Orioles Top Prospects: Whose Stock Is Soaring?

It's been more than a month since I last posted a "Who's Hot and Who's Not" list, but a lot has gone on since then. My best friend got married, I celebrated six months of marital bliss with my special lady, and I got to watch the first Orioles game televised in the local Saint Augustine area this year.

Like I said...a lot.

Sadly, the games have marched on without me, and here we are, nearing the stretch run. Just about 40 games left in the big league season, and less than that for the minor leaguers.

A lot of new talent has been added to the Orioles' system, and one of them has been opening eyes since he arrived, landing himself a spot on this expanded version of the "Who's Hot" list.

Justin Turner, 2B, Norfolk Tides

Turner is quickly establishing himself as a true member of the organization...instead of being known as the guy from the Ramon Hernandez trade. I'm sure he appreciates it.

Turner started the year tremendously slow, hitting .241 in April. Since then, aside from a minor slump in June, Turner has been outstanding. He's been hitting for a high average (.310), showing some pop (27 doubles), and showing he has the plate patience (32:34 BB:K ratio) to possibly take over for Brian Roberts if the need is there.

Over the past two weeks, Turner has been his usual steady self, and has helped the club out in a big way. Since Aug. 10, the 24-year-old second baseman has hit at a .333 clip. He only has two doubles in that period, but he does have four RBI, five runs scored and seven walks against four strikeouts. He also added two stolen bases, giving him eight on the year. Twice he logged a three-hit game and he had another two-hit contest.

Turner clearly doesn't have the speed to compare to Roberts, and his fielding hasn't been as sharp this year at second, but no doubt, he is the most serviceable backup plan should Roberts go down with a serious injury.

He ranked 27th in Baseball America's Top 30 organizational ranking, and he has clearly upped his ranking, possibly inside the top 20, especially with the graduation of players like Wieters, Tillman, Matusz, Bergesen, Hernandez, Berken, and Reimold.

Brandon Pinckney, 3B, Norfolk Tides

Unlike Turner, Pinckney is no where to be found in Baseball America's guide to the best prospects in the minor leagues.

A 27-year-old third baseman, who's logged two appearances in relief, Pinckney probably won't factor into the Orioles long-term plans, but that doesn't mean he didn't have a heck of a two-week period.

Playing all over the field, the 12th round draft pick of the 2003 Indians draft, has kept his bat sharp, hitting .350 since August 4th. He has three doubles, a triple and nine RBI. He's also scored 4 runs, and has a decent walk to strikeout ratio (2:5).

His big night came on August 5th, when he logged four hits and drove in three runs vs Pawtucket.

Like I said, there isn't much demand for a 27-year-old utility infielder who has only played only 65 games over Double-A, but Pinckney has provided much support to a lagging Norfolk offense, and somewhat made up for the fact that the Tides have had to surrender Wieters, Reimold, Montanez, and now Michael Aubrey.

Jake Arrieta, RHP, Norfolk Tides

It's been a pretty tough go for Arrieta at Triple-A, but given the fact that the righty is already challenging hitters in the International League less than two years after being drafted, I'd give him some extra time to get used to it.

And it looks like he has. Arrieta has alternated between looking extraordinary and rather average in his starts for Norfolk. Over the past three, however, he has been more than worth his hefty contract.

In his last three starts, Jake the Snake has thrown 19 innings, allowing only 18 hits and five earned runs. He has 15 strikeouts and only four walks, limiting himself in what has been a dangerous category so far in his pro career.

He also went 2-1 in those three games, giving him his second 10 win season in two years. On the season he has 134.2 innings pitched, tops in the O's system, and he is quickly establishing himself as a legit innings-eater, something not all scouts projected him as.

Arrieta will have plenty of time to get used to the pressure of being the top dog, as the ascension of the Oriole's top three prospects to the majors, leaves Arrieta as the most likely candidate to be named the team's top youngster headed into 2010.

