Posted on 07 April 2009
H/W: 6-2 185 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 8/1/85
Considered to be the centerpiece to the now ill-advised Erik Bedard trade, Adam Jones gave Orioles fans a glimpse of the immense talent that he possesses. Jones batted .270 with 9 HR 57 RBI 10 SB and 61 runs scored for the O's last season and solidified the outfield defense with his excellent range and arm strength in centerfield. Jones has sinewy strength and excellent bat speed that should transform into 20-25 HR power in the very near future. His speed is also top notch, although, he has historically not fully used it as a weapon on the basepaths. The major question mark at this time is directly related to his discipline at the plate. Last season, Jones had a dismal 23 BB/108 K ratio and had trouble with handling offspeed pitches. This spring has brought forth some positive signs in his development as he has batted .350 with 3 HR 5 RBI 7 SB and a 3 BB/10 K ratio in 19 games.
2009 Projection: Adam Jones is primed for better numbers this season from behind the plate and his high SB totals in the spring shows that he intends to be more aggressive on the basepaths as well. The BB/K ratio is the key component to his overall offensive success. By boosting his walk rate and diminishing his K rate a little bit, Jones can threaten to cross the .300 threshold. Brian Roberts is Baltimore's leadoff hitter, but Jones should make a dangerous #2 hitter in that solid Oriole lineup. With excellent pitching prospects down on the farm and a young offense to build around, the Camden Yard boys should be a rising threat in the A.L. East within the next couple of seasons.
Key Adam Jones Baseball Cards:
- 2003 Upper Deck Prospect Premieres
- 2006 Bowman Heritage
- 2006 Upper Deck Update SP
Posted on 21 February 2009
H/W: 6-5 205 lb. B/T: L/R DOB: 9/10/88
Despite a disappointing statistical 2008 season at High-A Frederick (.248 7 HR 50 RBI 24 doubles), there are some positive things to take out of Rowell's development. He cut his K rate down to less than one per game while boosting his walk totals from 31 in '07 to 36. The former AFLAC High School All-American also improved defensively, boosting his fielding percentage from .888 to .925. Rowell has big time power potential and a sweet left-handed swing that should hit for a good average as well. His bat speed is well above average and his competitive drive should compell him to make the necessary improvements in his approach at the plate to make the necessary improvements in his plate discipline. In light of his improvements, there is some concern about Rowell's ability to remain a third baseman. His size and footspeed may prove to be detrimental to his range and a future on the other infield corner seems to be a more likely destination. There is still a great deal of projectibility in this young 20 year old, and the Orioles have no doubt that it will manifest itself into on-field production very soon.
2009 Projection: Rowell's stint at Frederick was somewhat lackluster and, given his age, an encore appearance their to begin the season seems to be the most prudent short term option. Keep tabs on the power numbers from Mr. Rowell this season. If he can find translate that sweet swing into some long balls, a promotion to AA Bowie in the second half is not out of the question. The primary goal for both Billy Rowell and the Orioles, however, should be to put 2008 in the rear view mirror and start cultivating the abundance of potential that made Rowell a 2006 1st round pick. There are plenty of reasons to believe that will happen in 2009.
Key Billy Rowell Baseball Cards:
- 2005 Bowman Draft AFLAC Redemption
- 2006 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2006 Bowman Sterling Auto
- 2006 Bowman Heritage
- 2007 Bowman's Best Auto
Posted on 29 January 2009
H/W: 6-2 210 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 3/9/88
The Orioles' 2007 16th round pick completed his second tour of short season ball by hitting .240 with 10 HR 38 RBI and 9 SB at Aberdeen. The word that best personifies Tyler's game is "hustle". Kolodny is a max effort player whose exuberance for the game of baseball is evident and contagious. Bases on balls are followed by a 90 ft. sprint up the 1st base line and there isn't a game that Tyler comes of the field in a clean uniform. While his drive is compelling, it often leads to struggles as well. Kolodny often overswings at pitches in and out of the zone, resulting in a high K rate (83 in 72 games) and a deficiency in hitting the ball to the other field. He will steal the occasional bag, but his average speed gets him nabbed on the bases almost as often. Defensively, he has adaquate range and arm strength to stay at 3B, but the depth of hot corner dwellers in Baltimore's system may force him to relocate. Kolodny is an intriguing prospect in the sense that he is intrinsically compelled to be the best player on the field and is dedicated to addressing the soft spots of his game. That desire mixed with a decent assortment of skills makes Tyler Kolodny a dark horse for a breakout season in 2009.
