codeorama
June-18th-2003, 04:50 PM
Orioles organization report
By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com
Erik Bedard will miss all of 2003 due to Tommy John surgery. Still, he's Baltimore's best pitching prospect. (J.Pat Carter/AP)
The future success of every Major League team lies in its minor league system. With that in mind, MLB.com takes a top-to-bottom look at all 30 organizations, from top prospects to recent draft picks.
The Baltimore Orioles have not reaped much from their farm system over the past several years. But after an offseason of complete overhaul, including the ending of a 42-year relationship with Rochester, there might be hope for the future.
Starting at the top with new vice presidents of operations Jim Beattie and Mike Flanagan, continuing to new farm director Doc Rodgers on down to a new slew of minor-league managers and coaches, a once-strong player development system will be reorganized to get the Orioles headed back in the right direction.
2002 Organizational record: 332-434, .433
2002 Organizational Leaders
Avg.: Howie Clark, Rochester, .309
Home runs: Keith Reed, Bowie, 15
RBIs: Keith Reed, Bowie, 84
Stolen bases: Napolean Calzado, 42
Wins: John Stephens, Rochester, 11
ERA: Stephens, Rochester, 3.03
Strikeouts: Jancy Andrade, 152
Saves Rommie Lewis, Delmarva, 25
Five Faves
Five prospects whose names you should know:
Erik Bedard, LHP
Bedard was well on his way toward moving to a 2003 rotation spot with the O's last year when he blew out his arm after 69 Double-A innings. He had Tommy John surgery in September and will miss all of 2003. Still, he's Baltimore's best pitching prospect and if his rehab goes well, he could resurface in 2004 and re-start his climb to the bigs.
Darnell McDonald, OF
The Orioles have been waiting for McDonald's baseball know-how to catch up with his athleticsm ever since drafting him in 1997. Finally, things seemed to click last year as the idea of better plate discipline sunk in. There's a glut of outfielders at the big-league level, and McDonald could probably use a little more time at Triple-A. But if a hole opens up and McDonald picks up where he left off last season, he could be in Baltimore sometime this year.
Rommie Lewis, LHP
The O's are very excited about Lewis, and it's not just because he's a 6-6 lefty. As the closer for Delmarva in the South Atlantic League, the 2001 fourth-round draft pick was an All-Star, holding hitters to a .198 average and striking out 77 in 71 innings. He'll probably move up to Frederick in the Carolina League and could move into a starting role. The Orioles think Lewis has a very high ceiling.
Doug Gredvig, 1B
The Orioles are hoping that Gredvig's power continues to develop as it has since he's been in the organization. Last year, in a full season with Double-A Bowie, he hit 14 homers and drove in 80 runs. Barring an injury or a bad spring, Gredvig should get the chance to move his power stick up to Triple-A in 2003.
Eli Whiteside, C
Taken in the sixth round of the 2001 draft, Whiteside was selected initially because of his defense, but his offensive production has been a nice surprise for the Orioles. In just his second full pro season, he'll head to Double-A Bowie. Baltimore thinks he has the chance to be an "every day guy" at the Major League level. That could happen as soon as 2004.
Tripper Johnson, 3B
Since Bedard is hurt, here's a bonus pick. Johnson, a supplemental first-round pick in 2000, bounced back last year after a sub-par 2001. His 11 homers and 19 steals last year prove he can do a little bit of everything. A high school teammate of Rommie Lewis, Johnson will probably move with Lewis to Frederick in High A-ball.
Others to watch: Daniel Cabrera, RHP; Dave Crouthers, RHP; Mike Fontenot, 2B; Luis Jimenez, 1B/OF; Ben Knapp, RHP; John Maine, RHP; Tim Raines Jr., OF; Keith Reed, OF; Ed Rogers, SS; Richard Stah, LHP.
Cinderella Story
After being drafted in the 15th round in 2001, right-handed pitcher Cory Morris raised many eyebrows by getting promoted from rookie-level Bluefield to High-A Frederick and held his own with a 3.38 ERA in 69 IP there. Morris took a step backward last year, struggling mightily with Frederick before being demoted to Delmarva in May. He righted himself there, posting a 2.88 ERA in 10 starts and earned a ticket back up to Frederick. He may be asked to repeat the Carolina League again, but with a strong start, could get bumped up to Double-A this season.
