Baltimore Orioles Farm System: Breaking Down the Top Prospects at Every Level

The Baltimore Orioles are playing in their first American League Championship Series since 1997. Yeah, it's been a while.

There is intense excitement among O's fans, with dreams of a World Series appearance so close to becoming a reality.

Of course, a lot went into what has become the Orioles fighting for the American League—and hopefully soon, the MLB—crown. Leadership from the executive and coaching positions in the organization. Outside talent being brought in.

But maybe most importantly, young talent that has come up through the team's system.

At one time, guys like Chris Tillman, Jonathan Schoop, Kevin Gausman and Caleb Joseph were just prospects in the O's organization. But they've all become necessary pieces for what has become a playoff run to remember for the Orioles.

And when talking about the present in sports, questions about the future are almost certain to come to mind.

Just as guys have come up from the minors to contribute to the Orioles this season, young players may come up from the minors to contribute to the team next season. A steady flow of quality young talent from the minors to the majors is a huge key to consistent success.

Having said that, it'll be interesting to see who could be considered the top pitching and hitting prospect at each level of the O's minor league system. Any one of the following players could become a major piece to the O's success, be it the 2015 season or even beyond that.

Let's see who tops the list on each side of the ball for the O's.

Single-A

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

Pitcher: Hunter Harvey

Right-hander Hunter Harvey (pictured, right) was the O's first-round draft choice in the summer of 2013. The 2014 season was his first full season of professional ball, and Harvey performed very well, posting an ERA of 3.18 in 87.2 innings of work. His .209 BAA and 106 strikeouts are both extraordinary numbers.

Unfortunately, Harvey had to be shut down for the season at the end of July due to a strained flexor mass, but an MRI revealed no ligament damage, meaning it appears as though Harvey was able to avoid a major injury that would have him out for at least a year. If all goes well, Harvey will look to continue improving for the O's as soon as the 2015 season rolls around and could find himself in Double-A ball pretty quickly.

Position Player: Chance Sisco

Boy, did catcher Chance Sisco have some kind of season. Also a 2013 draft selection, Sisco posted a beautiful .340 batting average that was accompanied by a .406 OBP. He also tallied 27 doubles, five homers and 63 RBI in 426 at-bats.

With offense like that, Sisco could find himself moving up in a hurry. Of course, he'll have to prove that he can duplicate good years at the plate such as this most recent one, but offense like that would certainly be game-changing in the big leagues. Sisco will be interesting to watch progress.

Double-A

Steve Cannon/Associated Press

Pitcher: Dylan Bundy

It should come as no surprise that Dylan Bundy is the top-ranking prospect for the O's at the Double-A level. The hard-throwing righty was the O's first-round draft choice in 2011 and has done nothing but dominate at the minor league level.

Well, almost nothing but dominate. Bundy did require Tommy John surgery in 2013 and made his comeback to baseball this past summer. He posted a 3.27 ERA in 41.1 innings of work this year and was shut down in August after he tweaked a muscle while running. The team figured he had done enough work for the season and wanted to make sure his injury didn't get worse, so he'll look to return strong in 2015.

Position Player: Mike Yastrzemski

Quite possibly the biggest surprise in the minor league system for the Birds this season, the team knew that the grandson of Carl Yastrzemski had talent when they drafted him in 2013 but didn't expect anything like the season he posted this year.

It might be easier to just simply write what Mike Yastrzemski didn't do well. In a 2014 season that included stops in Delmarva, Frederick, and Bowie, Yastrzemski had 535 at-bats while playing all three outfield positions. The numbers speak for themselves: .288 BA, .346 OBP, 34 doubles, 16 triples, 14 home runs, 75 RBI and 18 stolen bases.

The left-handed batter literally did it all. And if he keeps playing like that, there will be a place for him in the big leagues very, very soon.

Triple-A

USA TODAY Sports

Pitcher: Mike Wright

Granted, righty Mike Wright earns this nod mostly because of his status entering the 2014 season, and a little bit because the O's Triple-A level isn't exactly bursting at the seams with young pitching talent, but Wright certainly has talent.

After having won the O's minor league pitcher of the year award for 2013 (pitching almost exclusively at Double-A), big things were expected of Wright at the Triple-A level this season with the idea that he may be able to contribute to the parent club by the time rosters expanded in September.

However, Wright mostly disappointed as he had a tough time keeping his ERA below 6.00 for much of the season. He was able to turn it around toward the end of the year, though, as he gave up three earned runs or less in nine of his final 10 starts and came within one out of pitching a no-hitter in his second-to-last start of the season.

He will definitely need to improve upon his 5-11 record and 4.61 ERA in 2015 if he wants to hold on to his prospect status and hope for a call-up during the season. If the way he pitched at the end of the season this year is any indication, he'll be able to do just that.

Position Player: Dariel Alvarez

Getting his first taste of professional baseball action in 2013, outfielder Dariel Alvarez posted some very good offensive numbers during the 2014 season.

Splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A, Alvarez posted a .306 BA and .330 OBP in 135 games. While his average and OBP stayed about the same between the two levels, his power numbers did take a plunge upon a promotion to Triple-A.

In 359 Double-A at-bats, Alvarez knocked 14 homers and 68 RBI compared to one homer and 19 RBI in 173 at-bats at the Triple-A level. But his doubles numbers were even better at Triple-A, as he notched 17 doubles there in comparison to 20 at the Double-A level in less than half the at-bats.

It's clear that Alvarez still needs a little work (only 21 walks on the season), but his talent to hit a baseball is obviously there. I would expect to see him in an Orioles uniform some time next summer.