Down on the Farm

Down O’n the Farm: Checking in on O’s MiLB Pitchers

by loganquickmd

May 30, 2017
11:56 am

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Now that we’ve looked at the potential future of the Orioles lineup, let’s take a look at some of the guys that could be toeing the rubber at Camden Yards in the near future.

We’ll kick it off with a look at a few future starters.

Starters

Cody Sedlock– (1st round, 2016)

Currently ranked as the Orioles’ second-best prospect and top pitching prospect, the sky is the limit for Sedlock. The promising 21-year-old out of Illinois has gone through a learning curve with the Frederick Keys so far during his first full professional season. Sedlock owns a 4-2 record on the year despite a high 6.80 ERA over nine starts.

GulfBird Sports/Craig Landefeld

Hunter Harvey– (1st round, 2013)

Despite a myriad of injuries since getting drafted, Harvey is still ranked as the Orioles’ third-best prospect and #2 pitching prospect. Still just twenty-two years old, if he can come back strong after undergoing Tommy John Surgery this off-season he should fly up the minor league ranks.

Keegan Akin– (2nd round, 2016)

Like Sedlock, Akin is going through the learning curve of professional baseball during his first full season and owns a 3-4 record and a 5.95 ERA over nine starts for the Keys this season. The 22-year-old southpaw out of Western Michigan is currently ranked as the fifth-best prospect in the Orioles system, and will be a name to watch out for soon.

Chris Lee– (Acquired from Houston, 2015)

The 24-year-old southpaw was phenomenal last season before getting injured, but has seen his form go up-and-down for AAA Norfolk in 2017. Over ten starts this season, the Orioles sixth-best prospect owns a 2-3 record and a 6.86 ERA.

Matthias Dietz– (2nd round, 2016)

Another highly-touted hurler from the 2016 draft class, the 22-year-old Dietz is also going through the learning curve of pro baseball during his first full season. He owns an 0-4 record and a 5.62 ERA over nine starts for the Delmarva Shorebirds this season.

Alex Wells– (International Free Agent, 2016)

The native Australian has been turning heads since debuting for Aberdeen last season, and has been just as impressive this season. The 20-year-old southpaw owns a 3-2 record with a 2.01 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP over nine starts for the Keys this year.

Brian Gonzalez– (3rd round, 2014)

After a stellar 2016 campaign, Gonzalez proved to be a name to keep tabs on for the future. The 21-year-old lefty has notched a 2-3 record and a 4.89 ERA over nine starts for the Frederick Keys this season.

Bullpen

Tanner Scott– (6th round, 2014)

The 22-year-old flame-throwing southpaw came into this season as the #10 Orioles prospect, but he will shoot even higher if he can continue his stellar season all the way through. Over ten games for AA Bowie, Scott boasts a stellar 1.80 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and an incredible 12.9 K/9.

Garrett Cleavinger– (3rd round, 2015)

Cleavinger turned heads during his sparkling 2016 season and cemented his status as a top-tier relief pitching prospect. Over 14 games for AA Bowie this season, the 23-year-old flamethrower out of Oregon University owns a sky-high 6.86 ERA, but that 10.5 K/9 is impressive.

Jimmy Yacabonis– (13th round, 2013)

The 25-year-old has had to grind his way to AAA, but after passing every level of the O’s minor league system with flying colors, the St.Joesph’s alum just a step away from the bigs. He could be there soon if he can maintain his sensational 1.09 ERA and 0.85 WHIP over 19 contests (six saves) down in Norfolk for the rest of the season.