
30. Trey Mancini, 1B: The Orioles like his bat. He set a hits record in Aberdeen in 2013. In 2014, he hit .317 at Delmarva, but that dipped to .251 when he was moved to Frederick. Mancini has a real feel for hitting with an excellent approach.
12. Tyler Wilson, RHP: While he still doesn't break the top 10 of these lists, it is time to give Wilson props for quietly climbing the O's minor league ranks. He was their 2014 minor league Pitcher of the Year and clearly deserved the honor. Now on the 40-man roster, a fastball that ticked up in velocity last year and a set of solid secondary pitches could make their way to Camden Yards at some point this year.
13. Jon Keller, RHP: This big, strong right-hander with a power arm could be on a fast track to Baltimore in a bullpen role. He shows a strong fastball-slider combo with a heater that reaches the mid 90s.
14. Henry Urrutia, OF: Don't forget this guy. The combination of his sweet swing and some of what Buck Showalter calls "want to" might get him back to the bigs this year. Sports hernia surgery put a real damper on his 2014, but he still has plenty of supporters in the organization.
15. Drew Dosch, 3B: O's executive Dan Duquette himself scouted Dosch in the Cape Cod League in 2012. Dosch has a mature approach and solid swing. He finished seventh in the South Atlantic League in batting last year. Should be Single-A Frederick's starting third baseman this year.
16. Stephen Tarpley, LHP: He was ticketed for Single-A Delmarva's rotation until he got traded to Pittsburgh for Travis Snider. He made strong improvement in 2014, culminating in his last two starts for Aberdeen when he fanned 18 over 15 innings.
17. Jason Garcia, RHP: The O's sure like his arm, but can a pitcher that has yet to pitch above low Single-A go right to the majors as a Rule 5 pick? He impressed the O's brass in instructional league when pitching for Boston, he faced 18 O's batters and struck out 14. His hit list included Sisco, Walker and Chris Davis.
18. Steven Brault, LHP: This former two-way college star has pitchability. Brault profiles as a command and control lefty with a fastball that ranged from 88-92 mph. His changeup was his best secondary pitch. He should start 2015 in Frederick's rotation.
19. Michael Ohlman, C: Ohlman was recently designated for assignment and traded to St. Louis for cash considerations. Amid speculation he might be changing positions and stop catching, Ohlman told me this week he had not been told that. He assumed he would still be catching this season if he had remained in the organization.
20. David Hess, RHP: The club's fifth-round pick last June out of Tennessee Tech, Hess showed a fastball that could reach the mid 90s. One front office executive said Hess reminds him of current Orioles pitcher Bud Norris, with a similar body and delivery.
21. Adrian Marin, SS: Scouts say he shows average tools across the board with slightly above average speed, but adds a high baseball IQ and the ability to make adjustments. He hit just .232 at Frederick, but still could start 2015 as Double-A Bowie's shortstop.
22. Parker Bridwell, RHP: He again showed above average stuff in 2014 with a fastball that sits in the 90-93 range, touching 94 and 95. His changeup made big strides last season to become his best secondary pitch. Should start 2015 in the Baysox rotation.
23. Brian Gonzalez, LHP: The O's top pick in 2014 as a third-round selection. Gonzalez impressed the Orioles with his maturity and advanced pitchability while flashing a little more velocity than he had in high school with a fastball than ranged from 88-94 mph. Should start in Delmarva.
24. Logan Verrett, RHP: Another O's Rule 5 pick, Verrett faces long odds to make the opening day roster. But after a solid 2014 at Triple-A, he's ready to at least take his shot at a big league roster spot.
25. Josh Hart, OF: The 37th overall pick in the 2013 draft, injuries have slowed him in his two years on the Orioles farm. But he's still just 20 and it's very early in the developmental process for Hart, who projects as a speedy top-of-the-order type hitter.
26. Branden Kline, RHP: Like Wilson, Kline is a University of Virginia product. He spent most of 2014 at Frederick, but made his final three starts at Bowie, where he should begin this year. If he can improve and command his secondary pitches better, he could be on his way.
27. Mychal Givens, RHP: The infielder-turned-pitcher made solid strides last season. Pitching with a unique low three-quarters arm slot, Givens has shown a plus arm with a fastball touching 95 and 96, rare for someone throwing with that arm slot. He could be a future late-inning reliever.
28. Jonah Heim, C: The O's are intrigued by the potential for this switch-hitting catcher, whose defense is ahead of his offense right now. A smart kid and real student of the game, he should be Delmarva's starting catcher.
29. Ofelky Peralta, RHP: After his first year in the Dominican Summer League in 2014, Peralta showed the Orioles the mid-90s arm strength they knew he had. But he is very much a raw prospect right now that needs to improve his mechanics and command as his career progresses. He will turn 18 in April and likely will pitch in the Gulf Coast League when play starts in June.
30. Trey Mancini, 1B: The Orioles like his bat. He set a hits record in Aberdeen in 2013. In 2014, he hit .317 at Delmarva, but that dipped to .251 when he was moved to Frederick. Mancini has a real feel for hitting with an excellent approach.
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