Baltimore Orioles Top 20 PRE-SEASON Prospects in Review
by John Sickels on Aug 30, 2025 8:00 AM EDT
36 comments
Baltimore Orioles Top 20 PRE-SEASON Prospects in Review
This list was originally published November 18, 2025. This is a REVIEW of the PRE-SEASON list for 2009, not a revision of that list. This is a REVIEW of the old list. I'm not doing new grades or lists until I start working on the 2010 book.
1) Matt Wieters, C, Grade A: Hitting .272/.320/.388 in the majors. Have faith.
2) Chris Tillman, RHP, Grade B+: 2.70 ERA with 99/26 K/BB in 97 Triple-A innings, 4.58 ERA with 18/14 K/BB in 35 major league innings. Have faith.
3) Brian Matusz, LHP, Grade B+: 1.91 ERA with 121/32 K/BB in 113 innings between Class A Frederick and Double-A Bowie. 6.46 ERA with 23/10 K/BB in 24 major league innings, 38 hits. He was rushed, but....have faith.
4) Jake Arrieta, RHP, Grade B+: 3.37 ERA with 144/49 K/BB in 142 innings combined between Double-A and Triple-A. On schedule.
5) Brandon Erbe, RHP, Grade B: 2.40 ERA with 49/33 K/BB in 60 innings for Bowie, 38 hits allowed. Command needs work, but stuff is there.
6) Nolan Reimold, OF, Grade B-: hitting .276/.368/.461 in the majors, having a fine debut.
7) Zach Britton, LHP, Grade B-: 2.74 ERA with 128/54 K/BB in 138 innings, 123 hits for Class A Frederick. Looks very good on paper, 3.40 GO/AO ratio with a solid strikeout rate is a great combination.
8) Brandon Snyder, 1B, Grade B-: Hit .343/.421/.597 in 58 games in Double-A, but just .257/.313/.365 in 63 games in Triple-A. I don't think he's going to hit quite enough to be a regular first baseman.
9) David Hernandez, RHP, Grade B-: 4.24 ERA with 43/32 K/BB in 74 major league innings, 81 hits. Has done OK but components aren't great, I worry that the ERA is going to inflate.
10) Troy Patton, LHP, Grade C+: 1.99 ERA with 47/18 K/BB in 63 innings in Double-A, but 6.45 ERA with 26/14 K/BB in 45 innings in Triple-A, 62 hits. Now on disabled list.
11) Kam "The Almighty" Mickolio, RHP, Grade C+: 3.50 ERA with 52/16 K/BB in 44 innings for Norfolk, 1.46 ERA with 13/4 K/BB in 12 innings for the Orioles. No reason he can't be a good reliever.
12) Bill Rowell, 3B, Grade C+: .225/285/.339 with 33/111 BB/K in 395 at-bats for Frederick. Still just 20 years old, but hasn't developed at all.
13) Ryan Adams, 2B, Grade C+: Hitting .288/.349/.381 for Frederick. Showing less pop than last year.
14) Xavier Avery, OF, Grade C+: Hitting .261/.307/.345 with 30 steals in 40 attempts for Class A Delmarva. Athletic, fast, but raw with the strike zone, 26 walks with 102 strikeouts in 440 at-bats.
15) Oliver Drake, LHP, Grade C+: 3.62 ERA with 98/40 K/BB in 121 innings for Delmarva, 116 hits. Doing fairly well, need to see at higher levels.
16) Brad Bergesen, RHP, Grade C+: 3.43 ERA with 65/32 K/BB in 123 major league innings, 126 hits. Looks like a perfectly competent inning-eating strike thrower.
17) Pedro Beato, RHP, Grade C: 4.74 ERA with 85/46 K/BB in 125 innings, 147 hits between Frederick and Bowie. Stock has dropped.
18) Caleb Joseph, C, Grade C: Hitting .290/.338/.445 for Frederick. Solid but not terrific performance.
19) Lou Montanez, OF, Grade C: Has missed most of the season with a thumb injury.
20) L.J. Hoes, 2B, Grade C: Hitting .248/.289/.304 with 17 steals in 22 attempts for Delmarva. Not very impressive with the bat.
The Orioles entered 2009 with a strong conglomeration of prospects at the top of the system. Wieters, Tillman, and Matusz have had some growing pains in the majors, but I fully believe in all three of them, though Matusz in particular looks like he was rushed. Reimold has been strong, Hernandez has held his own, Bergesen has been very effective, and Arrieta is ready for a trial. There have been some disappointments, particularly the lack of development from Rowell, but overall Baltimore fans have to be pleased with the young talent.
