1. Orioles Continue to Explore Foreign Market, Sign Japanese Pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada

    The Orioles made their first splash into the Asian market back in 2009, when they signed right-hander Koji Uehara...

    Zachary Ball Written by Zachary Ball about over 1 year ago 1,089 reads 9 comments

  2. D-Backs Do It Right, Deal Top Prospect Jarrod Parker for Veteran Trevor Cahill

    Honestly, nobody outside of the state of Arizona expected the Diamondbacks to win more games than they lost in 2011, much less compete for a division title...

    Zachary Ball Written by Zachary Ball about over 1 year ago 289 reads 2 comments

  3. Is Ryan Flaherty the Baltimore Orioles New Third Baseman?

    Usually the Rule 5 Draft isn't the best place to pick up big-league-ready talent, but for the Baltimore Orioles , it seems like just the right time and place to find a new third baseman...

    Zachary Ball Written by Zachary Ball about over 1 year ago 5,307 reads 1 comments

  4. 25 Jaw-Dropping Minor League Prospects Closest to "Can't-Miss" Status

    Attaining "can't-miss" prospect status is incredibly difficult. Derek Jeter didn't have it, nor did Albert Pujols, although it came (and went) pretty easily to failed big-leaguers Matt Antonelli, Sean Burroughs and Brien Taylor...

    Zachary Ball Written by Zachary Ball about over 1 year ago 2,159 reads 0 comments

  5. MLB Draft 2012: An Early Look at the Top 15 High School Prospects

    The 2012 draft class doesn't possess nearly as much elite talent as its predecessor. The high school crop, specifically, pales in comparison to previous classes that produced such ...

    Zachary Ball Written by Zachary Ball about over 1 year ago 2,080 reads 1 comments

  6. 20 Prospects That Teams Will Regret Not Protecting in Rule V Draft

    While it may not have the sex appeal of the First Year Player Draft (also known as the Rule IV), the Rule V draft has become an important part of the Major League Baseball offseason...

    Zachary Ball Written by Zachary Ball about over 1 year ago 4,493 reads 11 comments

  7. NCAA Football: The Unsung Heroes from the 2011 Season

    Andrew Luck, Trent Richardson and RGIII get all the attention, and while they'll likely get the big NFL paychecks, they're in no way, shape or form the top statistical performers of the 2011 college football season...

    Zachary Ball Written by Zachary Ball about over 1 year ago 1,032 reads 2 comments

  8. MLB Power Rankings: Rating Each Major League Team's Farm System

    Having the top farm system in baseball in no way guarantees success. Just ask the Royals, Pirates and Nationals, each of whom have had the top-ranked systems in past years but have failed to break free of their losing ways...

    Zachary Ball Written by Zachary Ball about over 1 year ago 3,515 reads 8 comments

  9. Dylan Bundy, Manny Machado and the Top 10 Baltimore Orioles Prospects

    No doubt about it, the Orioles have one of the worst farm systems in baseball. Aside from two very talented prospects at the top, the system is lacking in just about every way imaginable...

    Zachary Ball Written by Zachary Ball about over 1 year ago 1,756 reads 1 comments

  10. 2012 MLB Mock Draft: Updated Top 15 with the Final MLB Standings

    There's no way that the draft class of 2012 will even come close to meeting the standard set forth by the two classes that preceeded it. There's no Anthony Rendon, Gerrit Cole or Bubba Starling...

    Zachary Ball Written by Zachary Ball about over 1 year ago 10,727 reads 1 comments

  11. Every MLB Team's Best Minor League Pitching Prospect

    Great pitching beats great hitting every time. Just ask the highly offensive Texas Rangers and they'll tell you that's most certainly the case...

    Zachary Ball Written by Zachary Ball about over 1 year ago 3,432 reads 1 comments

  12. Every MLB Team's Most Irreplaceable “Can't-Miss” Prospect

    In baseball, just as in any other sport, there is only a handful of true, legitimate "stars." For every middle-of-the-lineup slugger like Alex Rodriguez (does he still qualify?) ...

    Zachary Ball Written by Zachary Ball about over 1 year ago 7,593 reads 6 comments

  13. Mike Trout, Bryce Harper and the Top 50 Prospects in Baseball

    2011 was a sensational year for MLB prospects. The class of 2011 made many lasting memories, whether it was Ryan Lavarnway's mind-blowing performance in the final week of the season ...