What's in a Name?
Napoleon Calzado, 3B. Playing for Double-A Bowie, Calzado hit .276 and stole 42 bases. At 6-3, however, he probably doesn't have a Napoleonic complex.
2002 draft recap
1. Adam Loewen, LHP
Did not sign
Loewen could very well be the Orioles' top prospect if they had been able to get him to agree to a contract. Instead, he's playing junior college ball and Baltimore has until this year's draft to re-sign him. There's a good chance they'll lose those rights and he'll re-enter the draft.
2. Cory Shafer, OF
Did not play
Shafer has got power potential, but signed too late to show any of it at the pro level last year. He'll likely go to extended Spring Training and report to Bluefield in the rookie-level Appalacian League or possibly Aberdeen in the short-season New York Penn League this year.
3. Val Majewski, of
.300/.376/.464
Majewski handled his pro debut well, hitting .300 for Aberdeen and stealing eight bases. After earning a promotion to Delmarva in the South Atlantic League last year, the Orioles will probably be aggressive with Majewski and jump him to Frederick in the High-A Carolina League. They're confident that his work habits will enable him to make the leap.
4. Tim Gilhooly, of
.197/.252/.271
Gilhooly, another college outfielder, didn't fare nearly as well in his jump to pro ball as Majewski did. Just a 20-year-old junior when drafted, he'll repeat short-season ball to get more seasoning.
5. Hayden Penn, rhp
Did not play
The 17-year-old pitcher signed a 2003 contract. He'll stay in extended Spring Training and then head to a short-season club, either Aberdeen or Bluefield to make his pro debut.
Looking ahead: Needs for the 2003 draft
In a system that has been lacking in many true "blue-chip" prospects, the Orioles will continue to look at the best players available at any spot in the draft. They have had injuries to some pitching prospects, most notably Erik Bedard and Richard Stahl, so a repeat of last year's draft, when the O's took seven pitchers with their first 10 picks, isn't out of the question.
Quotables
Tony DeMacio, Director of Scouting
On how all the front office changes affect the Orioles system:
"The majority of the changes have been player development. As far as scouting, there are no changes at all. We're just business as usual, out seeing games, preparing for the draft."
By Jonathan Mayo / MLB.com
Erik Bedard will miss all of 2003 due to Tommy John surgery. Still, he's Baltimore's best pitching prospect. (J.Pat Carter/AP)
The future success of every Major League team lies in its minor league system. With that in mind, MLB.com takes a top-to-bottom look at all 30 organizations, from top prospects to recent draft picks.
The Baltimore Orioles have not reaped much from their farm system over the past several years. But after an offseason of complete overhaul, including the ending of a 42-year relationship with Rochester, there might be hope for the future.
Starting at the top with new vice presidents of operations Jim Beattie and Mike Flanagan, continuing to new farm director Doc Rodgers on down to a new slew of minor-league managers and coaches, a once-strong player development system will be reorganized to get the Orioles headed back in the right direction.
2002 Organizational record: 332-434, .433
2002 Organizational Leaders
Avg.: Howie Clark, Rochester, .309
Home runs: Keith Reed, Bowie, 15
RBIs: Keith Reed, Bowie, 84
Stolen bases: Napolean Calzado, 42
Wins: John Stephens, Rochester, 11
ERA: Stephens, Rochester, 3.03
Strikeouts: Jancy Andrade, 152
Saves Rommie Lewis, Delmarva, 25
Five Faves
Five prospects whose names you should know:
Erik Bedard, LHP
Bedard was well on his way toward moving to a 2003 rotation spot with the O's last year when he blew out his arm after 69 Double-A innings. He had Tommy John surgery in September and will miss all of 2003. Still, he's Baltimore's best pitching prospect and if his rehab goes well, he could resurface in 2004 and re-start his climb to the bigs.
Darnell McDonald, OF
The Orioles have been waiting for McDonald's baseball know-how to catch up with his athleticsm ever since drafting him in 1997. Finally, things seemed to click last year as the idea of better plate discipline sunk in. There's a glut of outfielders at the big-league level, and McDonald could probably use a little more time at Triple-A. But if a hole opens up and McDonald picks up where he left off last season, he could be in Baltimore sometime this year.