2009 Projection: Beginning this spring, Kolodny should receive his first dose of full season of baseball, likely at Low-A Delmarva. The main thing that Tyler needs to work on in '09 is becoming a more complete hitter. Kolodny showed an ability to draw walks, his K rates were way too high. Watch to see if he can cut these down to less than one per game. Additionally, Kolodny needs to end his pull-happy ways. More advanced pitchers will exploit this tendency by controlling balls on the outer portion of the plate, which leads to K's and groundball outs. An increase in his double and triple totals would be a good indicator of how well he is utilizing the opposite field. The Orioles have two high upside 3B prospects in Billy Rowell and Tyler Henson who are ranked above Kolodny on the organization's depth chart. Kolodny does have the potential to be a solid MLB player, but he may need a change of position or of scenery in future seasons.
Key Tyler Kolodny Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Prospects
- 2008 Donruss Threads Rookie Class Patch/Auto #/280
- 2008 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/819
Posted on 11 January 2009
H/W: 6-3 215 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 5/13/85
Hernandez's season at AA Bowie produced a marked improvement over his 2007 numbers. Pitching to a 10-4 mark with a 2.68 ERA and 166 K's in 141 innings, Hernandez seems to have experienced a breakout season. His fastball sits at 92-94 MPH and, with a deceptive delivery and quick arm action, Hernandez is able to hide his release point from hitters. Additionally, David has a power slider that grades as a potential out pitch and a changeup that he used more effectively down in the zone last season. The major culpability in his game right now is emphatically represented in his inconsistency in commanding the strike zone. Last season, Hernandez issued 4.5 BB per 9 IP, up from 2.9 in '07, but he also decreased his BAA from .249 to .217 and his HR allowed from 16 to 10. This played a major part in his increased success, but the fact that the Eastern League is a pitcher-friendly league may mean that Hernandez will have a difficult time producing a similar line of success next season. Additionally, Hernandez has proven to be a flyball pitcher, inducing only .75 GO/FO which, in the cozy confines of Camden Yards, is a significant risk factor.
2009 Projection: Hernandez will start the '09 season with AAA Norfolk with a late season audition before being called up for some Baltimore innings later in the season. Hernandez has made some great strides on the surface, but his BB /9 rate and his low GO/FO ratio spell trouble for future success. Harnessing the changeup will be a key for Hernandez's ability to stick as a starter. If he can effectively throw that pitch down in the zone, he can be an effective mid-rotation starter. The Orioles are chocked full of high-upside young pitching talents like Chris Tillman, Brian Matusz, Jake Arrieta, Brandon Erbe, Zach Britton, and Chorye Spoone. If Hernandez struggles with his control in the early going, a shift to be bullpen could happen in the none-too-distant future.
Key David Hernandez Baseball Cards:
- 2008 Bowman Sterling Auto
Posted on 07 January 2009
H/W: 6-4 185 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 12/25/87
The young Baltimore native regrouped well after a horrendous '07 season. Erbe pitched to a 10-12 record with a 4.30 ERA and 50 BB/151 K's in 150.1 IP. Blessed with a mid-90's fastball, Erbe worked dilligently to improve his slider and changeup which have the potential to be plus pitches in the future. Erbe has a wiry, strong frame that has proven to be quite durable (25+ starts in 3 consecutive years) and could add some bulk as he ages. This will enhance his stamina and could add a tick or two to his fastball. The major issue with Erbe right now is consistency. On the plus side, he limited hitters to a stingy .216 BA and his 3.06 BB/9 IP was his lowest as a pro. Conversely, when Erbe gets hit, he gets hit hard. He allowed 21 HR this past season and had several outings where he allowed several runs early in the contest. When things go bad for Erbe, he tends to lose focus and battles with his mechanics. Frederick pitching coach Blaine Beatty has worked dilligently with Erbe on these issues and the organization is quite pleased with the 21 year old's progress.
2009 Projection: A full season at AA Bowie is waiting for Erbe in '09. The O's are hoping that he can continue forward and have a similar season to that of their other elite RHP Chris Tillman. Command and consistency are the most important things to monitor in Erbe's performance. If he can hone his mechanics and gain a more effective feel for his changeup, he should be able to turn some of those extra base hits he surrendered last season into outs.
