Looking back: Checking on the 2010 O's top 10 prospects list

As a follow-up to yesterday's blog about the Orioles farm system, I decided to take a random look back at their top 10 list from several years ago. So I decided to take three American League East teams from after the 2010 season and see how their top 10s look now.

Keep in mind that prospect analysis involves a lot of looking ahead and projections that are difficult to make. In the world of prospects, there are many more misses than hits on the farm. Most prospects don't pan out or don't reach their predicted or hoped-for potential.

But the O's top 10 published by Baseball America on Nov. 1, 2010, has produced two All-Stars, two everyday players and four players that should make big contributions to the 2016 Orioles with hopes still for two others. Here is that list:

1) Manny Machado, SS
2) Zach Britton, LHP
3) Xavier Avery, OF
4) L.J. Hoes, 2B
5) Dan Klein, RHP
6) Wynn Pelzer, RHP
7) Mychal Givens, SS
8) Ryan Adams, 2B/3B
9) Ryan Berry, RHP
10) Jonathan Schoop, SS

Machado and Britton are among the best at what they do and that is a pretty good one-two punch from that year's list. Avery and Hoes are back with the organization after being traded. Shoulder problems forced Klein to retire.

Pelzer was acquired from San Diego in exchange for Miguel Tejada and cash in July 2010. He ended his career after the 2014 season.

The Orioles' second-round pick in 2006, Adams briefly played in the majors. He got into 29 games in 2011 and actually has a .281 career average. Adams became a free agent after the 2012 season. Shortly thereafter, Adams tested positive for amphetamines and was suspended for 25 games by Major League Baseball. In July 2014, just days after the Los Angeles Dodgers released him, he was suspended again, this time for 100 games, after he violated the minor league drug prevention and treatment program.

A ninth-round pick out of Rice in 2009, Berry showed some promise early in his career. But injuries caught up to him, and he last pitched for the Orioles in 2012 and in pro ball in the Frontier League in 2013.

You know about both Givens and Schoop, young talents that appear ready to deliver big things. One day soon, they could make this list look even better (and one that has produced four All-Stars if they ever make it to a Mid-Summer Classic).

Givens was ranked twice in the O's top 10 as a shortstop. He was No. 9 after the 2009 season, when he also ranked as having the best infield arm on the O's farm and was also named best athlete. He was No. 7 a year later on the list published above.

Schoop was No. 10 on this list from 2010. But he would move up much higher on the Orioles list, ranked No. 3 after the 2011 and 2012 seasons, and No. 5 after 2013. He was ranked in Baseball America's top 100 prospects at No. 82 after the 2011 season.

Interestingly, none of the three shortstops on this list are currently playing the position. And Hoes was a second baseman in 2010. But after three seasons as an infielder on the O's farm, he moved to the outfield starting with the 2011 season.

Here is the New York Yankees' top 10 after 2010:

1) Jesus Montero, C
2) Austin Romine, C
3) Arodys Vizcaino, RHP
4) Slade Heathcott, OF
5) Zach McAllister, RHP
6) Manny Banuelos, LHP
7) Gary Sanchez, C
8) J.R. Murphy, C
9) Jeremy Bleich, LHP
10) Andrew Brackman, RHP

Here is Boston's top 10 after 2010:

1) Casey Kelly, RHP
2) Jose Iglesias, SS
3) Anthony Rizzo, 1B
4) Anthony Ranaudo, RHP
5) Drake Britton, LHP
6) Reymond Fuentes, OF
7) Josh Reddick, OF
8) Felix Doubront, LHP
9) Stolmy Pimentel, RHP
10) Garin Cecchini, 3B

It is just one random look from several years ago. But the Orioles' 2010 top 10 list has produced two everyday players, one of them possibly a franchise player, and two key bullpen pitchers.

Meanwhile, as for other topics: I don't want anyone to get the shakes around here, so we just can't go two days in a row without mentioning Chris Davis, can we? I have nothing new, but want to point out you can comment on Davis, possible acquisitions, or any other O's topic on this blog. On Sunday, I wrote this piece about the Davis situation.

Last week, in this blog, we looked at some of the top free agent outfielders. Beyond Davis and the outfielders, we are all still waiting for potential additions to the O's pitching staff. After all, the starting pitching was the biggest reason last year's team came up short. They need to move soon on a pitcher, I would think. What about you?