THE NatsGM Unofficial Official Baltimore Orioles Top-11 Prospect List

Posted on February 1, 2016 by Ryan Sullivan

After a string of poor draft results five to ten years ago, the Baltimore Orioles currently have an intriguing yet puzzling farm system on the whole. Several prospects, namely Dylan Bundy and Hunter Harvey, struggled mightily with injuries in 2015 and the presence of Kevin Gausman, Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop on the big league roster leaves the minor leagues feeling a bit more barren than perhaps it should.

Nonetheless, as the calendar now says February and the offseason is nearly over, I figured this to be an ideal time to analyze the Orioles’ farm system to rank their top prospects. My criterion for this 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 is my unofficial official 2016 Baltimore Orioles Top-11 prospects.

#11 D.J. Stewart OF

The Orioles 1st Round selection, 25th overall, last summer from Florida State University, Stewart is a polished collegiate left-handed hitter who swings from a pronounced crouch and has shown the ability to hit to all fields. He does not possess much speed and his fringe-average arm makes him a pure left field profile, putting significant pressure on his bat to eventually reach the majors.

#10 Jonah Heim Catcher

The 20-year-old Heim struggled through a difficult year in 2015, as he only played 45 games due to injuries. The Orioles’ 4th round pick in 2013, Heim was drafted as an advanced defensive catcher who was raw offensively as a switch-hitter. Heim is clearly above-average behind the dish, with quality blocking and receiving skills plus a strong throwing arm with a quick release. At the plate Heim shows impressively in batting practice but has yet to turn this potential into production on the field. Heim needs copious repetitions and game experience to reach his potential, but his impressive defensive skills give him a chance to develop into a major league catcher.

#9 Tanner Scott LHP

A 6th round selection last summer, the Orioles appear to have stumbled onto a draft day gem in Scott, a left-handed reliever armed with 94-98mph fastball and a hard low-80s slider. Scott, 21-years-old, profiles purely as a reliever but projects to have a plus-plus fastball and an average or slightly better slider, giving him potential to pitch in the back of a bullpen. He should begin this season in A-Ball and could reach Baltimore late in 2017 or 2018.

#8 David Hess RHP

Another quality Day 2 draft pick by Baltimore, the Orioles selected David Hess in the 5th round in 2014 out of Tennessee Tech. The 22-year-old Hess features a solid 4-pitch mix including a 90-94mph fastball with life, along with an 82-84mph slider with sweeping action. Additionally Hess shows a low-70s curveball he can locate in the strike zone, along with the occasional firm, mid-80s changeup.

Although he has four pitches, his future might reside in the bullpen, where his fastball and slider could both become above-average offerings. Hess made a cameo at Double-A Bowie last summer and could reach Baltimore sometime in 2017. Hess is a major league quality arm and looks like a steal for the Orioles.

#7 Chris Lee LHP

Lee was acquired from the Houston Astros for two international bonus slots worth $655,000, and this appears to have been a solid gamble for Baltimore as he blossomed after the trade. The 23-year-old Lee possesses a solid 3-pitch repertoire, featuring a mid-90s fastball, a low-80s slider with bite and a reasonable changeup. Although many scouts believe his future resides in the bullpen, his potential for three fringe-average or better pitches gives him a chance to be a back-end starter in the future.

#6 Ryan Mountcastle 3B

One of my favorite high school prospects in this past draft, Baltimore selected Mountcastle 36th overall from a Florida high school based off his impressive track record in amateur showcases. Mountcastle was a shortstop in high school, but his present 6-3 185lbs frame portends a future shift to third base or the outfield. He possesses noticeable, lightning-fast bat speed from the right-side, which gives him the potential to hit for both average and power. There is risk in his profile, but there is the potential he develops into a league-average third baseman in several years.
cheap viagra tablets Disturbance in these two factors can impact you performance for sure. It also reduces the risk of cardiovascular problem, hypertension etc. cheap viagra levitra This procedure involves the complete removal of discount for cialis the cancerous prostate gland. Because of its effectiveness, more and more parents are looking into chiropractic care for early prevention. robertrobb.com cheapest levitra prices
#5 Mychal Givens RHP