Key Brandon Erbe Baseball Cards:
- 2005 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2005 Bowman Sterling
- 2005 Bowman Heritage
Posted on 02 December 2008
H/W: 6-5 195 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 4/15/88
Tillman did his part to make the Erik Bedard trade an extremely lopsided one. Tillman, just 20 years old, was dominant at AA Bowie going 11-4 with a 3.18 ERA and 154 K in 138 innings. Tilman finished especially strong in six August starts compiling a 4-1 record with a 1.80 ERA and 51 K in just 35 IP. Tillman has a long projectible frame that effortlessly pumps 92-95 MPH fastballs to all parts of the strike zone. Complimenting his heater is a big breaking 11-5 curveball that Tillman throws with good arm speed. Some baseball experts have questioned Tillman's mental toughness in the past, though his ability to excel at AA shows that he is more aggressive than what was originally indicated. Tillman still walks too many batters (over 4 per 9 IP) and he is primarily a flyball pitcher. It is essential that he develops more depth to his change up and control his curveball if he wants to have success at the major league level. Tillman's future as a #2 or #3 starter seems quite attainable within the next couple seasons.
2009 Projection: Tillman has earned a shot to get an extended look in spring training, though the Orioles are likely to be conservative with their next crop of talented pitchers. The O's have been burned in the past by rushing talented pitchers like Radhames Liz, Garrett Olson, and Adam Loewen in years past. Expect them to be more conservative with their big three Tillman, Jake Arrieta, and Brian Matusz. Tillman will likely pitch the entire year at AAA Rochester with maybe some innings in September. Look for Tillman's upcoming 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft autos to be popular this offseason.
Key Chris Tillman Rookie Cards:
- 2005 Bowman Chrome Draft AFLAC Redemption
- 2008 Bowman Signs of the Future Auto
- 2008 Bowman Chrome Draft
Posted on 24 November 2008
H/W: 6-4 225 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 3/6/86
If you remove the month of June (0-3 5.03 ERA .325 BAA) from Arrieta's season, he would have been one of the top pitchers in MILB. Arrieta still finished his first professional season with a solid 6-5 record with a 2.87 ERA and 120 K/113.1 IP before heading to compete for Team USA in Beijing. Arrieta dominated in his one start going 6 two-hit innings while striking out 7 for the win. Arrieta features a 91-94 MPH fastball with decent movement and his slider is a nasty strikeout pitch. Arrieta has a tall, well-built frame that should be durable as a #2 or #3 inning-eating starter. Orioles officials have been concerned about Arrieta's mechanics in the past as his inability to follow through on pitches often left balls up in the zone. Arrieta seems to be working on this, though his walk rate at 4.06/9 IP is still a bit high and could cause him to be more hittable against advanced hitters.
2009 Projection: Arrieta should spend much of this season at AA Bowie. This stands to be a huge indicator of just how good Arrieta truly is. Watch to see if his walk rates come down and if he can continue to keep his velocity. If so, his 2007 Donruss Elite Auto could see some positive growth.
Key Jake Arrieta Baseball Cards:
- 2007 Donruss Elite Extra Auto #/949
- 2008 Bowman Chrome
Posted on 21 November 2008
H/W: 6-2 205 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 11/23/86
Snyder has progressed well after struggling with injuries and plate discipline woes early in his professional career. This season Snyder played at High-A Frederick hitting .315 with 13 HR 80 RBI and 33 doubles. Snyder really heated up after the All-Star break hitting .357 with 9 HR and 36 RBI in 53 games. Snyder has good bat speed and emerging opposite field power. His 33 doubles demonstrates that more HR power will develop as he builds onto his solid 6-2 205 lb. frame. Snyder is a good athlete who was drafted as a catcher but should be an above average 1B in the field. One area that Snyder will need to continue to address is his approach at the plate where he garnered a 29 BB/83 K ratio. A 100% increase in his walk totals and HR production would vault him into the elite class of 1B prospects. While that seems like a tall expectation, Snyder's raw hitting ability could easily produce those numbers within the next season or two.
2009 Projection: Snyder has continued his fine hitting in the Arizona Fall League, batting .328 with 4 HR 10 RBI and 7 doubles in just 58 AB. He will likely start 2009 at AA Bowie and it will be critical for him to continue his torrid offensive production that he exhibited in the second half of the season. Current Orioles 1B Aubrey Huff is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2009 season. The Orioles would love to see Snyder develop into a solid replacement by next season. Don't be surprised to see Brandon get some September AB's at Camden Yards in '09.