Josh Bell, 3B, Bowie Baysox

Josh Bell was the centerpiece of the Orioles haul for sending George Sherrill to the Dodgers. And he certainly hasn't disappointed since entering the system.

Just 13 games into his career as property of the Baltimore Orioles, Bell has already slugged nearly half as many home runs as he did in 93 games with the Dodgers. Talk about a man digging a change of scenery. Bell now has 15 homers to go with 61 RBI on the season, as well as a .304 batting average, making him a sure bet to rank somewhere in the Top 10 of Orioles prospects heading into 2010.

Like I stated, though, Bell has been at his best since coming over from the NL West. Since August 8th, he is hitting .389 with four home runs and nine RBI. He's also rapped two doubles, walked six times and struck out only seven. As if that weren't impressive enough, he has two three-hit games to his name and two more two-hit efforts.

With Melvin Mora on his way out and Ty Wigginton not exactly starting material, the O's could use some up and coming third basemen. And since Billy Rowell no longer plays there, nor does Brandon Snyder, it appears the only competition Bell has at the hot corner is Brandon Waring, currently playing at High-A Frederick. Fortunately, Bell has one thing going for him. He is two months younger than Waring and playing one level higher.

Third base is his to lose.

Fredy Deza, RHP, Bowie Baysox

Everybody was expecting a massive year from Deza, especially after the Orioles named him to their 40-man roster, something relatively unheard of for a guy who had just six games of Triple-A experience under his belt.

Deza's year didn't quite get off to the start everyone envisioned for him, however. After running into some trouble in five games at Triple-A (5.14 ERA, more walks than strikeouts) the O's sent him back to Double-A, where he has no doubt, been more comfortable.

At 26 years old (27 in December), Deza doesn't have that much time to dilly-dally in AA, but he has been very good as of late, possibly pushing for a late season promotion.

Over his last six appearances, all out of relief, Deza has thrown 9.1 innings, in which he has only allowed three base hits and one walk. He's struck out eight in that period, and has looked downright dominating at times.

Both levels combined, Deza has had one of his more impressive years, cutting down on the walks that have plagued him throughout his career, but he will have to show a lot more upon his ascension to AAA to warrant a further look from the big league club.

Luis Lebron, RHP, Bowie Baysox

Let's talk straight. The Orioles have one of the least impressive bullpens in the majors. Jim Johnson is a keeper, and Kam Mickolio looks like he's here to stay, but beyond those two, no one is a sure-fire lock to be here in two years. Enter Luis Lebron.

Lebron too is getting to that point where he is getting too old for his level of competition. As a 24-year-old at Double-A, he is starting to see some younger guys pass him by on the depth chart, but if he keeps pitching like he did over the past two weeks, he could easily find himself in Baltimore in 2010.

Over six games, Lebron tossed 7.1 scoreless innings, allowing only one base hit. He struck out 11 over those frames and walked none. These numbers shouldn't be surprising for a guy who struck out 90 batters in 57.2 innings back in 2007, but what has been is his uncanny control of his pitches this year.

For the first time since his debut year of 2006, Lebron has more innings pitched than walks. And for the first time ever, the two statistics aren't even close. On the year Lebron has pitched in 45 games at High A Frederick and AA Bowie, tossing 52 innings. He has 76 strikeouts in that period, to only 28 walks.

Take into account that he was also recovering from missing most of last year with an injury, and Lebron's year looks even more impressive. Given his injury, he will be given a little extra leeway, but Lebron needs to build upon his impressive year and force his way into a bullpen spot for 2010.

Pedro Florimon Jr., SS, Frederick Keys

I'll go on record as being the person who said that the O's shouldn't waste a pick on Grant Green in this year's draft. Why? Because they had someone who was the same age taking the field every night for High-A Frederick. That someone is my pick for 2009 breakout player of the year, Pedro Florimon Jr.

Florimon was rated coming into the O's system as already having the range and arm strength to play shortstop in the bigs. The only thing keeping him from being a big league shortstop was his bat. It took three years, but it appears finally his bat is catching up to his fielding acumen.