0 recs |
36 comments
|
Email
Print
Comments
Just curious
Where would Josh bell fit on the list assuming wieters, reimold, tillman, and matsuz graduate
by SeanMillerSavior on Aug 30, 2025 11:54 AM EDT via mobile reply actions 0 recs
I think bell would be 2nd on the list after Arrieta
Hey guys, I have an Orioles blog so check it out. I write about news and the Oriole's farm teams and prospects.
www.snaorioles.com
by ravensfan3 on Aug 30, 2025 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe Britton is ahead of Bell actually
Hey guys, I have an Orioles blog so check it out. I write about news and the Oriole's farm teams and prospects.
www.snaorioles.com
by ravensfan3 on Aug 30, 2025 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Or
Above both?
"There's only one cure for what's wrong with all of us pitchers, and that's to take a year off. Then, after you've gone a year without throwing, quit altogether." -Jim Palmer
by Baltimo on Aug 30, 2025 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
ya i meant that
Hey guys, I have an Orioles blog so check it out. I write about news and the Oriole's farm teams and prospects.
www.snaorioles.com
by ravensfan3 on Aug 31, 2025 12:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No
I mean to say that Bell could be ahead of both Britton and Arrieta.
"There's only one cure for what's wrong with all of us pitchers, and that's to take a year off. Then, after you've gone a year without throwing, quit altogether." -Jim Palmer
by Baltimo on Aug 31, 2025 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh yes, that is true
Hey guys, I have an Orioles blog so check it out. I write about news and the Oriole's farm teams and prospects.
www.snaorioles.com
by ravensfan3 on Aug 31, 2025 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
My top 5 for next year....
1.) Zach Britton (B+): Higher ceiling than Arrieta, and his GO/AO ratio lead me to beleive that he has a similar type of floor.
2.) Jake Arrieta (B+): Closer to the majors than Britton, but is getting hit in AAA. Not quite in the Tillman/Matusz class IMO.
3.) Josh Bell (B+): Solid 3B prospect, with good power and a good batting eye.
4.) Brandon Erbe (B): Good ERA and BAA in AA at young age, but his SO/BB and GO/AO numbers concern me.
5.) Brandon Snyder (B): Breakout year in AA, but has been stifled by AAA…SO/BB worrisome.
by soccerman0 on Aug 30, 2025 4:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Arrieta WAS getting hit in AAA
But not now.
In fact, Stockstill basically said that Jake was playing with some pitches, which could definitely have negatively impacted his ERA.
Dave Stockstill: "Jake Arrieta has had an outstanding season. He is a young man who only had 1/2 season of pro baseball before this season due to the Olympics last year. He made very good progress in the things with his delivery that we asked him to work on in Bowie and has continued to make progress in Norfolk. Sometimes, while you are working on changes, no matter how slight they are, you do not have immediate, positive results. Jake has gone through some of this in Norfolk and has handled it very well and his last few games he has really been outstanding."
"There's only one cure for what's wrong with all of us pitchers, and that's to take a year off. Then, after you've gone a year without throwing, quit altogether." -Jim Palmer
by Baltimo on Aug 30, 2025 8:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am fairly high on
Josh Bell, but B+? Granted, not the biggest deal, as I think I like the order, but I’m not sure I buy Josh as a top 50 or so prospect, which is basically what a B+ would signify, to me. That said, everyone grades differently.
by toonsterwu on Aug 30, 2025 10:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Career MiL line - .290/.364/.474
Last year - .273/.373/.455
This year before the trade - .296/.386/.497
This year after the trade - .303/.360/.539
His biggest weakness was probably range at 3B due to a lingering weight issue, which triggered projections of Bell moving to 1B where his bat would be too light.
However, Bell lost a ton of weight, and he is now, at the very least, fine defensively.
A (B) is understandable, but a (B+) shouldn’t be too questionable.
"There's only one cure for what's wrong with all of us pitchers, and that's to take a year off. Then, after you've gone a year without throwing, quit altogether." -Jim Palmer
by Baltimo on Aug 31, 2025 2:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
His bat would be too light for 1st?
"Chicks dig the long ball, although fat chicks will settle for warning track power" - Nick Diamond
by hero66 on Aug 31, 2025 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Coming into this year his power was a bit of a question mark
"There's only one cure for what's wrong with all of us pitchers, and that's to take a year off. Then, after you've gone a year without throwing, quit altogether." -Jim Palmer
by Baltimo on Aug 31, 2025 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
"coming into this year"
he has answered all those questions…
by matthewmafa on Aug 31, 2025 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don't understand what you two are trying to tell me
I said that he fixed his problems.
"There's only one cure for what's wrong with all of us pitchers, and that's to take a year off. Then, after you've gone a year without throwing, quit altogether." -Jim Palmer
by Baltimo on Aug 31, 2025 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
im telling people
who think he hasnt… everyone thinks he cant play 3rd and has no power…
by matthewmafa on Aug 31, 2025 6:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
Then we’re in agreement.
I mean his power isn’t exceptional, but Bell has put up pretty damn consistent numbers with respectable defense.