Key Brandon Snyder Baseball Cards:
- 2005 Bowman Chrome Draft Brandon Snyder
- 2005 Bowman Sterling Brandon Snyder
- 2005 Topps Brandon Snyder Rookie Cup Auto
- 2006 Bowman Chrome Brandon Snyder Auto
- 2006 Bowman Sterling Brandon Snyder Auto
- 2006 Bowman Heritage Brandon Snyder Auto
Posted on 21 November 2008
H/W: 6-4 210 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 10/12/83
O's fans got a dose of what Reimold can do when fully healthy. Reimold battered AA pitching this season to the tune of a .284 25 HR 84 RBI 87 runs scored. Reimold has a power hitters frame at 6-4 210 lb. that is deceptively athletic. His right-handed swing generates easy power to all fields and he controls the strike zone effectively, earning 62 BB this season. Reimold's success has continued in the Arizona Fall League where he started slowly but has come back to hit .273 with 4 HR and 18 RBI in 24 games. Defensively, he has good range and a cannon arm built for RF. The main detractor to Reimold's success has been his proneness to injury, though his healthy '08 season is cause for optimism. Additionally, due to his advanced age, Nolan will have added pressure to make a positive MLB impact earlier than many younger prospects. Failure to do so may relegate him to the dreaded role of 4th outfielder or, even worse, AAAA player.
2009 Projection: Expect Reimold to get plenty of AB's in spring training with an outside shot of earning a spot on the O's opening day rosters. More likely, Reimold will start 2009 at AAA with a promotion to Baltimore happening soon. Watch to see how well Reimold plays this spring. If he hits well, there is a shot that he could find his way onto the roster in a possible platoon position with O's LF Luke Scott. A future outfield of Nick Markakis, Adam Jones, and Reimold should give Orioles fans ample reasons to be excited about their team's future.
2009 Update: Reimold has been on a hot streak ever since he showed up to spring training this year. After belting four HR during his two week stint in the Grapefruit League, Nolan made his way to AAA Norfolk where he scorched International League pitching to the tune of a .349 BA with 9 HR 27 RBI and 6 SB in just over 100 AB. Reimold earned his promotion to Baltimore on May 14th and has promptly blasted 4 HR and 9 RBI in his first 13 games. Reimold's solid plate discipline and 30 HR power potential has effectively pushed the underachieving Felix Pie out of a job. Expect Nolan to get the bulk of the playing time in LF and all signs point to him making a major push towards becoming the 2009 A.L. Rookie of the Year.
Key Nolan Reimold Baseball Cards:
- 2005 Bowman Chrome Draft
- 2005 Bowman Sterling
- 2005 Bowman Heritage
- 2006 Bowman Originals Auto (#'s vary)
- 2007 Bowman Heritage Auto
- 2008 Donruss Threads Diamond Kings Auto #/500
Posted on 09 November 2008
H/W: 6-5 230 lb. B/T: B/R DOB: 5/21/86
Matt Wieters had a special 2008 season earning the honor of Baseball America's MInor League Player of the Year. Wieters decimated pitching at both High-A Frederick and AA Bowie, hitting .355 with 27 HR 91 RBI and 89 runs scored in 130 games. Wieters has prolific power from both sides of the plate and his plate discipline (82 BB/76 K) is impeccable. Defensively, many scouts have said that he possesses the best package of skills in baseball. His leadership and game calling instincts are unparalleled as well. If there is any chink in Wieter's catching gear it is his lack of speed and the inherent injury risks attributed to over sized catchers (a la Joe Mauer). To Wieters' credit, his speed will not be a detrimental factor and he has had a clean bill of health throughout his baseball career.
2009 Projection: Wieters is ready to take over full time catching duties in Baltimore, but don't be surprised to see the Orioles send him to AAA Rochester to start the season. Ramon Hernandez is not a formidable roadblock for Wieters and he may be dealt at some point in '09. The O's would be prudent to wait until June to bring Wieters up, as this would ensure that they would not lose a year of free agent eligibility. Whether it is sooner or later, Wieters will be the most remarkable young catcher of this generation.
2009 Update: As predicted, Wieters began the season at AAA Norfolk and is slated to earn his promotion to Baltimore on May 30th. During his stint at Norfolk, the switch-hitting Wieters hit .305 with 5 HR and 30 RBI. With the emergence of Adam Jones and Nolan Reimold and the consistently fine production of Brian Roberts, Nick Markakis, and Aubrey Huff, the Orioles have several talented offensive players to serve as protection for the Georgia Tech alum. This is a team that is poised to make a strong second half showing in the A.L. East and Wieters will be one of the young stars leading the charge.
Key Matt Wieters Baseball Cards
- 2005 Upper Deck Team USA Matt Wieters Auto #/475
- 2007 Donruss Elite Extra Matt Wieters Auto #/799
- 2007 Donruss Elite Extra Edition Matt Wieters Collegiate Patch Auto #/250
H/W: 6-2 185 lb. B/T: R/R DOB: 8/1/85
