Strong springs by Gausman and Schoop have fans excited for future

I am not one to draw many conclusions from spring training. I look at spring training the same way I look at training camp and preseason games for the NFL: stay healthy and get the work in needed to prepare for a long season. With the exception of Wilson Betemit – and signs point to him returning at some point this year – the Orioles have avoided any season altering injuries. Nick Markakis, Chris Tillman, and Nolan Reimold all have had injuries that have shut them down for periods of time, but all three should be ready to rock when the season begins.

Back to my point about spring training. It is difficult to gauge exactly what is going on when games are played in huge wind gusts, pitchers are working on certain pitches, and hitters are not playing every game or only getting a couple of at bats when they do play. Even with all that, year after year it never fails – someone comes out of nowhere and has a great spring and fans go crazy and then the season starts and they are nowhere to be found.

Jake Fox anyone?

However, there are times when a player or two show up for spring training and by the time it ends, they leave a lasting impression that only gives hope for what could be in the future for an organization.

The Orioles had that happen this spring with the strong performances by 2012 first round pick Kevin Gausman and top infield prospect Jonathan Schoop. Dylan Bundy and Manny Machado have overshadowed these two guys over the last year, but if they were with any other organization they would be rated as the top two prospects.

Gausman opened a lot of eyes with his upper 90s fastball and low 80s changeup that kept hitters off balance all spring. His improving slider just adds to his top two pitches that will give him the ability to dominate at any time.

Gausman seems to be further along than Bundy, and I would expect him to arrive in Baltimore sooner and be a key contributor this year. I think people have put too high of expectations on Bundy. He is being challenged for the first time in his life and it takes time to adjust. Gausman, however, has faced the tougher competition by going to college and seems like he could succeed already if the organization decided to go in that direction. I think it is very telling that Buck Showalter and Dan Duquette thought highly enough of Gausman to keep him with the team until the last week of spring training.

As for Schoop, fans really started to take notice of his talent after his two home runs in the World Baseball Classic with Team Netherlands. He also added another home run in limited spring training at bats, but the question surrounding Schoop is what position he finally settles at. I think his arm is too good to be wasted so second is out of the question long-term. The deciding factor will be this – is the organization better with Machado at shortstop and Schoop at third, or the other way around? I really think if Machado has another defensive season as the one he showed in his two-plus months in Baltimore last year, it will be really difficult to move him off the hot corner. Schoop is set to be the starting shortstop with Triple-A Norfolk this season, and could be the first phone call if something happens to one of the infielders. Schoop is only 21 years old and his 2011 and 2012 seasons mirrored Machado’s. However it shakes out, Schoop and Machado figure to have huge seasons while playing next to each other in the infield for many years to come.

It is hard not to get excited when fans begin to think about a rotation of Bundy and Gausman and an infield of Schoop, Machado, with Chris Davis and Matt Wieters, both of whom are about to enter their prime.

The organization was excited about this scenario before spring training started, and all Gausman and Schoop did the last month was prove that it may become a reality sooner than later.