BA's Baltimore Orioles Top 10 Prospects List

[Jaypers]

Looks as though I'd better unload all my Erbe's, considering where they project him.

Kinda surprised Waring didn't make it.


TOP TEN
PROSPECTS
1. Brian Matusz, lhp
2. Josh Bell, 3b
3. Zach Britton, lhp
4. Jake Arrieta, rhp
5. Matt Hobgood, rhp
6. Brandon Snyder, 1b
7. Brandon Erbe, rhp
8. Kam Mickolio, rhp
9. Mychal Givens, ss
10. Caleb Joseph, c

BEST
TOOLS
Best Hitter for Average Brandon Snyder
Best Power Hitter Brandon Waring
Best Strike-Zone Discipline Matt Angle
Fastest Baserunner Xavier Avery
Best Athlete Mychal Givens
Best Fastball Kam Micklio
Best Curveball Brian Matusz
Best Slider Jake Arrieta
Best Changeup Brian Matusz
Best Control Brian Matusz
Best Defensive Catcher Caleb Joseph
Best Defensive Infielder Blake Davis
Best Infield Arm Mychal Givens
Best Defensive Outfielder Matt Angle
Best Outfield Arm Billy Rowell

PROJECTED 2013
LINEUP
Catcher Matt Wieters
First Base Brandon Snyder
Second Base Brian Roberts
Third Base Josh Bell
Shortstop Mychal Givens
Left Field Nolan Reimold
Center Field Adam Jones
Right Field Nick Markakis
Designated Hitter Brandon Waring
No. 1 Starter Chris Tillman
No. 2 Starter Brian Matusz
No. 3 Starter Zach Britton
No. 4 Starter Jake Arrieta
No. 5 Starter Matt Hobgood
Closer Brandon Erbe

 

[soccerman034]

Loving the aggressive grade of Britton over Arrieta. Surprised to see Bell at #2.

 

[js0000001]

I hope Erbe has a good year

"Smok'in Erbe"

 

[HoustonTeams4Me]

Wow, they placed Tillman as the #1 starter over Matusz (though I realize these are just for fun)? Hmm, it's still pretty interesting. :|

 

[carrsallstars]

I don't know much about Hobgood, but is having him listed as the #5 starter speak to his projected talent or the talent of those projected above him (as the O's have some highly touted P's right now)? ALso, I'm a Snyder fan but again, they have him as the starting 1B but he's not as good as the #5 starter in Hobgood. I know Hobgood was taken 5th overall, and is a beast but his #'s were not too stellar in his pro debut (not that this means a lot). But BA typically goes head over heels for talent/tools/projection over anything else.

 

[pigskincardboard]

It speaks to the talent above him. he's not in the same class as the other big boys from that highschool class, but he's close enough.

I think the Orioles will have 3 of the 5 (or 6) by 2013..

There's a craptonne of value in there, and I really can't see them holding onto everyone. Unless someone falters, I wouldn't be surprised to see one of them gone by about this point next year.

 

[jlecates]

I don't know much about Hobgood, but is having him listed as the #5 starter speak to his projected talent or the talent of those projected above him (as the O's have some highly touted P's right now)? ALso, I'm a Snyder fan but again, they have him as the starting 1B but he's not as good as the #5 starter in Hobgood. I know Hobgood was taken 5th overall, and is a beast but his #'s were not too stellar in his pro debut (not that this means a lot). But BA typically goes head over heels for talent/tools/projection over anything else.

I think it's important to reiterate that Hobgood was an over-draft. Not that he doesn't have some projection, but he's maxed out physically with command issues. I think fans are incorrectly assessing his talent based on the fact that he went fifth overall, but he was viewed before the draft as going at the back end of the first round or the supplemental round based on his talent.

 

[Vagrant]

A bit disappointed that Brandon Waring didn't make it in. I think he has recovered well from his falling out in the Reds organization. His power will get him to the show quickly if he can keep it strong through AA ball.

 

[pigskincardboard]

I don't know much about Hobgood, but is having him listed as the #5 starter speak to his projected talent or the talent of those projected above him (as the O's have some highly touted P's right now)? ALso, I'm a Snyder fan but again, they have him as the starting 1B but he's not as good as the #5 starter in Hobgood. I know Hobgood was taken 5th overall, and is a beast but his #'s were not too stellar in his pro debut (not that this means a lot). But BA typically goes head over heels for talent/tools/projection over anything else.

I think it's important to reiterate that Hobgood was an over-draft. Not that he doesn't have some projection, but he's maxed out physically with command issues. I think fans are incorrectly assessing his talent based on the fact that he went fifth overall, but he was viewed before the draft as going at the back end of the first round or the supplemental round based on his talent.

Hobgood was an overdraft, sure. But he's definitely got make-up to be a very good pitcher. When you think about it, it's always that one pitch that'll make or break a player like Hobgood.

I see no reason why he can't develop a solid three-pitch offering and stick as an above average to good starter. Unfortunately, he could just as easily be bullpen material.

 

[markakis8]

I hate to agree with you...but I do. I have never liked the Hobgood draft pick and signing. I was more excited about Givens.

I don't know much about Hobgood, but is having him listed as the #5 starter speak to his projected talent or the talent of those projected above him (as the O's have some highly touted P's right now)? ALso, I'm a Snyder fan but again, they have him as the starting 1B but he's not as good as the #5 starter in Hobgood. I know Hobgood was taken 5th overall, and is a beast but his #'s were not too stellar in his pro debut (not that this means a lot). But BA typically goes head over heels for talent/tools/projection over anything else.

