With the Orioles season a few weeks underway, all eyes are on the first place O’s as we head into May. But it’s never too early to keep tabs on the O’s farm system to see how the future birds of Camden are progressing.
Starting with Norfolk and ending with Delmarva, let’s take a tour through the farm: First stop, Norfolk.
AAA Norfolk
The Norfolk Tides got off to a rough start to begin the season, going just 2-8 in their first ten games, but despite a current three-game losing streak, the Tides are starting to slowly turn it around with a 4-5 record in their last nine. The 6-13 Tides stand in at fourth place and 3.5-games behind the 11-9 Gwinnett Braves in the International League South.
There is a lot to be excited about in Norfolk at the moment, as the Tides have three prospects that are turning heads and making headlines. 1B/OF Christian Walker, 25, has been the focal point of the Norfolk offense in the early goings of 2016. The South C
arolina alum has posting a .284 average with four home runs, 12 RBI and a .338 OBP on the year. Joining Walker in the heart of the Tides line-up is the highly touted first baseman Trey Mancini. The 24-year-old Notre Dame graduate tore apart AA pitching over 17 games with Bowie in April, posting a stellar .302 average with four doubles, a league-leading seven homers, 14 RBI and a sparkling .413 OBP before earning his promotion to Norfolk on April 25th.
And then there’s Garabez Rosa. The 26-year-old infielder who turned heads with a strong display in Spring Training also lit up AA pitching this month with Bowie, posting an outstanding .366 average with two home runs, eleven RBI and a .395 OBP. His stellar run of form earned Rosa a call-up to Norfolk on April 21st, and through five games, Rosa is 6-21 (.286 avg) with one homer and one RBI with the Tides.
Former St. Louis Cardinals prospect Audrey Perez has also stood out in Norfolk this season. The 27-year-old catcher has posted an excellent .382 average with two homers, nine RBI and an impressive .405 OBP. Cuban outfielder Henry Urrutia, 29, has also started the year on a strong note, hitting .314 with seven RBI and a stellar .407 OBP.
Promising Cuban southpaw Ariel Miranda, 27, has posted rock solid 3.00 ERA and 1.27 WHIP over three starts and has 14 strikeouts in 15 innings of work, but is still searching for win #1 at 0-1. Another former Cards prospect, SP Nick Addition, 28, has led the way for the Tides this season with a superb 2.74 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over four starts and is 1-2 on the year. Chaz Roe, 29, was the odd man out in the bullpen this spring after impressing in the latter part of 2015 for the O’s, but has taken it in stride and has been excellent for the Tides in ’16, posting a 2.61 ERA and a stellar 0.96 WHIP in 10.1 innings while racking up 17 K’s.
AA Bowie
The Baysox got off to a horrendous 1-7 start this season, but then bounced back with an excellent run of form in which they won seven of their next eight. Alas, the Baysox go into Wednesday’s game versus Richmond on a current three-game losing streak. The ‘Sox are 8-11 on the year, good for fourth place in the Eastern League Western and three games back from the first-place Akron Rubber Ducks.
After both Mancini’s and Roza’s call-up to AAA, it is unclear on what Baysox member is going to step up in their absence, but with 27-year-old 1B Corban Joseph (.368, 4 2B, 1 HR, 8 RBI, .413 OBP) in fine form and the 24-year-old hometown kid, OF Glynn Davis (.231, 1 HR, 10 RBI, .354 OBP) off to a good start this season, you can expect them to do their share of the heavy lifting.
Vanderbilt alum and 2013 14th round pick, Mike Yastrzemski, is starting to catch fire in Bowie as well. The 25-year-old outfielder is hitting .275 with three doubles, three homers,
11 RBI and an impressive .351 OBP on the year. Highly touted O’s prospect Chance Sisco is also starting to get on a roll in late April, and goes into Wednesday on a six-game hitting streak. The 21-year-old catcher is hitting .277 with four doubles and six RBI with an outstanding .414 OBP.
