It’s about time to look at the Orioles minor league affiliates and a take another trip “Down O’n the Farm”. As always, we will spotlight one hitter and one pitcher from Norfolk, Bowie, and High-A Frederick and share their statistics.
All statistics via MILB.com
AAA Norfolk Tides
Jonathan Schoop: Schoop, currently ranked as the Orioles’ 5th best prospect by MLB.com, is back at Norfolk after rehabbing from a back injury. Suffered on May 12th, the injury kept him out of the lineup after starting a great season with the Tides.
Schoop is hitting .288 this season between Aberdeen, Norfolk, and the eight games in the Gulf Coast League. He’s hit 12 home runs, four of which have come in a recent power surge in his last eight games. This budding prospect is someone to watch. He hasn’t been fully healthy, but has produced consistently when in the lineup.
Adam Russell: We spotlighted Russell earlier in the season because of his impressive start—let’s just say he hasn’t slowed down out of the Tides bullpen. Russell has appeared in 33 games this year, averaging almost a strikeout per inning. He is holding hitters to just a .212 average and has allowed just one home run in over 50 innings this season.
Russell is keeping right-handers to a mere .186 average. His walk numbers are a bit concerning, as he’s given up 31 free passes. He’s done well keeping them stranded on the bases, holding a current 2.42 ERA, but he has to do a better job keeping them off of first. He’s 30 years old, but Russell is showing that he might be a reliable pitcher out of the pen down the stretch.
AA Bowie Baysox
Kyle Hudson: We haven’t focused on Hudson too much this season, mainly because of the fact that he hasn’t really heated up until lately. Hudson is a singles hitter, something that has helped him boost his average and contribute to the Baysox.
Hudson has an average on the year of .291, but the number jumps to .341 in his past ten games. He’s raking about .300 against right-handers with 59 hits and 19 RBI’s. Hudson doesn’t have a home run this year and has only registered four doubles in 278 at-bats. Regardless, he is helping Bowie with his base knocks and 17 steals.
Oliver Drake: Drake has been rehabbing from shoulder surgery and has just appeared in 14 outings in Bowie. Drake has rebounded quite well, allowing just four earned runs in 24 innings, good enough for a 1.50 ERA. The tall right-hander has been firing on all cylinders, striking out 30 hitters during his brief stint with the Baysox.
If there’s a pitcher that hitters don’t want to see, it’s Drake. He’s holding guys at the plate to a measly .157 average with just 13 hits.
Even more impressive—Drake has only allowed three hits to lefties, helping him keep their average to .107. Now, that’s productive.
The Orioles were hoping to get good news on Drake after his surgery, and what they have been seeing so far is very promising. While it might not be this year, Drake might be seeing the majors sooner than later.
High-A Frederick Keys
Michael Ohlman: Yet another power-hitting catcher in the Orioles organization. First Caleb Joseph, now Ohlman… you’ve got to love it!
Ohlman has hit 12 home runs this year with 45 RBI along with a near-.300 batting average. Just 22 years old, the catcher has 81 hits, 36 of them coming as extra-base hits including 20 doubles and four triples. He is hitting .307 against left-handers and hits homers more often against the southpaws. His .401 on-base percentage is tops among Frederick’s everyday players.
Although the Keys are having a sub-par year, Ohlman has been a bright spot at the dish.
Trent Howard: Howard has been one of Frederick’s best pitchers both out of the ‘pen and starting games. He’s 3-0 with a 1.81 ERA on the year, and has an impressive 18:54 walk-to-strikeout ratio.
Howard will be starting for the Keys tonight, his ninth start of the year. While the team has needed an extra starter, it’s obvious that Howard’s services are best cashed in from the bullpen. His 0.62 ERA as a reliever speaks for itself as do his 31 K’s in 29 innings. This 23-year-old is one of the brighter up-and-comers in the Orioles organization.