Rommie Lewis, LHP
The O's are very excited about Lewis, and it's not just because he's a 6-6 lefty. As the closer for Delmarva in the South Atlantic League, the 2001 fourth-round draft pick was an All-Star, holding hitters to a .198 average and striking out 77 in 71 innings. He'll probably move up to Frederick in the Carolina League and could move into a starting role. The Orioles think Lewis has a very high ceiling.
Doug Gredvig, 1B
The Orioles are hoping that Gredvig's power continues to develop as it has since he's been in the organization. Last year, in a full season with Double-A Bowie, he hit 14 homers and drove in 80 runs. Barring an injury or a bad spring, Gredvig should get the chance to move his power stick up to Triple-A in 2003.
Eli Whiteside, C
Taken in the sixth round of the 2001 draft, Whiteside was selected initially because of his defense, but his offensive production has been a nice surprise for the Orioles. In just his second full pro season, he'll head to Double-A Bowie. Baltimore thinks he has the chance to be an "every day guy" at the Major League level. That could happen as soon as 2004.
Tripper Johnson, 3B
Since Bedard is hurt, here's a bonus pick. Johnson, a supplemental first-round pick in 2000, bounced back last year after a sub-par 2001. His 11 homers and 19 steals last year prove he can do a little bit of everything. A high school teammate of Rommie Lewis, Johnson will probably move with Lewis to Frederick in High A-ball.
Others to watch: Daniel Cabrera, RHP; Dave Crouthers, RHP; Mike Fontenot, 2B; Luis Jimenez, 1B/OF; Ben Knapp, RHP; John Maine, RHP; Tim Raines Jr., OF; Keith Reed, OF; Ed Rogers, SS; Richard Stah, LHP.
Cinderella Story
After being drafted in the 15th round in 2001, right-handed pitcher Cory Morris raised many eyebrows by getting promoted from rookie-level Bluefield to High-A Frederick and held his own with a 3.38 ERA in 69 IP there. Morris took a step backward last year, struggling mightily with Frederick before being demoted to Delmarva in May. He righted himself there, posting a 2.88 ERA in 10 starts and earned a ticket back up to Frederick. He may be asked to repeat the Carolina League again, but with a strong start, could get bumped up to Double-A this season.
What's in a Name?
Napoleon Calzado, 3B. Playing for Double-A Bowie, Calzado hit .276 and stole 42 bases. At 6-3, however, he probably doesn't have a Napoleonic complex.
2002 draft recap
1. Adam Loewen, LHP
Did not sign
Loewen could very well be the Orioles' top prospect if they had been able to get him to agree to a contract. Instead, he's playing junior college ball and Baltimore has until this year's draft to re-sign him. There's a good chance they'll lose those rights and he'll re-enter the draft.
2. Cory Shafer, OF
Did not play
Shafer has got power potential, but signed too late to show any of it at the pro level last year. He'll likely go to extended Spring Training and report to Bluefield in the rookie-level Appalacian League or possibly Aberdeen in the short-season New York Penn League this year.
3. Val Majewski, of
.300/.376/.464
Majewski handled his pro debut well, hitting .300 for Aberdeen and stealing eight bases. After earning a promotion to Delmarva in the South Atlantic League last year, the Orioles will probably be aggressive with Majewski and jump him to Frederick in the High-A Carolina League. They're confident that his work habits will enable him to make the leap.
4. Tim Gilhooly, of
.197/.252/.271
Gilhooly, another college outfielder, didn't fare nearly as well in his jump to pro ball as Majewski did. Just a 20-year-old junior when drafted, he'll repeat short-season ball to get more seasoning.
5. Hayden Penn, rhp
Did not play
The 17-year-old pitcher signed a 2003 contract. He'll stay in extended Spring Training and then head to a short-season club, either Aberdeen or Bluefield to make his pro debut.
Looking ahead: Needs for the 2003 draft
In a system that has been lacking in many true "blue-chip" prospects, the Orioles will continue to look at the best players available at any spot in the draft. They have had injuries to some pitching prospects, most notably Erik Bedard and Richard Stahl, so a repeat of last year's draft, when the O's took seven pitchers with their first 10 picks, isn't out of the question.
Quotables
Tony DeMacio, Director of Scouting
On how all the front office changes affect the Orioles system:
"The majority of the changes have been player development. As far as scouting, there are no changes at all. We're just business as usual, out seeing games, preparing for the draft."