MASN's Roch Kubatko got an early report on how Baseball America ranked the Orioles' prospects for 2012.
Dylan Bundy
Manny Machado
Jonathan Schoop
Parker Bridwell
LJ Hoes
Nicky Delmonico
Ryan Flaherty
Jason Esposito
Xavier Avery
Dan Klein
While I'm happy that these players are in our system and almost any team would take them I have to be honest in saying that this list depresses me. Two facts stand out: There is almost NO ML ready talent at the upper minor league level and we need to add a substantial number of legitimate prospects. Here is my take on each player.
Dylan Bundy RHP - a special talent but one that has never thrown a professional pitch. His intangibles including personal makeup and work ethic combined with his ability seem to assure that he will be a ML pitcher but it's a long way from HS phenom to an ace ML starter. Best guess to stick on the ML roster - 2014.
Manny Machado SS - another special talent but one that has yet to be dominant above low A ball. Frederick was the first level he struggled at and he seemed to be making the adjustments at the end of the season. We really won't know how quickly he can help in Baltimore until we see whether he can dominate at AA this year. Best guess to stick on the ML roster - 2014
Jonathan Schoop (?) - a solid hitter that struggled a bit at high A this year and then seemed to make the adjustments. That fact that the team has yet to decide on a position for him tells me that he won't (shouldn't) be fast tracked through the minors if we want a complete ball player in Baltimore. Best guess to stick on the ML roster - 2014.
Parker Bridwell RHP - a starter's body and a cannon for an arm but a pitcher that has yet to be dominant at any level in professional ball. Best guess to stick on the ML roster - 2015.
LJ Hoes (?) - starting to come into his own as a hitter but the organization has yet to (publicly) settle on a position for him. He's probably best suited for LF but he will have to hit at an .800 OPS or better to be a regular on a winning ML team at that position and he should have at least a full season at AAA with extensive instruction at his position to be ready for the majors. Best guess to stick on the ML roster - 2013.
Nicky Delmonico (?) - one of the top three hitting talents in the farm system but a player that has not yet been assigned a position nor played an inning of pro ball. He may be the best 1B prospect in our system on the basis of his bat and our lack of any other legitimate prospect there. Best guess to stick on the ML roster - 2015.
Ryan Flaherty (?) - a solid bat at utility fielder but a player without a defined position. If his glove is good enough and he can hit his weight he may stick on the ML roster because he's a Rule 5 draftee.
Jason Esposito 3B - maybe the best infield glove in the farm system. The question is whether he's going to hit enough to be an ML regular on a winning team. Best guess to stick on the ML roster - 2014.
Xavier Avery CF - probably the best athlete in the system. Struggled at the plate in AA but was scorching hot for six weeks in the AFL. Will need at least two more years in the minors to refine his talent at the plate and in the field. Best guess to stick on the ML roster - 2014.
Dan Klein RHP - talent combined with the knowledge of pitching; however, he's coming off of an arm injury and may need to use most of this season to regain his status as the Orioles' top pitching prospect closest to being ML ready.
Based upon this list and analysis there's very little coming from the minors for the next few seasons and the Class of 2014 needs to avoid injuries and develop at a steady pace to make a difference, even then. To me, these facts mean that we should be looking to move some of our valuable parts for quality prospects this winter instead of spending big money trying to build a winner in 2012.
What's your take on the list? Do you agree with my analysis? Do you think we should rebuild or risk spending big right away? Please explain your opinions so that others can better understand them.
