21. Matthias Dietz 40
Dietz is one of my favorites, but he’s been maddening this season. When he’s on, he’ll show you a 96-98mph FB with life, and two above average offspeed pitches (Slider and Changeup). On those days, he’s got arguably the best stuff in the system. Alas, that doesn’t happen very often. Many outings he doesn’t have one or both of his offspeed pitches and sometimes he loses his mechanics and struggles to throw strikes. Dietz has made progress, last year he never really commanded his SL well enough to miss bats and the CH was barely existent. Perhaps I’m not being patient enough, but I’m just not sure how much his control/command and consistency will improve with his herky jerky delivery. If he doesn’t cut it as a starter, he’ll have a chance to throw 100mph out of the bullpen.
22. Alex Wells 40
The profile for Alex Wells requires extraordinary command and feel to be a rotation piece. That’s why he’s suffered such a precipitous drop in my rankings, that level of command has not been present this year. His fastball is relatively flat and only touches 91mph, he gets more whiffs than he should with it by locating it in on the hands and up and away from hitters. He needs to be fine with the location or it gets walloped and perhaps this year he’s tried to be too fine, missing early in counts and falling behind hitters. He doesn’t have the stuff to get back in counts unless hitters do him favors. His secondary pitches are a fringe average curveball that works against lefties and a changeup which is his best pitch and he should probably use at a higher rate. Wells is still young and pitching in a hitter’s park, but I feel like he needs either a couple ticks of velocity or another pitch that stays off barrels (cut fastball or 2 seamer) for him to be a rotation piece.
23. Cameron Bishop 40
The Orioles overslot signing from the 2017 draft, Bishop has an innings eater frame and a simple starter’s delivery. He touched 95mph from the LH side in the Cape Cod league before signing and was sitting in the low 90s after signing. For whatever reason, his velocity was way down this spring in the mid-80s and while it’s steadily improved as the season has progressed he’s still just t91. He’s performing well for Delmarva, but it’s due to a strong feel for throwing his slider and changeup in any count rather than the quality of his stuff. He’ll likely need to add a couple ticks of velocity to profile as a rotation piece. If not, his solid pitch mix, feel for pitching, and command would fit in a middle relief role.
24. Zach Pop 40
Part of the Manny Machado return, Pop is a pure reliever with a low ¾ arm slot, fringe control/command, and some effort to the delivery. The stuff however is without a doubt MLB quality, with a chance for a late inning role. He throws a 2 seam FB that touches 99mph with sink and armside run. Pop also will throw a 4S fastball up in the zone from time to time. He has the makings of a plus slider as well, the consistency isn’t there yet, but it offers sharp two-plane break at its best. All the pitches miss bats and the 2S generates weak contact. The question in this profile is command, the delivery has some moving parts and the timing can get out of sync. Pop is a good relief prospect though and I’d expect him to have some type of bullpen role in Baltimore by 2020.
25. Lamar Sparks 40
2018 is a lost season for Sparks who had surgery to repair a torn labrum, but the tools are there to keep him in the top 30. He has the potential to be a defensive asset in CF with plus speed and a plus arm. He showed more polish at the plate than expected in his debut last year. Sparks has a chance to hit and grow into some power. Speculative pick with the lost developmental year, but one of the best collection of position player tools in the org and this ranking could look low this time next year.
26. Cody Sedlock 40
When I saw Sedlock early this season, it was obvious something was wrong. He had poor arm speed and was living in the upper 80s with his fastball. He went on the DL shortly after with a sore shoulder. He’s missed a bunch of time but has recently made a rehab start down in the GCL. If he’s healthy, he still has plenty of potential as a relief arm. At his best, he had three above average pitches in his mid-90s sinking fastball, slider, and curveball. I don’t think he has the command or durability for another go as a starter, but he could move fast as a reliever.
27. Zach Muckenhirn 40
Muckenhirn was the Orioles 11th round draft pick in 2016 and had a stellar debut with a 11.3 K/BB ratio in short season Aberdeen. He proceeded to have a forgettable 2017 in Delmarva where the long season and pro schedule seemed to diminish his velocity and sharpness. The Orioles moved him to the bullpen and he proceeded to dominate in 37 innings between Low A and A+ ball. He’s in AA Bowie now and is experiencing some growing pains, but he his stuff has played up in the pen. He touches 96mph from the LH side and has a deceptive slider. He commands the ball well up and down in the zone for swings and misses. His changeup doesn’t get used much but it was a decent pitch for him as a starter and should allow him to protect himself versus RHB.
28. Branden Kline 40
Finally, after what seems like forever, former Top 10 Orioles prospect Branden Kline is pitching again. The O’s were conservative with him, starting the 26-year-old in Advanced A Frederick. He’s hit the ground running, arm speed is plus, and his FB has been up to 98mph and has a nice downward angle with Kline’s high release point. His slider took a little while to come around, but it’s now an above average pitch at times. So, he looks like a potential 7th inning type arm and with his strong AA performance after promotion he could be in the majors this year. There is some risk due to the injury history and a fairly straight FB.
29. Jomar Reyes 40
The tools are still there (raw power, arm strength, bat speed) and it’s easy to forget that despite his residency in the Carolina League, he’s still only 21 and is younger than most of the college players drafted this year. He appears to have fixed his low effort issue from early in the season, so that’s a start. The swing lacks the looseness and fluidity it needs though, plus he struggles to recognize spin. He’s had a disastrous season so far, taking a step back from progress made last year.
