[情報] Baltimore Orioles Top 5 (Lincoln)
http://projectprospect.com/article/2009/04/15/baltimore-orioles-top-5
Baltimore Orioles Top 5
by Lincoln Hamilton / April 15, 2009
1. Matt Wieters - Wieters dueled David Price for the No. 1 spot in the 2007
draft, now the two are No. 1 and 2 atop every prospect ranking. When
evaluating prospects you always have to consider downside, red flags that are
present in a player's profile. Wieters does not have a red flag. He plays an
important position, has great power (.260 IsoP in Double-A, 2008) and great
patience (15+% walk rate at every level he's played), he's been crazy
productive (.442 wOBA in 2008). He's a strong defender with great arm
strength. In May 2007 I wrote this about Wieters on my old site, "Wieters is
currently hitting .355/.480/.606 for the Jackets with 56 walks to only 39
K's. His bat control and plate discipline are almost unprecedented for a
6'5'' catcher with power...When you think of Wieters think Mike Piazza who
can throw." Comparing any college player to a Hall-of-Famer should be taken
with a grain of salt, but I think that comp is as accurate as ever. Wieters
will be playing everyday for the Orioles in about a month, and he may be the
best catcher - or player - in the league already.
2. Brian Matusz - The year after grabbing the draft's top position player,
the Orioles selected the top pitcher. Matusz dominated for three years at the
University of San Diego, dazzling hitters with a deep assortment of offspeed
pitches. Control has always been a strength of Matusz, as he issued just 22
free passes in 105 innings last year (6.4%). Don't be fooled into thinking
he's just a guy who has to nibble with questionable stuff. Matusz struck out
40.8% of hitters he faced last year, using a fastball that hits 93-94 mph. He
begins the year in High-A ball and should move quickly. He could be the
Orioles' opening day starter by 2011.
3. Chris Tillman - Part of the insane haul the Birds got for Eric Bedard,
Tillman showed very well for a 20-year-old in Double-A last year (3.46 FIP,
26.6%K). Tillman has a prototypical pitcher's frame, standing 6-foot-5 and
weighing 195 pounds. Tillman works primarily off a fastball, curveball combo,
both of which are at least above-average pitches. He needs to improve his
command (he's walked over 10% of hitters in each of his last two stops) but
given his age and solid strikeout ability Tillman looks like a solid bet to
be a No. 3 or 4 starter with upside to be much more.
4. Brandon Erbe - Though it seems like Erbe has been around forever, he just
turned 21 this past December. A third round pick in 2005, Erbe vaulted
himself onto the prospect map with a Rookie League showing that would make
Stephen Strasburg jealous (55.2% K, 87 TBF). The scouting reports match the
numbers as Erbe works with a mid-90's fastball and devastating slider. If you
only wanted to focus on his upside, Erbe might be a top 10 overall prospect.
Unfortunately, control has been a problem for Erbe as he racks up the walks
and leaves too many pitches up in the zone (20 HR allowed last year).
Overall, last season was a step in the right direction, as Erbe decreased his
walk rate (from 11.4% to 8.0%) while increasing his strikeout rate 4.5% to
24.9%. The 2008 season also marked his career high in innings pitched. If he
can build on the improvement he showed in 2008, Erbe could be in Baltimore
soon - even if his future is just as a late inning reliever.
5. Nolan Reimold - Injuries have set back a promising career, but Reimold was
healthy in 2008 and looked every bit a future big league stud. Reimold walked
10.8% of the time last year while striking out just 14.0% and jacking 25
bombs in a pitcher's park. Reimold's power ranks with the best in the game
and he's shown consistently high walk rates in the minors. A good athlete
with a strong arm, Reimold may be locked into a corner outfield spot due to a
lack of speed but, he should be at least average in right field. Age is the
only thing that gives one pause when looking at Reimold's numbers - he's
already 25 years old. But if he can stay healthy he could be an Adam Dunn
type power threat and force in the Orioles' lineup very soon.
HM: Jake Arrieta.
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