Originally drafted by the Orioles as a shortstop in the 2nd round of the 2009 draft, Givens made the fulltime conversion to pitching in 2013 and has flourished on the mound. Although a pure relief profile, the 25-year-old Givens overwhelms hitters with a mid-to-upper-90s fastball and a plus slider from a unique arm-slot. Givens dominated at Double-A Bowie last season before earning a 30 inning audition with the Orioles, posting a 1.80 ERA and 38 strikeouts in the majors. He should begin next season pitching for Baltimore in middle relief and be a major cog in their bullpen the rest of the decade.

#4 Chance Sisco Catcher

Drafted by Baltimore in the 2nd round in 2013, the Orioles immediately transitioned the high school shortstop to behind the plate. His natural athleticism is evident defensively, but the shift has not gone as smoothly as the organization had hoped, as he struggles blocking errant throws in the dirt and receiving pitches. His footwork needs work but Sisco does show a strong arm throwing out runners and works extremely hard to refine his skills. Baltimore still believes the almost 21-year-old will develop into a major league caliber catcher, though most scouts do not agree with their assessment.

At the plate, Sisco can flat out hit, as he possesses a compact left-handed swing with some raw pull power, although he generally prefers to hit line drives all over the field. He has tremendous hand-eye coordination and shows an aptitude to put the barrel on the baseball. There is little question Sisco will hit his way to the major leagues, but his eventual defensive position remains a mystery like who shot JFK.

#3 Hunter Harvey RHP

The son of former major league pitcher 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 summer, Harvey blossomed, featuring a 91-95mph fastball, a true hammer curveball with plus potential and the makings of a solid-average changeup. Harvey was shut down late in 2014 and did not take the mound last season, making his health a major concern clouding his potential development. If he can put these injuries behind him, Harvey has #2 starter potential with experience on the mound and the maturation of his arsenal.

#2 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. Unfortunately Bundy has lost much of the past three seasons after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

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. Bundy enters 2016 out of minor league options, meaning he must make the Opening Day roster or be exposed to waivers. While complications in his development exist, Bundy still has top-of-the-rotation potential if he can ever return to full health.

#1 Jomar Reyes 3B/1B

Reyes began 2015 like an unknown penny-stock and ended the year like the next Twitter, as the 18-year-old punished Low-A pitching to the tune of a .278/.334/.440 batting line with 5 home runs and 27 doubles in 309 at-bats. Reyes is already a physical monster, looking significantly bigger than his listed 6-3 220lbs. Reyes shows above-average or better bat speed, excellent mechanics and balance throughout his simple right-handed swing. He generates loft and back spin off the bat, and the ball sounds different off the bat than others at this level, as if he is swinging a sledgehammer on a “Strength-Tester” carnival game. Like most young power hitters, his swing can get a touch long and he will need to shorten it as he moves through the minors, but he has quick wrists and the raw bat speed to hit professional velocity.

Defensively questions exist about his future defensive position, primarily due to his massive frame at such a precocious age. Reyes flashes a strong arm and reasonable agility for a big man, but his current below-average speed means a position shift is most likely across the diamond at the cold corner.

Regardless of his eventual defensive position, it is rare to find a young hitter with such a good approach and sound swing mechanics at such a young age. If everything develops, Reyes has the potential to be a .280-.300 type hitter with 25-35 home run power in the future. Orioles’ fans must remain patient with this teenager, but Reyes has the chance to be a legitimate middle-of-the-order impact major league hitter at his peak.

https://youtu.be/BfGc48lAPh0

5 Names To Remember for the 2015 Rule 5 Draft

Posted on November 21, 2015 by Ryan Sullivan

Ty Buttrey

Last Friday all 30 major league teams were forced to make critical roster decisions about which prospects to add to their 40-man roster in order to protect them from next month’s Rule 5 draft. Prospects first signed at age 18 must be added to 40-man rosters within five years and players signed at 19 years or older must be added within four seasons or be exposed to the Rule 5 draft, which takes place annually on the final day of the MLB Winter Meetings. Teams must pay $50,000 and have an open 40-man roster spot in order to select a player and he must remain on the 25-man roster all season or be offered back to his original team.

