What do 5 Seconds of Summer, Chris Pratt and Jacob deGrom each have in common? They were a few of the many breakout stars of 2014. While I will not waste your time attempting to predict the next pop culture icon, I do wish to spotlight a few prospects in the Baltimore Orioles’ organization who might be under-the-radar today, but will not be this time next year. These are four players outside my current Top-11 prospects who have breakout potential in 2015.

Steven Brault LHP

A lean, wiry left-handed pitcher, Brault was Baltimore’s 14th round pick in 2014 from a small Division 2 school in Colorado. This 22-year-old is still extremely raw for a collegiate pitcher, but he has significant projection remaining in his listed 6-1 175lbs. body. Brault throws noticeably across his body during his pitching motion, which affords some deception to the opposing batters but causes him to struggle to maintain his release point and could hinder his velocity potential. Brault reminds me a great deal of a young Ross Detwiler, both physically and with his delivery.

Brault features a quality 4-pitch repertoire consisting of an 87-91mph fastball with natural sink, a hard-breaking 82-84mph slider, an intriguing but inconsistent low-80s changeup with arm-side fading action, and the rare mid-70s curveball. Brault pounds the strike zone impressively with his fastball to get ahead of opposing batters, but his current below-average off-speed pitches cause him to struggle to strike out hitters. His age and athleticism provides hope that he can polish his delivery, improve his off-speed offerings and possibly increasing his fastball velocity. Brault is a talented young arm with breakout potential and a quality sleeper in the Orioles’ system.

Jason Esposito 3B

A long-time favorite since first watching him in 2010 for Orleans in the Cape Cod Baseball League, Esposito has continually struggled to turn his obvious skills into on-field production. Since being drafted by Baltimore in the 2nd round of 2011, Esposito has struggled to shed his underachiever label, hitting only .235/.277/.332 in three career minor league seasons.

His defense has always outpaced his offense, where he struggles with large strikeout totals and a near allergy to drawing walks. These weaknesses have caused him to fail to turn his impressive pure strength and bat speed into production the past three years. However, Esposito shows signs of improvement last season, hitting 45 extra base hits and followed that up with a .253 average in the Arizona Fall League.
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Defensively Esposito projects as an above-average or better third baseman, with a very strong arm, soft hands and solid footwork at the hot corner. Additionally, Esposito has fringy speed and good athleticism for a stocky, well-built 6-2 200lbs athlete. The physical tools are there for a major league third baseman, but now 24-years-old, Esposito needs to breakout in 2015 if he wishes to reach the majors.

Jonah Heim Catcher

Baltimore’s 4th round selection in 2013 from a New York high school, Heim was drafted as an advanced defensive backstop who was extremely raw offensively. Heim projects as above-average to plus behind the plate, as he presently has strong blocking and receiving skills, along with an excellent throwing arm. Still only 19-years-old Heim needs repetitions and refinement to reach his potential, but his impressive footwork and defensive skills gives him an excellent chance to develop into a major league backup.

Offensively the switch-hitting Heim has struggled to turn his impressive batting practice efforts into production during the game. Pregame Heim shows some quality bat speed and raw pull power, but his difficulties making contact presently limits his effectiveness with the bat. His swing does not have any major, obvious flaws, so with additional experience there is potential for improvement in 2015, likely at Low-A Delmarva. A switch-hitting catcher with terrific defensive skills is a strong “starter-kit” for a future major leaguer, and if Heim can show any potential with the bat in 2015, he could skyrocket up prospect rankings this summer.

Jon Keller RHP

Orioles Prospect Jon Keller

Keller was Baltimore’s 22nd round pick in 2013 from Division-2 University of Tampa, after failing to sign with the Seattle Mariners three years prior as their 11th round selection. Despite his late round selection, it appears as though the Orioles unearthed quite a gem in Keller, who possesses a prototypical 6-5 215lbs. pitcher’s frame and intriguing 3-pitch mix. Keller’s repertoire consists of a powerful 93-96mph fastball with late movement, a promising but firm 84-86mph slider, and a hard 83-86mph changeup. Keller has the potential for two plus pitches along with a fringy changeup.

