With all due disrespect to the world’s most famous weather prognosticator Punxsutawney Phil, spring training is the true dividing line between the end of winter and the arrival of spring. Simply uttering the phrase, “pitchers and catchers”, can warm the coldest fingers and toes with anticipation of the arrival of another season of baseball. Spring training is also a time of wonderful optimism, as each person’s favorite team could be playoff bound if a few players exceed expectations and everyone remains healthy. This optimism carries over for fans to their organization’s prospects, as each is a lottery ticket that is certain to pay off handsomely.

After a string of whiffs on their draft picks in the early 2000s coinciding with many years of poor results on the field, the Baltimore Orioles have combined some quality draftees along with some shrewd trades to turn around the fortunes of the franchise the past few years – Baltimore has won 90+ games and reached the playoffs two of the past three seasons. This success, along with the rapid development of young players Kevin Gausman, Manny Machado, and Jonathan Schoop, has left the farm system a bit more barren than the Orioles might prefer.

Nonetheless, as the offseason is nearly over and spring training is rapidly approaching, I figured this to be an ideal time to analyze the Orioles’ farm system and rank their best prospects. My criterion for this Top-11 list prioritizes, in order, the prospect’s possible ceiling, their likelihood to fulfill their potential, their positional value, and finally, how far they are from reaching the major leagues. With this in mind, here are my current Top-11 prospects in the Baltimore Orioles farm system.

Also Receiving Consideration: Parker Bridwell, Patrick Connaughton, Brian Gonzalez, Jonah Heim, Jon Keller, Branden Kline, Adrian Marin, Henry Urrutia, Tyler Wilson

11) Dariel Alvarez OF

The 26-year-old former Cuban defector, Alvarez possesses excellent athleticism along with obvious strengths and weaknesses, making him a prospect with fans and detractors. He has solid speed and a strong arm, making him a natural right field profile, though he could play center field in a pinch. He has decent power in his right-handed swing but he struggles with off-speed pitches like Fat Albert did with diets. Alvarez should see major league action in 2015 and projects as the weak-side part of a corner outfield platoon in the big leagues.

10) Drew Dosch 3B/OF

Drafted in the 7th round in 2013, Dosch has a quiet left-handed swing with apparent bat speed and a knack for getting on-base. With fringy speed, athleticism, and a mediocre arm, scouts question his eventual defensive position but regardless, Dosch can flat hit – this single tool should allow him to reach the big leagues in the future, perhaps as a valuable, multi-position bench player.

9) Mike Wright RHP

After a breakout 2013 season at Double-A Bowie, Wright stubbed his toe at Triple-A last year, posting a 4.62 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 142.1 innings pitched. Wright has an ideal pitcher’s frame at 6-6 215lbs. and a solid 4-pitch repertoire consisting of a low-90s fastball, a mid-80s cutter/hard slider, changeup and curveball. 2014 results aside, I still believe in Wright’s potential, though his future likely will ultimately reside as a 2-pitch middle reliever.

8) Zach Davies RHP

A smallish 6-0 155lbs. righty, Davies continues to post impressive minor league numbers, out-pitching his 26th round selection in the 2011 draft pedigree. His repertoire consists of a 4-pitch mix with an 88-91mph fastball, an above-average changeup, and an average curveball and slider. His unassuming frame and mediocre velocity will continually attract skeptical scouts like college kids to cheap beer, but Davies aptitude to pound the strike zone gives him the potential to carve out a career as a back-end starter.

7) Tim Berry LHP

A polished lefty with a solid three pitch arsenal, Berry possesses a 90-93mph fastball that he commands well throughout the strike zone, a mid-70s curveball with late breaking movement, and a fringy changeup. Berry has a quiet, compact pitching motion which allows him to pound the bottom of the strike zone and makes him particularly effective against left-handed hitters. Berry projects as a potential future #5 starter, but his sheer dominance against lefties could make him an invaluable late-inning reliever, perhaps as soon as mid-season.

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The 37th selection in the 2013 Draft, Hart was chosen out of high school as an extremely raw athlete with outstanding speed and unrefined baseball skills. Hart profiles as an impact defensive centerfielder due to his pure athleticism and solid arm, but major questions surround his ability to hit. Hart did little to silence the critics in 2014, looking overmatched at times at Low-A, hitting only .255/.301/.285. However, Hart is still only 20-years-old and young enough to develop into an elite defensive outfielder with the ability to create chaos on the bases. Hart should spend 2015 at High-A Frederick and if his offensive skills begin to catch up to the uber-athleticism, he could skyrocket up prospect rankings this summer.

5) Mike Yastrzemski OF

The grandson of Hall of Fame hitter Carl, Mike Yastrzemski has blossomed from a 2013 14th round pick into a legitimate prospect. Mike possesses five fringe-average tools, with perhaps his defensive “Tool” rating above-average and his power more below-average, but he combines these skills with an exceptional baseball IQ and massive “Want” to play above his talent. He profiles best in left field defensively, but could passably play all three outfield positions. Yastrzemski’s ceiling is a league-average starting outfielder, with his most likely outcome being a 4th outfielder or forming the strong-side of a corner outfield platoon

4) Christian Walker 1B

A true college baseball legend, Walker was one of the most feared collegiate hitters in recent memory while at South Carolina. Armed with a relatively short right-handed swing, Walker has solid contact skills and pounds the gaps, but does not generate produce much loft which minimizes his home run power. A reasonable athlete, Walker projects as a solid-average defender at first base, but his pure first base profile will force him to continue to produce offensively to solidify himself as an everyday major leaguer.

3) Chance Sisco Catcher

Chance Sisco was Baltimore’s 2nd round pick in 2013 and the organization immediately transitioned him from shortstop to behind the dish. As a catcher, Sisco possesses a strong arm and excellent athleticism, but his defensive skills are extremely raw, leaving scouts questioning if his future remains behind the plate.

At the plate, Sisco has a compact swing with some raw power, though he tends to prefer to use the entire field rather than trying to pull the ball and hit for power. He has outstanding hand-eye coordination and shows an aptitude to put the barrel on the baseball. Sisco will hit his way to the major leagues, but his eventual defensive position remains a mystery like Batman’s true secret identity.

2) Hunter Harvey RHP

Son of former major leaguer Bryan Harvey, Hunter was the Orioles 1st round choice, 22nd overall, in the 2013 MLB Draft. After some minor adjustments to his pitching motion that following summer, Harvey blossomed and now features a 91-95mph fastball, a true hammer curveball with plus potential and the makings of a solid-average changeup.

Harvey was shut down late last season due to inflammation in his arm, but he is expected to be fully healthy for 2015. With additional experience on the mound and improved command as he matures as a pitcher, Harvey has #2 starter potential in the future.

1) Dylan Bundy RHP

Baltimore’s 1st Round selection in 2011, 4th overall, Bundy dominated Low-A Delmarva in early 2012 in route to becoming the near-consensus top pitching prospect in the minor leagues. Bundy lost much of the past two seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery, looking rusty upon his return in 2014.

Prior to surgery, Bundy possessed a 94-97mph fastball, a devilish plus-plus cutter, an above-average curveball and above-average changeup, along with excellent command of the strike zone. Assuming he returns to full health in 2015, Bundy has true top-of-the-rotation potential and is one of the best pitching prospects in the minor leagues.