Dozens of players were added to various team’s 40-man rosters last week, yet as with every year, several interesting prospects were left exposed. These are five specific prospects that I was surprised to see left available to the Rule 5 draft and could hear their names selected next month.

Ty Buttrey RHP Boston Red Sox

A 2012 4th round pick who commanded $1.4 million to sign from high school, Buttrey owns a near ideal 6-6 235lbs pitcher’s frame, along with a strong three-pitch repertoire including a 91-93mph fastball, curveball and changeup. The 22-year-old is still raw on the mound, but possesses plenty of physical tools and potential. It is difficult to envision Buttrey spending all of 2016 in the majors, but any organization would be thrilled to add him to their farm system, as his immense talent could quickly turn into production on the field. A long-shot to get drafted, I am curious to see if a general manager is tempted to try to stash him in their organization next year.

Reymin Guduan LHP Houston Astros

A prototypical 6-4 205lbs, Guduan is a pure left-handed relief prospect capable of hitting 100mph on the radar gun and sits comfortably in the high-90s. He struggles woefully with his command, as evidenced by his 33 walks allowed in 45.2 innings in 2015 and career 7.4 BB/9 rate. This is the primary reason Houston left him exposed, as they are betting his lack of control will not enable him to stick in the majors an entire season. However, lefties that can throw triple-digits tempt front offices like supermodels do New York investment bankers and a team will select Guduan next month gambling on his excellent size and velocity.

The oil should be rubbed over a prostatic gland cheap viagra pill smoothly. However very few of them are willing to acknowledge that they have a penile downtownsault.org sildenafil 100mg viagra issue. The condition could occur due to stress, tension, heart levitra samples problems, diabetes or obesity, to name just a few. Thereby maintain a healthy lifestyle to secure your life free from impotency then this is the suitable option for you that order generic viagra http://downtownsault.org/did1043.html can be helpful for you in getting back to their normal love life. Roberto Pena Catcher Houston Astros

Houston chose to protect fellow catcher Alfredo Gonzalez, but there is also a good chance the Astros lose Pena, a 23-year-old defensive wizard who threw out 25 of 51 base stealers in 2015 at Double-A. With teams always seeking Spanish-speaking catchers with outstanding defensive skills, I would be mildly surprised if a team does not select Pena.

Luis Perdomo RHP St. Louis Cardinals

Serving as an injury replacement, Perdomo pitched in the 2015 Futures Game and impressed scouts with an upper-90s fastball and a hard slider. The Cardinals likely left the 22-year-old exposed because he has not yet reached the Double-A level, but his live arm and exposure in the Futures Game could get him selected next month.

Sam Selman LHP Kansas City Royals

A former 2012 2nd round pick from Vanderbilt, Selman moved to the bullpen in 2015 with mixed results, as he struck out 69 hitters in 56.1 innings, but also walked 42 hitters. Selman has a lively fastball that can reach the high-90s and an inconsistent but intriguing hard slider, which potentially gives him two above-average to plus pitches if he can harness his control. Considering his draft pedigree and excellent raw tools, I would be surprised if Selman is not selected in this year’s draft.

Others of Note: Corey Black RHP Chicago Cubs, Wuilmer Becerra OF New York Mets, Zack Jones RHP Minnesota Twins, TJ Rivera SS New York Mets, and Dwight Smith Jr. OF Toronto Blue Jays

The Washington Nationals Add Christopher Bostick, Spencer Kieboom and Nick Lee To Their 40-Man Roster

Posted on November 19, 2015 by Ryan Sullivan

Late Thursday afternoon the Washington Nationals announced that they have added 2B Christopher Bostick, Catcher Spencer Kieboom and LHP Nick Lee to their 40-man roster, in order to protect them from the Rule 5 draft. Without getting too deep into specifics, the Rule 5 draft occurs at the Winter Meetings each year and those eligible this year are any college draftee from 2011 and before or any high school draftee from 2010 and before not on a team’s 40-man roster. By adding them to the 40-man, these three are now immediately protected from the Rule 5 draft next month.

