Baltimore Orioles Top 20 2012 PRE-SEASON Prospects in Review

Baltimore Orioles Top 20 2012 PRE-SEASON Prospects in Review

Moving forward with our mid-season reviews of our pre-season Top 20 prospect lists, we switch back to the American League with an examination of the Baltimore Orioles. Remember, this is the pre-season list. It is not a new list.

This list was originally published November 27, 2011.

The next four teams on the list for review are the Oakland Athletics, Washington Nationals, Chicago Cubs, and Detroit Tigers.

1) Manny Machado, SS, Grade A: Hitting .252/.338/.402 with 42 walks, 65 strikeouts in 353 at-bats for Double-A Bowie, which doesn't sound that great but keep in mind he just turned 20. I still like him.

2) Dylan Bundy, RHP, Grade A-: 1.74 ERA with 88/15 K/BB in 72 innings between Low-A and High-A, 44 hits allowed. Was unstoppable in Low-A and has remained effective, if human in High-A. The best pitching prospect in baseball right now.

3) Jonathan Schoop, INF, Grade B: Borderline B+. Hitting .244/.304/.395 with 26 walks, 75 strikeouts in 352 at-bats, 12 homers. I like his glove at second base. Still has work to do with the bat, but killing left-handed pitching (.301/.373/.504).

4) Jason Esposito, 3B, Grade B-: Disappointing, hitting just .225/.281/.297 in 92 games for Low-A Delmarva, 22 walks, 79 strikeouts in 360 at-bats. Shows good range at third base but his error rate has been high as well. We knew he was a bit raw for a college guy but I didn't think he was this raw.

5) Robert Bundy, RHP, Grade B-: 6.25 ERA with 64/35 K/BB in 81 innings for Double-A Bowie, 98 hits allowed. On the disabled list with bone spurs in his elbow, and likely to miss the rest of the season.

6) Dan Klein, RHP, Grade B-: Shoulder surgery.

7) Nick Delmonico, 3B, Grade B-: Hitting .249/.344/.396 with 41 walks, 69 strikeouts in 313 at-bats for Delmarva. Playing first and second base. Statistical performance has not been exemplary but has generated good scouting reports.

8) Parker Bridwell, RHP, Grade C+: 6.30 ERA with 53/44 K/BB in 84 innings for Delmarva, 91 hits, 13 homers allowed. High-ceiling arm that hasn't lived up to expectations or sleeper potential to this point.

9) Ryan Adams, 2B, Grade C+: .210/.310/.339 with 16 walks, 33 strikeouts in 124 at-bats for Triple-A Norfolk, slowed by a hand injury. Stock sliding.

10) Glynn Davis, OF, Grade C+: Hitting .261/.351/.314 with 45 walks, 78 strikeouts, 28-for-36 with steals in 341 at-bats for Delmarva. No power, but speed/OBP potential remains interesting.

11) L.J. Hoes, OF, Grade C+: .265/.368/.372 for Bowie, .302/.367/.425 for Norfolk, has stolen 18 bases with a 49/58 BB/K ratio in 375 at-bats combined. I would expect him to see Baltimore later this year.

12) Clay Schrader, RHP, Grade C+: 1.29 ERA with 51/27 K/BB in 35 innings for High-A Frederick. Walk rate was high, and this hurt him after promotion to Double-A: 4.91 ERA with a 4/10 K/BB in 7 innings. Has the stuff to succeed if he throws strikes.

13) Eduardo Rodriguez, LHP, Grade C+: 3.58 ERA with 51/21 K/BB in 73 innings for Delmarva, 70 hits. Just 19 years old, would like more strikeouts but he does pick up a lot of grounders, 1.40 GO/AO with just two homers.

14) Oliver Drake, RHP, Grade C+: Pitched 18 effective innings in Double-A (1.50 ERA, 15/4 K/BB) but has missed most of the season with shoulder problems.

15) David Baker, RHP, Grade C+: 7.27 ERA with 29/16 K/BB in 35 innings in A-ball, 42 hits. I felt he was a breakthrough candidate but it isn't happening yet.

16) Mike Wright, RHP, Grade C+: 2.91 ERA with 35/5 K/BB in 46 innings for Frederick, 5.64 ERA with 15/4 K/BB and 27 hits in 22 innings for Bowie. Showing excellent control, I think his ERA in Double-A is misleading.

17) Trent Mummey, OF, Grade C+: .256/.352/.384 with 30 walks, 26 strikeouts, 14 steals in 211 at-bats for Frederick. Contact hitter with some patience and speed, I think he can improve.

18) Kyle Simon, RHP, Grade C+: Traded to Phillies in Jim Thome deal. 3.54 ERA with 61/22 K/BB and 2.70 GO/AO in 86 innings in A-ball, 96 hits. Ground ball tendency is very strong and he throws strikes.

19) Joe Mahoney, 1B, Grade C: .269/.322/.382 with 26 walks, 71 strikeouts in 361 at-bats for Norfolk. Needs to show more power than this.

20) Gabriel Lino, C, Grade C: Strong defender, traded to Phillies in Thome deal, hitting .214/.283/.325 with 20 walks, 78 strikeouts in 252 at-bats in Low-A. Just 19, young enough to improve.

I had almost given up on Xavier Avery pre-season and had him as just a Grade C, not thinking that his tools would ever translate into production. He's improved, particularly in the "using his speed effectively" department and I would rank him higher now. First baseman Aaron Baker has shown a lot of power this year and is now getting a chance to bring that forward to Double-A. Infielder Ty Kelly is an older prospect at age 24 but his .344/.450/.494 line with 62 walks at three levels is getting him noticed. Right-hander Tyler Wilson is having a good year throwing strikes in the Carolina League. Arizona State product outfielder John Ruettiger has hit for average (.290/.379/.350) at three levels, with 25 steals, but has hit just one homer.

The college-oriented 2012 draft class brings in potential ace starter Kevin Gausman and another high ceiling arm with Branden Kline, polished bat Christian Walker, and lefty sleeper Lex Rutledge.