These obvious strengths aside, Keller does have some weaknesses which dampen his overall prospect profile – Keller has an extensive injury history both during his collegiate career, including surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome in 2012. In addition the 22-year-old needs to refine his pitching motion, as there is some extraneous movement in his delivery, which causes him to struggle to maintain his release point. Furthermore like most pitchers still in A-ball, Keller needs additional refinement to his off-speed offerings, although both his slider and changeup show promise for future improvement.

He is still extremely raw, but a shift to the bullpen could expedite his future toward the majors. Keller has big league potential and the Orioles clearly got a steal with him two years ago.

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

Tim Berry

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.

No need http://www.midwayfire.com/apparatus.asp generic overnight viagra to lose sleep there are so many natural supplements for thyroid treatment. As an example, when you stand up, the blood vessels have to narrow just online viagra order midwayfire.com a little to allow you to have sexual intercourse with your partner. As long as you are using kamagra for the first time, get the consultation of sildenafil generic viagra professional physician. For just one example, the server will note the time the email should have been buy cialis midwayfire.com sent. 6) Josh Hart CF

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.

After a painfully quiet offseason for Orioles fans, Tuesday Baltimore acquired OF Travis Snider from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for left-handed pitching prospect Stephen Tarpley and a Player To Be Named Later. Snider will attempt to fill one of the spots vacated when veteran OFs Nick Markakis and Nelson Cruz signed free agent contracts earlier this offseason.

The 27-year-old left-handed hitter was a former 1st round pick, 14th overall, in the 2006 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. After a meteoric rise through the Blue Jays system, Snider found himself in the big leagues less than 2 years later at age 20. Snider struggled through his five seasons in Toronto, occasionally showing flashes of brilliance around mostly underwhelming offensive numbers before a trade in 2013 to Pittsburgh.

But last season Snider began to finally fulfill some of his former offensive promise, batting .264/.338/.438 with 13 home runs for the Pirates. Furthermore, Snider was particularly outstanding in the 2nd half, slugging .288/.356/.524 in 188 plate appearances. However, the projections do not expect this breakout to continue, as Baseball Prospectus forecasted Snider to hit .250/.314/.387 with 8 home runs in 328 plate appearances for Pittsburgh this season.

Defensively Snider has split time in both corner outfield spots, with the numbers showing a quality, above-average defender in left field and grading as below-average in right field. Scheduled to earn $2.1 million this season, Snider is under team control through the 2016 season.

In exchange for Snider, the Orioles were forced to part with left-handed pitcher Stephen Tarpley, Baltimore’s 3rd round pick in the 2013 draft. Selected out of an Arizona community college, the nearly 22-year-old Tarpley posted solid numbers in 2014 at Aberdeen of the New York Penn League, providing the IronBirds with a 3.68 ERA and 60 strikeouts over 66 innings pitched. A well-built 6-1 180lbs, Tarpley was ranked as Baltimore’s #9 prospect by Baseball Prospectus this offseason.
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In search of a scouting report on Tarpley, I contacted Baseball Prospectus Prospect Team member Tucker Blair, who knows Orioles’ prospects as well as anyone I know. Thankfully he responded with these thoughts:

“Tarpley was one of my sleepers in the O’s system, and began to flash this raw talent last season with Aberdeen. I saw two starts from Tarpley, and came away fairly intrigued. The fastball held velocity into the 5th and 6th innings during both starts, and he touched a lot of 94s and 95s throughout the outing. The lefty’s arm is loose and the fastball has armside movement. The mechanics have long been a concern of scouts and evaluators I have talked with, but he has definitely cleaned them up since being drafted. I imagine the mechanical progression is also a reason why he was a 2nd year JUCO guy still pitching in short-season ball, but nonetheless he is a talented arm. I have concerns with the overall command of his arsenal, and the CB and CH still lag behind for me. However, this is a fresh arm and I wouldn’t be shocked if he shoots through the Pirates’ system now.”– Tucker Blair, Baseball Prospectus

