Baltimore Orioles Top 10 Prospects
1. Brian Matusz, P – Matusz is one of the top pitching prospects in the game. He’s got 4 plus pitches and a little major league experience. Look for him to become of the next generation stars.
2. Josh Bell, 3B – Bell is easily the top hitters in the system. He’s got above average power and a great batting eye. His defense also matches with his hitting. Look for him to possibly replace Miguel Tejada if/when he’s traded.
3. Brandon Erbe, P – One of the trends you’ll see if that Oriole starters need to work on their third pitches; Erbe is in this group. He’s got a great fastball and slider, but needs to work on his change up. He could see some time out of the bullpen, if the Orioles need the help.
4. Jake Arrieta, P – Arrieta struggle in Double A last year, but it was mainly due to working on his weaker pitches. If he can improve his change up, he’ll be a much better pitcher; he’s already got a strong fastball and slider, plus a decent curve.
5. Zach Britton, P – Britton’s not a power pitcher, as he relies on his sinker and his slider. His ground ball rate is good. If he can develop his change up, he’ll move up in the rankings. He could be an emergency start for the Orioles, if there are some health issues in the rotation.
6. Brandon Snyder, 1B – Snyder doesn’t profile as a typical first baseman, as he doesn’t have much power (a la Lyle Overbay). The former catcher is starting to become average at first, but hit bat profiles a little better in the outfield; I don’t know if he could make the change though.
7. Kam Mickolio, P – Mickolio was a throw in on the Erik Bedard deal who looks like he’s going to end up in the bullpen. His fastball and slider are borderline above average, so he could be very successful. He’ll get a shot this season to establish himself.
8. Caleb Joseph, C – Joseph is an athletic catcher that is getting better the more he plays. He’s had issues in the past with pitch calling, so if he doesn’t progress more, he’ll be looking for a new position. He’s a contact hitter with above average power.
9. Mychal Givens, SS – Givens is a defense first shortstop; he’s got the arm, range and speed to be great at the position. His bat is still a work in progress as he’s still filling out. He’s projected to have average power for the position.
10. L.J. Hoes, 2B – Hoes is a good athlete that’s trying to be a good baseball player. He’s learning second, so his defense isn’t quite up to par yet. He’s got great speed, good plate discipline, and top notch speed. He could be a sleeper in the system.
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