Don't get me wrong, just because his arm and range is big league ready, doesn't mean Florimon doesn't have lots of work to do. He still needs work on his footwork and he still makes way too many errors, but with some fine-tuning, he could be ready to be the O's shortstop by mid 2011 if he keeps this up.

This past two week period demonstrates what kind of player Florimon could be with the bat. Over his last ten games he has a .394 average, better than that of Josh Bell. He has six doubles (he now has 32 on the season), one triple (five of those) and five RBI (a career high 62). He also scored five times and stole a base, giving him 22 of those on the season.

Most importantly, his stellar week has helped keep his average above .250, something Florimon will have to continue to do if he wants any chance at a big league roster spot.

Robbie Widlansky, OF, Frederick Keys

I know what you're thinking. Rather, what you SHOULD be thinking. Is there any week that this kid isn't on some sort of list? Short answer: NO.

The long answer is that Widlansky has done something that no other player in minor league baseball can lay claim to. He has won a league's player of the week honors THREE times. Not even Brian Matusz or Matt Wieters can touch that.

Make no bones about it, though. Widlansky earns it every week, just like he did again these past two weeks. Over that period, Robbie is batting .375, upping his season average to .365, which would lead the Carolina League by 57 points if he had enough at bats to qualify. He also rapped four doubles (he now has 25) and drove in nine runs, including a four RBI night two days ago.

Even with his shortened season, Widlansky still presents a challenge to Brandon Snyder as the Orioles top hitter of the year. His .365 average is amazing, as are his 49 RBI and 42 runs scored in only 69 games. He is currently slugging .538 and his OPS has hovered around 1.000 all season (currently at .945).

Widlansky (25) is a little old for his level, but so was Nolan Reimold, and look at where he is now. The only question is, as Widlansky moves through the system, where does he figure into an outfield that includes Reimold, Markakis and Adam Jones?

Eddie Gamboa, RHP, Frederick Keys

Gamboa will be 25 in December and only finishing his second year of pro ball, but what he lacks in experience and youth, he more than makes up for in ridiculous productivity.

A year after being the most talented 1-7 pitcher the Appalachian League has ever seen, Gamboa has taken both the South Atlantic League and Carolina League by storm and makes this list more out of respect for his amazing season. Don't get me wrong though, Steady Eddie did have a great run these past two and a half weeks.

Pegged as something of a hybrid long reliever-middle reliever, Gamboa has only pitched in five games this August. In those contests though, he has allowed only two earned runs in 12.1 innings pitched. That's good for 1.46 ERA, something considered high by Eddie's standards. He has 12 strikeouts and five walks over that period.

That number of walks is also something to be considered high. Freakishly so. Over 71.2 innings over two levels this year, Gamboa has only issued 10 walks, meaning that half of those have come over the past two and a half weeks, during which he struck out 12 in 12 innings and had a 1.46 ERA.

On the season, Gamboa (try not to spit Coke all over your monitor) has a 1.26 ERA through 32 games. He has 64 strikeouts and only 10 walks. And oh yeah, he just became a ten game winner. A 10-0 record for a middle reliever. Not bad, Eddie.

Given this fantastic season, and his pretty good 2007, I see no way how Gamboa doesn't make the top 30 prospects list.

Brandon Cooney, RHP, Frederick Keys

Baseball America pegged Cooney as a guy who could make a big impact in 2009, and he has come through on that in a big way, making jokes like "big impact" no longer relevant to his 6'6", 240-pound frame.

Cooney seems to carry his weight much like another recently departed Oriole, George Sherrill. The O's seem to have similar plans with Cooney (not the trading part), and have installed him as a closer, first at Delmarva, where he saved 16 games to go with a 2.89 ERA, and now at Frederick, where he has excelled in his first six games, saving three and pitching with a 1.29 ERA.