"There's only one cure for what's wrong with all of us pitchers, and that's to take a year off. Then, after you've gone a year without throwing, quit altogether." -Jim Palmer
by Baltimo on Aug 31, 2025 7:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Brandon Waring
John, If I’m not mistaken, Waring got lost in the shuffle of your Top 20s because he was still with the Reds when you ran the Orioles list, then got traded before you ran the Reds list. Could you please weigh in on him?
by StickRat on Aug 30, 2025 6:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Joseph is 8th in the Carolina league in OPS as a catcher
Why wouldn’t that be seen as a terrific performance?
by wickedwitch on Aug 30, 2025 7:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
he was 3 for 5 today with 2 homers
Hey guys, I have an Orioles blog so check it out. I write about news and the Oriole's farm teams and prospects.
www.snaorioles.com
by ravensfan3 on Aug 30, 2025 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I tend to agree...
…particularly considering that he was leading the Carolina League in batting until, according to the club, he wore down from catching so much over a long season. Although, to be sure, they’d say that whether or not it was true.
by James F on Aug 30, 2025 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It IS his first real season as a pro
So their justification is reasonable.
"There's only one cure for what's wrong with all of us pitchers, and that's to take a year off. Then, after you've gone a year without throwing, quit altogether." -Jim Palmer
by Baltimo on Aug 30, 2025 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Top 11
It’s very encouraging that the top 11 prospects did about as well as could be expected, or at least didn’t disappoint in 2009.
Librarians are hiding something
by dfa on Aug 30, 2025 9:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
In a word
No.
"There's only one cure for what's wrong with all of us pitchers, and that's to take a year off. Then, after you've gone a year without throwing, quit altogether." -Jim Palmer
by Baltimo on Aug 30, 2025 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Tillman or Matusz?
Who’s better long-term? Who has the higher ceiling?
by rmarx on Aug 30, 2025 9:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Better long-term - Matusz
Higher ceiling - Tillman
"There's only one cure for what's wrong with all of us pitchers, and that's to take a year off. Then, after you've gone a year without throwing, quit altogether." -Jim Palmer
by Baltimo on Aug 30, 2025 10:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pie
I know he’s not on any prospect list anymore, but it seems there are some fairly knowledgeable O’s fans in our midst.
Anyway, what’s with this recent surge with Pie? Could he be figuring it out? Where would he fit into their overall plans, given Reimold in LF, AJ in CF, and Markakis in RF?
by FastBennyF on Aug 31, 2025 12:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
It is great
Pie has been working with the hitting coach Terry crowley and that is one of the reasons. I think pie will end up at lf and reimold will end up at first or dh
Hey guys, I have an Orioles blog so check it out. I write about news and the Oriole's farm teams and prospects.
www.snaorioles.com
by ravensfan3 on Aug 31, 2025 1:37 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
Crowley's done a great job
I know alot of O’s fans have complained about Crowley, but he’s done alot with Pie. Felix looks like a completely different hitter than he was in April. In April he looked completely lost at the plate. He swung at almost anything. Now he’s alot more patient and its really paid off. He still has some mental lapses on the field and while baserunning, but I think for the most part he’s figured it out. His hot streak is more than just luck.
by edsachs1 on Aug 31, 2025 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nice
Still barely 24, Pie never got a real chance with the Cubs and I was happy and sad when they dealt him to the O’s. Happy because I thought he might get a real chance to get 500 ABs and sad that they pissed him away for virtually nothing.
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
by WayneCampbell08 on Sep 3, 2025 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pie in left, AJ in center, Markakis in Right
And Reimold DHing.
"There's only one cure for what's wrong with all of us pitchers, and that's to take a year off. Then, after you've gone a year without throwing, quit altogether." -Jim Palmer
by Baltimo on Sep 4, 2025 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We are absolutely pleased with the young talent
Esp with yesterdays line:
Brian Matusz (7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 8 K, W)
I have faith in the kids, but it’s hard to watch Wieters swing at every curveball thrown. I’m pretty convinced that when he does hit the ball and makes an out, it’s one of the louder outs in baseball.
Any thoughts on Reimold moving to 1B?
"I hate seeing Bedard go, but I think the O's may have gotten the better end of the deal" -- me, 2/8/08
by CoachOfEarl on Aug 31, 2025 1:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I would love reimold at first, pie lf, jones cf, markakis rf
Hey guys, I have an Orioles blog so check it out. I write about news and the Oriole's farm teams and prospects.
www.snaorioles.com
by ravensfan3 on Aug 31, 2025 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wieters swinging at every curveball sounds like Alex Gordon in 2007
That’s my fear or Wieters, but even if he put up Gordon’s numbers, he’d still be a good catcher
by Bravesin07 on Aug 31, 2025 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
you didn't watch much Gordon in '07 did you?
that was far from his problem.
baseball rules.
by doublestix on Aug 31, 2025 11:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
Related FanPosts on Minor League Ball
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
MLB -- FanHouse
- Los Angeles Dodgers 2010 Primer
- Dodgers Need Ace Potential to Be Reality
- At Age 47, Jamie Moyer Keeps Surprising
- Joba Heads Back to Bullpen ... for Now
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