I think it's important to reiterate that Hobgood was an over-draft. Not that he doesn't have some projection, but he's maxed out physically with command issues. I think fans are incorrectly assessing his talent based on the fact that he went fifth overall, but he was viewed before the draft as going at the back end of the first round or the supplemental round based on his talent.

 

[markakis8]

I'd like to add that the fact that the #5 pick overall last year is our #5 prospect overall proves how vast our farm system is.

I do hope we draft a hefty bat though in 2010.

 

[Russ S.]

I'd like to add that the fact that the #5 pick overall last year is our #5 prospect overall proves how vast our farm system is.

I do hope we draft a hefty bat though in 2010.

Hopefully after our first pick of Matt Harvey....

 

[carrsallstars]

I'd like to add that the fact that the #5 pick overall last year is our #5 prospect overall proves how vast our farm system is.

I do hope we draft a hefty bat though in 2010.

What does it say about the O's farm system that Billy Rowell was taken 9th overall in the 2006 draft and he's not in the top 10 (or in the majors)?

 

[bigredmachine]

I have given up on Billy Rowell.

 

[excel_B]

I have given up on Billy Rowell.

Me too... I think I have 3 Rowell Gold Refractors and some AFLAC refractors as well...

 

[bigredmachine]

I have given up on Billy Rowell.

Me too... I think I have 3 Rowell Gold Refractors and some AFLAC refractors as well...

I feel for you. At this price point you might as well hold on to them. Go big or go broke.

 

[carrsallstars]

Rowell seems like one of those guys that might do well after a change of scenery or something...the O's might still be able to get a little bit of value for him as an add in on a deal given his age... and at this point with his cards I'd think you have no choice but to hold them.

 

[ballerskrip]

Some of the Rowell thoughts on MLB.Com after the draft in 2006

BALTIMORE -- The Orioles didn't look for any surprises in the first round of the First-Year Player Draft on Tuesday, opting for power-hitting prep infielder Billy Rowell, a player who has been linked to them in nearly every publication over the last few weeks. Rowell, who played shortstop in high school, is expected to play third base in the pro ranks.
"We really liked him. He was a targeted guy," said Mike Flanagan, Baltimore's executive vice president of baseball operations. "Some of the older pitchers -- a couple of the college pitchers -- we weren't exactly sure where they were going to fall. Rowell was always a guy, that if he was going to be there, we were going to take him."

Joe Jordan, Baltimore's scouting director, nearly offered up a juicy iconic comparison. Jordan seemed to be leaning toward a Cal Ripken comment before backing off, adding, "I don't want to answer that right now, until I get him signed."

"We could send him out as a shortstop, but if we feel like he's going to end up long-term at third base, we may as well get him going there," he said, getting back to Rowell. "He's a hitter first. This is a kid with tremendous raw power, but he's a hitter first.

"That's what we try to look for, because they're going to get to their power if they can hit."

Rowell is the first high-school infielder to be taken with Baltimore's first-round pick since 1978, when the Orioles selected Robert Bruce. This time, they made their pick despite unusually strong depth in the big-league infield. Shortstop Miguel Tejada has three more years on his contract, and third baseman Melvin Mora just signed a three-year extension.

That's completely consistent with the organization's philosophy. The Orioles insisted before the draft that they'd go for the highest-rated player on their draft board, regardless of position.

"We've got some infielders there," said Baltimore manager Sam Perlozzo. "They know what they're doing. There comes a point in time when, no matter who's available or what you're needing, sometimes you've got to take the best player out there."

That theory was nearly tested when Andrew Miller, the consensus top pick in the draft, slid to Detroit at No. 6. Jordan said the O's had Miller rated high, but he also said Baltimore got the player it wanted.

"We had nine names at the top of our board, and they came off -- not necessarily in the order we had them, but the same nine names. That's where he fit," Jordan said. "He had a lot of interest in the Orioles, and ability-wise, we've been on him all year. It's been a crazy, crazy first round, because we didn't know who was going [first] until an hour ago, or maybe 30 minutes ago.

"We'd been on him all along -- ever since last June."

Like nearly every other scout who has seen Rowell, Jordan said the infielder has legitimate middle-of-the-lineup power. Even before his senior year had started, the left-handed hitter set the school record at Bishop Eustace Prep for career home runs, and he came back to bat .557 with six home runs and a .660 on-base percentage.



Complete coverage >Rowell wasn't available for comment Tuesday because he was attending his graduation ceremony, but plenty of people in the organization spoke up on his behalf.

"It's easy power. It's aggressive power," said Flanagan. "He's a good-sized man already -- 6-foot-5, 205 [pounds] -- with a short swing. ... He has a lot working for him at an early age. I don't think he turns 18 until September. I'd like to get him in the system and get him going. We think a projection of two or three years and he'll be ready."

"I saw our No. 1 pick in a workout," added Perlozzo. "Big kid, left-handed hitter, good power. Seventeen years old and can reach the seats easily. Seems like a pretty good player."

 

[carrsallstars]

I thought I recalled Rowell being compared to Bonds...but then I didn't want to exaggerate. After reading your draft day stuff I googled it and sure enough...:
Scouting book.com said:
"After a bumpy ride through A ball in 2007, this pride of New Jersey hit .248/.315/.368 in a near-full season at high-A Fremont in 2008 while adding a remarkable amount of muscle to his frame. Scouts are all over the board on this one: some describe the next Barry Bonds, others caution that he may be the next... Barry Bonds. Still, if he keeps moving up the system, the Orioles can't help but give him a shot in the near future... and hopefully he can stick."