Baltimore Orioles 2010 Minor League Review
Overall farm ranking via Baseball America (2010)
2010 (9) | 2009 (9) | 2008 (16) | 2007 (17) | 2006 (25) | 2005 (18)
Record of Major and Minor League Teams
MLB: [66 – 96] AL East
AAA: [67 – 77] International League – Norfolk
AA: [75 – 67] Eastern League – Bowie
A+: [72 – 68] Carolina League – Frederick
A: [59 – 81] South Atlantic League – Delmarva
A(ss): [34 – 40] New York-Pennsylvania – Aberdeen
The Run Down
2010 was quite disappointing. The talent that has come through the Orioles system the last few years has been underwhelming despite the hype surrounding their call-ups (see: Matt Wieters and Brian Matusz who graced BA 2010 cover). Then there is Chris Tillman and Jake Arrieta who have had success at Triple-A only to struggle in the AL East. Baseball America 2011 have ranked their farm system 21st overall stating only Zach Britton and Manny Machado are worth their breath. Although this doesn’t inherently mean there isn’t talent in the organization, it means the talent that has graduated to the majors have to figure out the majors. Beyond Zach Britton’s plus-sinker, I don’t expect many worthwhile names coming up from their minors this year. Machado won’t have a blurb due to when he was drafted.
Graduating Prospects
#1 (LHP) Brian Matusz; #2 (3B) Josh Bell; #4 Jake Arrieta; (RHP) Alfredo Simon
Arizona Fall League Players – Scottsdale Scorpions
Pitchers – #22 (RHP) Oliver Drake; (RHP) Pat Egan; #8 (RHP) Kam Mickolio [traded]; #7 (SD; RHP) Wynn Pelzer;
Hitters: #10 (C) Caleb Joseph; #26 (2B) Ryan Adams; (SS) Greg Miclat; (1B) Ty Townsend
Players of Interest
All rankings are from Baseball America 2010 with information from Baseball America 2010 and 2011 along with John Sickels Prospect Handbook 2010 and 2011
Hitters
#6 Brandon Synder | 1B | D.o.B: 11-23-86 | Stats (AAA): .257/.324/.407 | 339 AB | 32 XBH | 9 Hr | .150 ISO | 4/1 SB/CS | 101:28 K:BB | .338 BABIP
Career .253/.321/.384 hitter in 171 games at Triple-A. Not what anyone was hoping for when he was drafted in the first round of the 2005 draft. His upside is 15 to 20 home runs along with average defense and a solid swing that could produce a few .300 seasons. Snyder had a back injury in 2010 and missed five (5) weeks. Received 20 at-bats in September, but left a lot to be desired. Could see time if Derek Lee is injured. Current BA ranking is number 20.
#26 Ryan Adams | 2B/3B | D.o.B: 4-21-87 | Stats (AA): .298/.365/.464 | 530 AB | 58 XBH | 15 Hr | .156 ISO | 2/3 SB/CS | 121:47 K:BB | .358 BABIP
Moderate (gap) power, average defense (better at third), and no position openings in the majors. Has had a few injuries in his past. Reminds me of a young Michael Cuddyer with slightly less power. If there are several injuries, he could see significant time in the majors. Upside in 400 at-bats would be 15 home runs and 5 steals with a .275 average. Current BA ranking is number 8.
#18 Brandon Waring | 1B | D.o.B: 1-2-86 | Stats (AA): .242/.338/.458 | 472 AB | 56 XBH | 22 Hr | .216 ISO | 0/1 SB/CS | 179:59 K:BB | .337 BABIP
An aggressive hitter with above-average power. The strikeouts are worrisome, but does continues to add more walks each year. Can play average defense but projects more as a DH. Scouts expect him to be a power bat from the bench. ETA late 2011. Current BA ranking is number 23.
Tyler Henson | 3B | D.o.B: 12-15-87 | Stats (AA): .278/.329/.440 | 533 AB | 52 XBH | 12 Hr | .162 ISO | 7/5 SB/CS | 156:38 K:BB | .382 BABIP
Average power with good bat speed. Susceptible to strikeouts as he chases breaking pitches out of the zone. Boring. Fringe-outfielder. Current BA ranking is number 22.
