Today the Pirates brought their Low A and A affiliates to the Orioles complex to play Baltimore’s babiest of Birds. The guys from Bradenton brought some thump and got to a couple of our pitchers. Dylan Heid looked razor sharp warming up but gave up a rally while Jensen Elliott held down Greensboro pretty well. The pen is where the O’s excelled this morning however. Good movement didn’t help righty Carlos Del Rosario avoid a few long counts but he was alternating speeds well. Location and pure funk was on display off the fingers of Shelton Perkins, Thomas Girard and most especially Daniel Lloyd. He can really locate breaking balls and cut stuff into and out of the zone. I saw Hector Lopez, Daniel Federman and Carson Carter get into games too.
O’s fans who like pitches that move will prob like Daniel Lloyd. This one was a beauty? pic.twitter.com/LsHFQMGTBB
— Eric_Birdland (@Eric_Birdland) March 25, 2022
Offensively there wasn’t a great deal of highlights either way. Greensboro rallied with back to back doubles from catching prospects Endy Rodriguez and Henry Davis. After an out big corner Ernny Ordoñez drove one off the wall for one more RBI.
On the O’s side I saw infield prospect Darell Hernaiz show lighting quick hands to catch up to a fastball that beat him and drive it oppo for a single. Collin Burns made a decision to swing at a high pitch in a favorable count and drove it high for a long single. I like the state of second base with those two guys around. Connor Norby will also be in that fight and he had two consecutive lasers right back to the pitcher for outs. Another infield prospect with a hot bat this spring is Isaac DeLeon. Known for his glove (you’re welcome), DeLeon is in camp a little bigger and he’s using that pop to drive the ball. Today he took a high one pullside to drive in Creed Willems.
O’s catching prospect Creed Willems is making lots of progress very fast. Here’s a great pop and throw down to second. Play wasn’t made & I can’t see why but his part was smooth and strong #defense #backstop pic.twitter.com/2DI9l1jPga
— Eric_Birdland (@Eric_Birdland) March 25, 2022
Creed is 18 years old and said goodbye to his family last week as they returned to Texas. It’s the last week of camp and I’m noticing that although he has every excuse to take it easy, he’s moving so well on the field and getting even better. Today he hustled to beat out a play an infielder didn’t make. That’s why he scored on Isaac’s hit. He also threw out a base runner with a near flawless catch and throw transition that made me think twice about his rate of development. The play wasn’t made on the other end but the throw was legit. Catching bullpens and running from station to station in between his on-field contributions are the indicators that the Orioles made a pretty good decision to find and select Willems. Fans should be eager to see him play.
