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Baltimore Orioles Top 20 Prospects for 2008

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Baltimore Orioles Top 20 Prospects for 2008

All grades are EXTREMELY PRELIMINARY and subject to change.

  1. Matt Wieters, C, Grade A-
  2. Troy Patton, LHP, Grade B+ (I like him more than I should perhaps)
  3. Radhames Liz, RHP, Grade B (Grade A arm, Grade C command)
  4. Bill Rowell, 3B, Grade B
  5. Nolan Reimold, OF, Grade B-
  6. Garrett Olson, LHP, Grade B-
  7. Jake Arrieta, RHP, Grade B-
  8. Chorye Spoone, RHP, Grade B-
  9. Jim Hoey, RHP, Grade B-
  10. Pedro Beato, RHP, Grade B-
  11. Tim Bascom, RHP, Grade B-
  12. Brandon Erbe, RHP, Grade C+ (something weird here, hidden injury perhaps?)
  13. Brandon Snyder, 1B, Grade C+ (numbers don't match propaganda)
  14. Mike Costanzo, 3B, Grade C+
  15. Scott Moore, 3B, Grade C+
  16. Randor Bierd, RHP, Grade C+
  17. Bradley Bergesen, RHP, Grade C+
  18. Bob McCrory, RHP, Grade C (I don't like him as much as some people do. Command worries me.)
  19. David Hernandez, RHP, Grade C (sleeper potential is high though)
  20. Jeff Fiorentino, OF, Grade C (looks like a solid fourth outfielder)
Other Grade Cs include Matt Angle, Jason Berken, Kraig Binick, Zach Britton, Fredy Deza, Paco Figueroa, Luis Jimenez, Jim Johnson, Tyler Kolodny, Luis Lebron, Joe Mahoney, Wilfred Perez, Dennis Sarfate, Kyle Schmidt, and Brandon Tripp.

This system is underrated. While some of the more-heralded guys like Brandon Snyder look overrated to me by other analysts, there is some growing depth here, and several of the Grade C+/C guys have the potential to move beyond those grades.

The Orioles still have work to do getting their farm system to the level of the Yankees, Red Sox, or Devil Rays. But they are making progress.

Again, don't get all pissy about exact placement on this list. The grades are more important than someone being ranked 15th instead of 13th.

Of course, full statistics and reports on over 1,000 other players will be in the 2008 Baseball Prospect Book, now available for pre-order. Ships the first Monday in February!