    Zachary Ball Written by Zachary Ball about over 1 year ago 8,012 reads 36 comments

  14. MLB Trade Rumors: Every Team's Top Pitching Prospect Who Could Be Moved

    Without fail, several top-notch pitching prospects will be on the move this offseason. With the free-agency market being what it is (aka severely lacking, especially in terms of starting ...

    Zachary Ball Written by Zachary Ball about over 1 year ago 1,537 reads 2 comments

  15. The Great Chicago Hire: Why Theo Epstein to the Cubs Is a Huge Mistake

    By now just about everyone has heard the word, the official, final, resolute word that Theo Epstein has joined the Chicago Cubs , one of the most prestigious, albeit haunted franchises in sports...

    Zachary Ball Written by Zachary Ball about over 1 year ago 1,758 reads 20 comments

  16. MLB Trade Rumors: 15 Top Prospects Who Are Untouchable This Winter

    Now that the Brewers have joined the 27 other teams who will be watching the World Series from the comfort of their living rooms, the real hard work begins...

    Zachary Ball Written by Zachary Ball about over 1 year ago 3,457 reads 5 comments

  17. Power Ranking the Baltimore Orioles General Manager Candidates

    Let me begin this slideshow with a disclaimer. Most, if not all, of these guys are way too smart to subject themselves to the kind of torture they would likely endure as the general manager of the Baltimore Orioles ...

    Zachary Ball Written by Zachary Ball about over 1 year ago 1,511 reads 0 comments

  18. In Need of Speed? Every Team's Hardest Throwing Prospect

    The majority of the top pitchers in baseball have dominant fastballs. Soon-to-be American League Cy Young winner Justin Verlander flashes a wicked 95-97 mph fastball, while two-time N...

    Zachary Ball Written by Zachary Ball about over 1 year ago 28 reads 1 comments

  19. The Only Way to Save the Orioles Is with a Theo Epstein/Prince Fielder Pairing

    Before Theo Epstein took over in Boston, the Red Sox hadn't won a World Series in 85 years. He proceeded to orchestrate the building of a dominating big-league club and a productive farm system that brought home two championships in four seasons...

    Zachary Ball Written by Zachary Ball about over 1 year ago 1,191 reads 7 comments

  20. MLB Trade Rumors: 9 Top Prospects Who Could Be Dealt This Winter

    It's always a crap-shoot trying to determine which prospects might become trade bait during baseball's offseason...

    Zachary Ball Written by Zachary Ball about over 1 year ago 974 reads 0 comments

  21. Matt Moore and the Top Single-Game Performances by a Playoff Rookie Since 1990

    In just his second career start, Tampa Bay's Matt Moore shut down, for seven innings, arguably the most impressive offensive team in the majors this year...

    Zachary Ball Written by Zachary Ball about over 1 year ago 607 reads 3 comments

  22. Every MLB Team's Worst-Performing "Stud" Prospect This Year

    For every top prospect who had a great year, the Bryce Harpers, Mike Trouts and Matt Moores of the world, there were even more players who came into the season with grand expectations only to suffer gigantic letdowns...

    Zachary Ball Written by Zachary Ball about over 1 year ago 3,539 reads 2 comments

  23. MLB Power Rankings: Each Team's Best Performing Prospect of the Year

    It was a great year for baseball prospects. Freddie Freeman, Brandon Beachy, Michael Pineda and Mark Trumbo all put together amazing campaigns from start to finish, while Toronto's ...

    Zachary Ball Written by Zachary Ball about almost 2 years ago 22,600 reads 25 comments

  24. Baltimore Orioles Top Prospects: Who Was Hot and Who Was Not, 2011 Season

    The Orioles began the season with so much promise. Not only with their improved, more veteran big-league roster, but also in terms of their farm system...

    Zachary Ball Written by Zachary Ball about almost 2 years ago 1,535 reads 2 comments

  25. MLB Power Rankings: Every Team's Most Overrated Newly-Signed Draftee

    For proof of an overrated MLB draft prospect, you can look no further than Matt Hobgood, the Orioles' first-round selection (and fifth overall) from the 2009 draft...

    Zachary Ball Written by Zachary Ball about almost 2 years ago 1,336 reads 0 comments