Overall I tend to like this deal for both teams, as the Orioles have done well in recent years finding similarly underappreciated assets (i.e. Steve Pierce, Nate McLouth, and Delmon Young) and Snider fills a major need for Baltimore as a left-handed power bat with defensive versatility. As for the Pirates, they clear some payroll and receive a pitching prospect with potential in Tarpley, along with another player, in return for a player who would struggle to find playing time in Pittsburgh.

Both teams are trading somewhat extra pieces and gambling that what they receive will have more value to them than what they parted with – as a gambler myself, I would wager the Orioles and manager Buck Showalter use Snider in a proper platoon and he swats 15+ homers for Baltimore next season, which would make this one of the better values of the winter.

Mere hours prior to the beginning of the American League Championship Series, the Baltimore Orioles began what is expected to be an active offseason by re-signing shortstop J.J. Hardy to a 3-year contract extension worth a guaranteed $40 million dollars, although $6.5 million is in deferred money. Hardy also receives a fourth year vesting contract option contingent upon plate appearances. This contract nearly guarantees that the 32-year-old Hardy spends the rest of his career in Baltimore.

Hardy is coming off a slightly disappointing offensive season in 2014, hitting .268/.309/.372 with only 9 home runs, after 3 consecutive seasons of slugging 20+ home runs. Hardy saw a sharp increase in his strikeout ratio (18.3% vs. 14.6% career) and his isolated power drastically drop this season (.104 vs. .161 career) – these numbers could foreshadow a continued future decline in offensive production. A two-time all-star, Hardy has a .261/.309/.422 batting line for his 10-year major league career. For reference, the league average batting line in 2014 for a shortstop was .251/.306/.363, meaning Hardy is still an average or slightly above-average offensive shortstop.

However, Hardy’s reputation is built with the leather, as he is one of the best defensive players in baseball and the Orioles are spending considerable money to keep his glove in Baltimore. Depending on which of the defensive metrics available one uses, or just the simple eye test, Hardy is easily one of the best 5 shortstops in baseball, ranking only behind the otherworldly Andrelton Simmons. This stellar defense has allowed him to be worth 4.3, 2.7, 3.4, and 3.4 WAR the past 4 seasons as a member of the Orioles. (Fangraphs.com)
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This extension resolves one of the biggest questions surrounding the Orioles’ offseason, as now Hardy can be penciled in as the team’s shortstop for the next 3+ seasons, flanked by budding stars Manny Machado at third base and Jonathan Schoop at the keystone. In addition, Baltimore’s farm system has a dearth of impact middle infield prospects and this signing resolves this organizational weakness for the near future.

Assuming some natural regression in his performance as he ages and reasonable health the next three years, one should project Hardy to be worth between 6.5 – 8.5 WAR over the course of the contract. With the current going rate being approximately $6.5-$7 million per win in free agency, the pact seems like a solid deal for both sides, as Hardy receives a guaranteed contract through age-35, and the Orioles resolve their biggest offseason issue prior to the World Series at near or below market rate.

Considering the number of teams seeking middle infielders this winter, in particular the New York Yankees, most expected Hardy to begin negotiations with Jhonny Peralta’s 4-year $53 million contract he signed last offseason. Certainly this extension has risk involved for Baltimore due to Hardy’s age, mediocre offensive season in 2014, and past injury issues, but Hardy’s value with the glove, coupled with his offensive aptitude, would have made him extraordinarily difficult for the Orioles to replace within their payroll structure this offseason. Furthermore, I believe when we look back at the deals signed by comparable middle infielders such as Asdrubal Cabrera, Stephen Drew, and Jed Lowrie this winter, Hardy’s will look like a relative bargain. While not a John Stockton-like steal, the Orioles did well to secure J.J. Hardy before the beginning of free agency at this price.