Acquired along with Abel De Los Santos from Texas last offseason for LHP Ross Detwiler, the 22-year-old Christopher Bostick quietly had a productive season, hitting .258/.312/.398 with 12 home runs, 42 extra base hits and 31 stolen bases in 137 games while splitting time for both the Potomac Nationals and Harrisburg Senators in 2015. Defensively he spent most of the season playing second base, though he did see some time at left field, center field and shortstop.

Offensively Bostick is a right-handed hitter with quality bat speed and loose wrists which he uses to whip the barrel through the strike zone. In addition Bostick is a wiry 5-11 185lbs with excellent athleticism and possesses plus speed, which he has used to steal 96 bases in 480 career minor league games. His swing has some excess length and generates some whiffs, but he has managed to swat 92 extra bases hits the past two seasons. He will take a walk and if he can make a few adjustments, Bostick projects as a potential below-average to fringe-average major league hitter.

In the field Bostick has an average (“50”) arm with a reasonably quick release and good athleticism. Unfortunately these skills do not add up to a dynamic defensive second baseman, as Bostick does not look comfortable and will make errors on the routine play. I project him as a potential “40” defender at second and think his future could be as a utility player.

The Nationals sent Bostick to the Arizona Fall League this spring, likely to help in this decision of whether or not to protect him in the Rule 5 draft – Bostick has seized the opportunity, batting .268/.333/.549 with 4 homers in 71 at-bats. This performance in front of scouts, plus his obvious physical tools, made this an easy decision for Washington’s front office to add him to their 40-man roster.
These coupons cost of viagra pill are very beneficial because patients can buy online or in drugstores. Shyness: Although it may require a bit of time, it can be absolutely sorted. secretworldchronicle.com discount cialis PDE5 cheap pfizer viagra meds are valuable to treat men experiencing wounds to spinal line. This improves blood flow browse description cialis uk to the reproductive organs.

Chris Bostick

Drafted in the 5th round of the 2012 draft, catcher Spencer Kieboom has earned the reputation as a terrific defensive catcher. The 24-year-old Kieboom possesses a plus arm, a quick release and nimble feet, which allow him to routinely post sub-1.95 second pop times to second base. In addition, he has a good aptitude for receiving the baseball and shows the ability to block pitches in the dirt. Overall Kieboom profiles as a plus or “60” defensive catcher.

Offensively the right-handed hitting Kieboom shows good raw pull power in batting practice and a keen eye at the plate, as evidenced by his .352 career on-base percentage. He also makes contact and does not strike out much, but this contact ability does not often translate into power during game action. Kieboom should see major league time simply because of his defensive wizardry but his likely “30” hit and “30/35” raw power limits his ceiling to an above-average major league backup. Kieboom should begin 2016 as the starting catcher at Double-A Harrisburg and could reach the majors sometime next year.

Nick Lee

Nick Lee was drafted by the Nationals in the 18th round of the 2011 draft from Weatherford College in Texas. A left-handed relief pitcher, Lee possesses an imposing 93-94mph fastball that touches 96, in addition to a hard 79-82mph slider with sharp downward movement. Lee spent 2015 pitching for both High-A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg, posting a combined 3.12 ERA over 52 innings pitched with 57 strikeouts against 33 walks. Lee has excellent pure stuff, but his difficulty avoiding walks as shown by a career 4.8 BB/9 ratio (5.7 BB/9 in 2015), hinders his overall effectiveness. After being exposed to scouts this fall in the Arizona Fall League and the dearth of lefties who can throw in the mid-90s, I am not surprised the Nationals decided to protect the soon-to-be 25-year-old from the draft.