Pitchers
#3 Zach Britton | LHP | D.o.B: 12-22-87 | Stats (AA/AAA): 7.3 K/9 | 3.0 BB/9 | 153 1/3 IP | 2.70 ERA | 3.30 FIP (AA); 3.18 FIP (AAA) | 1.24 WHIP | .4 Hr/9 | 8.2 H/9 | .277 BABIP (AA); .303 BABIP (AAA)
Considered to have the best sinker in the entire minor leagues, sitting between 90 to 94 MPH. Britton isn’t going to be a high volume strikeout pitcher. He does possess a plus-slider and a average changeup. Could be treated like Jake Arrieta was last year and receive about 100 major league innings. To start the year, he’ll return to Triple-A where he only threw 66 innings last year. Read his Scouting the Unknown article for more details. Current BA ranking is number 2.
Jim Miller | RHP | D.o.B: 4-28-82 | Stats (AAA): 8.3 K/9 | 2.8 BB/9 | 57 2/3 IP | 4.84 ERA | 4.33 FIP | 1.35 WHIP | 1.4 Hr/9 | 9.4 H/9 | .313 BABIP
His 2009 blurb says it all, “A bit old… A career 10 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9 pitcher in the bullpen could be wonderfully delightful for the Orioles.” His stats regressed slightly this past year, but could provide some useful mop-up duty. Current BA ranking is not rated as he is too old to be a prospect.
#7 (SD) Wynn Pelzer | RHP | D.o.B: 6-23-86 | Stats (AA): 8.1 K/9 | 5.0 BB/9 | 114 1/3 IP | 4.25 ERA | 3.70 FIP (w/BAL); 4.72 FIP (w/SD) | 1.65 WHIP | .9 Hr/9 | 9.9 H/9 | .367 BABIP (w/BAL); .327 BABIP (w/SD)
Received from San Diego in trade for Miguel Tejada. Fastball is a plus pitch that ranges between 91 and 94 MPH and top 97 MPH. His slider is average if not slightly above-average. The Orioles want him as a starter, but he has been a reliever for most of his young career. Makes sense when you have a dominant fastball and a power slider. If he stays as a starter, the earliest he could see the majors would be this September. Current BA ranking is number 6.
Honorable Mention
Hitters
#21 L.J. Hoes | 2B | D.o.B: 3-5-90 | Stats (A+): .278/.375/.368 | 353 AB | 24 XBH | 3 Hr | .090 ISO | 10/8 SB/CS | 70:53 K:BB | .333 BABIP
Mono caused Hoes to struggle after starting the year out blazing. He projects as a .300 hitter with gap power and average speed. Take his slash line with a grain of salt, if you’ve ever had mono, you would understand that Hoes strength did not return quickly when he returned. Hoes projects as the future second baseman for the Orioles. Current BA ranking for 2011 is number 4.
Ronnie Welty | RF | D.o.B: 1-19-88 | Stats (A+): .282/.349/.464 | 504 AB | 53 XBH | 18 Hr | .162 ISO | 11/4 SB/CS | 159:47 K:BB | .373 BABIP
Is a fourth outfielder, but could be a starting outfielder for a below average team. Has gap power and is a below-average runner. Upside is 20/10 if, as Baseball America says, “he can tap into his talent and power.” Current BA ranking is number 19.
Joseph Mahoney | 1B/LF | D.o.B: 2-1-87 | Stats (A+/AA): .307/.366/.498 | 462 AB | 50 XBH | 18 Hr | .192 ISO | 13/4 SB/CS | 95:39 K:BB | .346 BABIP (A+); .364 BABIP (AA)
Was the Orioles 2010 minor league player of the year. Has good raw power and current flashes moderate power. He can play both first and left with the average results. Has to prove 2010 wasn’t a fluke. Current BA ranking is number 11.
Pitchers
Ryan Berry | RHP | D.o.B: 8-3-88 | Stats (A/A+): 8.1 K/9 | 2.8 BB/9 | 117 1/3 IP | 3.22 ERA | 3.24 FIP (A); 3.74 FIP (A+) | 1.21 WHIP | .7 Hr/9 | 8.1 H/9 | .326 BABIP (A); .264 BABIP (A+)
Throws a 87 to 90 MPH fastball with good life. Throws a 12-to-6 knuckle-curve. Changeup is average at best. Delivery is deceptive. Still projects to be a end of the rotation pitcher or bullpen fodder. Current BA ranking is number 9.
Robert “Bobby” Bundy | RHP | D.o.B: 1-13-90 | Stats (A): 7.1 K/9 | 3.3 BB/9 | 116 IP | 3.65 ERA | 4.27 FIP | 1.22 WHIP | .9 Hr/9 | 7.8 H/9 | .272 BABIP
Throws a 88 to 92 MPH fastball with sinking action. Throws both a slider and a curve that need a lot of work. Changeup flashes above-average potential. All pitches have good action and movement. Needs to harness command before he sees more success.