23-year-old southpaw Chris Lee is paving the way for the Bowie pitching staff and has recorded a 2-0 record in three outings with a 2.95 ERA and a filthy 0.93 WHIP over 18.1 innings. 22-year-old Tennessee Tech alum David Hess is also off to a nice start in 2016, posting a solid 3.38 ERA and 1.75 WHIP with 13 K’s in 16 innings over three starts, but is still stuck at 0-1 on the year. Lastly, reliever Ashur Tolliver, the Oklahoma City University alum and O’s 5th round pick in 2009, has been excellent this season. The 28-year-old has a stellar 1.88 ERA and a vicious 0.77 WHIP in eight outings on the year with 18 K’s in 14.1 innings.
High A Frederick
The Keys haven’t been able to find their rhythm this season and have posted a 7-12 record on the year, good for third in the Carolina League Northern and 7.5 games back from the red-hot Lynchburg Hillcats (14-4). The good news is that the Keys ended their five-game skid on Tuesday night versus Salem with a 4-1 win.
The Keys have a star in the making in 19-year-old third baseman Jomar Reyes. The highly-touted slugger is hitting .246 with three doubles, two home runs and eight RBI with a solid .324 OBP on the year. 2014 10th round pick and Mount Olive alumni Jay Gonzalez is lighting it up in High-A ball, and might have a call-up to Bowie shortly if he can retain the incredible form he was in before picking up a knock to his ribs. The 24-year-old is hitting .314 with three doubles, two triples, zero homers, five RBI, a ridiculous 10 stolen bases and a stellar .417 OBP on the season.
The Keys also have two starters that are impressing big time as well. GT alum Matthew Grimes has been excellent in four starts while posting a 2-1 record with a phenomenal 1.40 ERA and 1.50 WHIP and 17 Ks in 19.1 innings, while John Means, the O’s 11th round pick in 2014 and West Virginia alumni, has been dominant over four starts while recording a perfect 3-0 record with a rock solid 2.70 ERA and a filthy 1.10 WHIP with 15 Ks in 20 innings. Keep an eye on Lucas Long, the O’s 24th round pick in 2014 out of the University of San Diego. The 23-year-old posted an unbelievable 0.50 ERA and 0.61 WHIP with 17 Ks in 18 innings over three starts in Delmarva, and earned his promotion to Frederick on April 23rd.
Low A Delmarva
The Shorebirds are in terrific form to start the season. Delmarva stands at 11-8 on the year, good for fourth in the South Atlantic League Northern and 3.5-games back from the red-hot West Virginia Power (14-4). However, the Shorebirds are getting on a roll at 7-3 in their last ten games, and are going into Wednesday on a four-game winning streak.
O’s 2013 6th round pick and Calvert Hall Alumni, Alex Murphy, is tearing the cover off of the ball in Delmarva. The 21-year-old is hitting .307 with six doubles, two homers and 17 RBI with a .346 OBP on the year. 23-year-old catcher Yermin Mercedes is making headlines with a stellar .420 average with seven doubles, three triples, one homer, 13 RBI and a .436 OBP.
Southpaw Brian Gonzalez, the O’s 20-year-old 3rd round pick in 2014, has been superb in four outings, posting a 2-0 record with a 3.48 ERA and 1.50 WHIP and 17 Ks in 20.2 innings, while 21-year-old Dominican righty Francisco Jimenez has posted a sparkling 2.25 ERA and a stellar 0.88 WHIP with 15 Ks in 16 innings over three starts. 2015 3rd rounder Garrett Cleavinger has also started the season on a strong note. The 22-year-old Oregon Southpaw is 3-0 with a 2.19 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP in five outings with 18 K’s in just 12.1 innings.
End of the line, everybody! There’s a lot to be excited about on the farm this year, so we’ll be no doubt taking another look at the O’s top prospects in the near future!
Until next time, O’s Nation!