The Nationals truly had legitimate decisions to make on likely six prospects, obviously Bostick, Kieboom and Lee, in addition to 1B Jose Marmolejos-Diaz, Catcher Raudy Read and 1B Matt Skole. Due to the limited ceiling of Skole and the distance from the majors of Marmolejos-Diaz and Read, the Nationals probably make the proper call leaving them off the roster. The Nationals currently have 38 players on their 40-man roster, giving them flexibility for free agent signings and trades going forward, not to mention the potential to select a prospect themselves in the Rule 5 draft. Thursday’s activity represents one of many small moves in what is expected to be a busy offseason for the Nationals’ front office.

NatsGM Prospect Potpourri – Carlos Cortes, Forest Whitley and Spencer Kieboom

Posted on September 28, 2015 by Ryan Sullivan

Carlos Cortes OF/2B Oviedo, Florida – Perfect Game All-American Classic 8/16/15

The MVP of the 2015 Perfect Game All-American Classic, Cortes is quite simply a pure hitter, as his left-handed swing is smoother than a politician. Cortes has quick, loose wrists and excellent bat speed, allowing him to barrel the baseball and spray line drives to all fields. Listed at 5-8 185lbs there are questions how much power Cortes will develop in the future, but his hit tool projects as plus.

Defensively Cortes is particularly unique, as he plays second base right-handed but plays the corner outfield positions as a lefty. He has above-average speed and a strong arm with each, including rumored upper-80s velocity from the left side. In only one viewing it is difficult to confidently project where he future lies defensively, but teams covet this South Carolina commit due to his polished lefty bat. With teams desperately seeking bats in the draft, it would be surprising to see Cortes play college baseball.

Forrest Whitley RHP San Antonio, Texas HS – Under Armour All-America Game 8/15/15

One tadalafil cipla such herbal remedy is gingko biloba. Everyone would not plan to make permanent design and if at all they do, it is important to know the conditions that are responsible for the problem? There are lots of reasons that are taken to control high blood pressure or antidepressants are viagra pfizer online new.castillodeprincesas.com known to take various pills to avoid dissatisfaction in this field. Today, specialization courses super cheap viagra are introduced for every field which allows a student to choose their preferred specializations at diploma, bachelors, postgraduate and masters levels. I also write blog on all health related product like Kamagra, best price viagra, PrestiQ, Tadalafil Cost Online Australia, paxil, calcium, zyven etc. Entering in the top of the 2nd for the National team was massive 6-7 230lbs Texan Forrest Whitley. He overpowered the opposing hitters, needing only 12 pitches to retire the side 1-2-3 with two strikeouts and a ground out to second base. Whitley featured a 94-96mph fastball with exceptional life and some arm-side movement, along with a firm 87-90mph changeup with some sinking action and an 82-85mph hard-biting curveball. His motion has some excess movement and needs refinement, though he uses his long frame and limbs well to get good extension toward home plate through his delivery. Whitley looks like a top prospect on the mound and projects as a potential early 1st round selection next June.

Spencer Kieboom Catcher Potomac Nationals

Washington’s 5th round pick in 2012, the 24-year-old Kieboom is an absolute pleasure to watch defensively behind the dish. Kieboom possesses a plus throwing arm, a quick release and excellent feet, which allow him to routinely post 1.85-1.93 second pop times to second base. In addition, he is extremely quiet receiving the baseball and shows the ability to block pitches in the dirt. Overall Kieboom profiles as a plus (“60) defensive major league catcher.

Offensively the right-handed hitting Kieboom lags behind his defense, but he does possess skills. He shows good raw pull power in batting practice and the ability to draw a walk, as evidenced by his .352 career on-base percentage. He also has a knack for making contact and does not strike out much, but this does not translate to much hard contact during game action. Perhaps I am optimistic, but I think Kieboom could develop into a “35” hit – “30/35” power major league hitter.

Kieboom should see major league time simply because of his defensive wizardry; however his below-average potential at the plate likely limits his ceiling to a backup capacity. He could begin 2016 in Double-A and reach the major leagues sometime in 2017.