Cooney has an excellent fastball and an emerging above-average slider, which has enabled him to dominate hitters in the eighth and ninth innings. He has 43 strikeouts over 50 innings this season and has issued only 18 walks. He also has 19 saves on the season now, good for tops in the O's system.

It appears the O's dig Cooney in this spot, and they will most likely try to grow themselves a homegrown closer. Hopefully, Cooney can be the guy who locks down games for the next decade for the O's, even pushing Jim Johnson back into his set-up role, something I think he's more comfortable with.

Cole McCurry, LHP, Delmarva Shorebirds

Cole McCurry's record may be deceiving. A 4-8 record isn't usually indicative of a pretty good season, but tossing the record out the window makes McCurry look like the best pitcher the Shorebirds have to offer, and one of the best in the South Atlantic League.

McCurry has shuttled back and forth between Aberdeen, Delmarva and the Gulf Coast League for three years now. It appears, however, that only now is he finally to get his career rolling. And it's not a moment too soon for the soon-to-be-24-year-old.

The veteran of the Birds staff, McCurry paces the team in just about every category except wins. He leads the team in strikeouts with 122 in 119 innings and those innings are just two off the team lead. He has only given up 40 earned runs and therefore has the best ERA on the squad at 3.01. He also leads the team in games started and is shooting for a promotion to High A Frederick for the first time.

McCurry isn't that all imposing at 6'2" and 180 pounds, but Baseball America did rank him as the fourth best left-handed starter the Orioles have to offer, so a season like this can only enhance his stock, even if it is at a lower level.

Over his last four starts, McCurry has gone six innings three times and only given up one earned run over 23.1 innings. Toss in 27 strikeouts and 10 walks and I'd say he's in the running for pitcher of the month honors.

Somehow, however, he's only managed to snag one victory during that stretch. Not even during his six-inning, 13-strikeout gem did he get the W, though it may have been the most impressive outing turned in by any Oriole pitcher not named Brian Matusz.

Nathan Moreau, LHP, Delmarva Shorebirds

You gotta crawl before you can walk. That certainly applies to Moreau, who was the Orioles 11th-round pick out of the University of Georgia in last year's draft.

That explains why the almost-23-year-old is pitching for the low A Delmarva Shorebirds instead of with Frederick or Bowie. I mean, come on, not everyone is Brian Matusz. Moreau has more than held his own in his first taste of full-season pro ball though. He now has 18 starts under his belt and has a 5-3 record and an impressive 3.40 ERA to go with it.

He has also held batters to a .239 average over 79.1 innings and has emerged as the number four guy in a pretty impressive rotation that includes Ryan O'Neal (8-5 3.33 ERA), Cole McCurry (4-8 3.01 ERA), and Oliver Drake (8-7 3.73 ERA).

Moreau has an excellent strikeout to walk ratio (85:36) and has been absolutely on his game since the All-Star break (4-1 2.72 ERA). The lefty was mostly a back of the rotation starter in college and will have next year to show he can stand on his own two feet against solid competition.

Tyler Kelly, 3B, Aberdeen Ironbirds

The Orioles took Kelly, a near-.400 hitter his sophomore year of college, with their 13th round pick in this year's draft, making him the first '09 draftee to appear here.

He's not just here because he hit .397 in 2008 though. He's here because since being assigned to short season Aberdeen, Kelly has torn the cover off the ball, racking up hits like he did during his brief career at Cal.

Over the past two weeks, Kelly is hitting a solid .353. He only has two extra base hits (double, triple) but he has had timely hitting, driving in six runs and scoring nine of his own. Even being mired in a 1-16 slump can't keep Kelly down, as he's still managed to get on base (22 walks to 22 strikeouts on the year), steal bases and score runs.

Kelly is a switch hitter who was rewarded for his performance so far this season with a spot on the NY-Penn League American League All-Star team. He went 1-3 with a double and a run scored.

I hear the Orioles happen to be looking for some able third basemen, albeit with more pop than Kelly, but maybe power will be something that comes in time.