Welcome to the second installment of the official MoxyBoy's Orioles' top 30 prospects list. While these guys aren't as much of a sure thing as the top 10 prospects, many of them could be contributors to the organization's next competitive team. If the names seem familiar, it's because quite a few of them are prospects received in last July's fire sale. Let's get into it.
#11 LHP Keegan Akin
Keegan Akin's season is a bit of an enigma. He has all the stuff to be a major league starter, possessing a fastball that touches 95, an above average slider, and an about average change-up. The lefty can rack up the strikeouts as well, punching out 89 batters in 75.0 innings pitched. His problem is with command, as he's walked 40 batters and has a WHIP of 1.53 to go along with a somewhat inflated ERA of 4.44. While I'm disappointed with Akin's up and down 2019, he's had consistent minor league success and will almost certainty carve himself a role in a big league bullpen if starting doesn't work out. As a result his high floor puts him at number 11 on this list. If he can improve his command, he could get some starts in August or September, especially if Andrew Cashner or Dylan Bundy are dealt.
#12 LHP Drew Rom
Rom's season at Delmarva has been flat out dominant. In 16 games (9 starts) he has a 1.54 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. The lefty features a fastball that sits in the low 90's, a slider that's above average, and a solid splitter. Rom is only 19 and has room to grow and add velocity, so I expect the organization to slow play him, possibly keeping him at Low-A all season. But if Rom adds velocity, he could move even further up this list. Right now his ceiling is tough to determine, but he has what it takes to be a big league starter and his potential is tantalizing.
#13 SS Adam Hall
Behind Gunnar Henderson, Hall is the best infield prospect in the Orioles' system by far. While he's never going to hit for much power, he has good bat speed and makes consistent contact, spraying the ball all over the field. With plus speed and the ability to get on base, Hall is a threat on the basepaths as well. Defensively, he is viewed by scouts as above average at shortstop with a strong arm. His ceiling is a solid regular who could bat leadoff with his ability to put the ball in play and get on base. At Delmarva, he's hitting .309/.389/.410.
#14 RHP Blaine Knight
Knight has had an interesting 2019 season. In five starts in Delmarva he posted a 0.67 ERA and 0.56 WHIP, before being promoted to Frederick, where he's struggled mightily posting a 6.39 ERA. The righty's statline at high-A is misleading, however. He has an above average fastball that can touch 98 MPH to go along with a fringe plus slider, and a solid change up as well as a get-me-over curveball. At 6'3" and 165 pounds, Knight has some room to put on weight and could more consistently hit 98 as he gets stronger. The main question is durability, especially with his lanky frame. If he can't make it through a big league season in the rotation, he surely has a spot as a late inning reliever. Right now, he needs to focus on getting hitters out at High-A, however.
#15 RHP Hunter Harvey
After losing two seasons in a row to injury, Harvey has found a home in the bullpen and reemerged as one of the Orioles' more interesting young arms. The 24 year old righty has two plus pitches with a fastball that sits at about 95 MPH and a hammer of a curveball. In relief appearances, Harvey's fastball has hit 99 MPH and even 100 MPH on the radar gun. Recently promoted to AAA Norfolk, he's yet to allow a run in his first three appearances. Harvey is now the closer of the future, and because he needs to be protected from the Rule 5 Draft this offseason, it's likely he gets an audition to help the Orioles' beleaguered bullpen in the 2nd half.
#16 RHP Brenan Hanifee
Like his rotation mate Blaine Knight, Hanifee has struggled in his first taste of High-A competition, posting an ERA approaching 5.00. While none of the tall righty's pitches are plus, they all play up due to above average/plus command. His fastball touches 95 with heavy sink and has been described as a bowling ball. An average slider and average change up round out Hanifee's arsenal but both play well off his sinking fastball. If I had to guess, Hanifee will likely have the most success as a reliever in the Jim Johnson mold.
#17 LHP Bruce Zimmerman
Lefty Bruce Zimmerman is likely to Orioles last hope to get any longterm value from the Kevin Gausman trade. Not even listed as a top 30 prospect by many outlets prior to the season, Zimmerman has been a revelation for the Orioles, posting an ERA of 2.52 with 88 strikeouts in 85.2 innings pitched. Zimmerman added velocity to his fastball in the offseason and it's become an average pitch to go along with a solid slider and changeup. While the hope is that he becomes another John Means, the lefty's ceiling is likely a backend starter but he probably has a future in the bullpen in the Paul Fry mold if he doesn't reach it.
#18 2B/3B Rylan Bannon
One of the more intriguing secondary pieces of the Manny Machado trade, Bannon is a player to keep an eye on. The undersized infielder has above average raw power and to go along with solid bat speed. He has a decent batting eye as well and has shown the ability to take a walk but his pull first batting profile does lead to some strikeouts. It does seem that Bannon has sacrificed some power this season to cut down on strikeouts and it has cost him as he's slugging just .393 in 2019. Overall he's batting .264/.353/.394 and has some work to do to refine his offensive approach. While he's likely a bat first utility infielder in the MLB, the tools are there to be a starting 2nd baseman. For the Orioles, who have few middle infield prospects in the upper minors, Bannon is a guy to really try to develop.
#19 RHP Zach Pop
I'm a big Zach Pop fan and it was unfortunate that he needed Tommy John Surgery earlier in the year. At his best, the righty has a plus sinker that can touch 99 that he pairs with a a hard slider. Last year, he got ground balls more than 65 percent of the time while recording almost a strikeout per inning. If he was healthy, he'd likely be much higher on the list. Assuming he returns to form after injury, he could be the closer of the next competitive Orioles team.
#20 RHP Dillon Tate
It seems the Dillon Tate as a starter experiment is over and he's seemingly found a home as a reliever for AA Bowie. In his last 10 appearances he has a 2.60 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 10.2 innings. His fastball has increased in velocity out of the pen and can touch the mid 90's to go along with a above average slider and changeup. With Cody Carroll injured and lefty Josh Rogers injured and ineffective, Tate has the chance to be something of value from the Zack Britton trade. Like Harvey, he needs to be added to the 40 man roster in the offseason to be protected from the Rule 5 draft. Look for him to get an audition in the Orioles pen in August or September.
Comments