30. Yefry Ramirez 40
When discussing Ramirez, I often talk about a common Catch-22 with pitching prospects. The pitcher has a funky or deceptive throwing motion that allows his pitches to play up. The pitcher also has lackluster command. Often the motion that provides the deception is also what causes the lack of command. Ramirez is one of those guys, he lacks the type of command you want to see in starting pitchers, caused by a crossfire delivery. That also creates some deception that helps his stuff play up. You can’t fix the command without hurting the deception. Ramirez has a quality changeup, that will play well in the majors and a developing slider, but his hittable fastball and fringy command could limit him to middle relief. The upside hope here is that there is enough athleticism for him to develop command despite the delivery, in which case, you’d have a backend rotation piece.
31. John Means 40
Means is this high due to proximity to the majors and my continuing belief that although his stuff is unimpressive, he could be useful in a bullpen role where his fastball could gain a couple ticks. As a starter, he FB is rarely more than 91mph and lacks barrel-missing life. He commands it well to all quadrants and adds 3 offspeed pitches that he can throw for strikes. The changeup is the best of the bunch and is probably the only average MLB pitch in the arsenal. He’s performing as well as you could ask in AAA with nearly a 8 K/BB ratio and is ready to see if he can make the crafty lefty thing work at the next level.
32. Nick Vespi 40
Vespi was promoted to Delmarva for 2018 but moved to a bullpen role. He has continued miss bats at a high rate. He’s a LHP who throws a bunch of pitches that can all miss bats. He lacks big velocity, he tops out around 92mph in my looks this year, but uses an 86-88mph cut fastball as his primary pitch. His best pitch is a deceptive low 80s slider. It’s not a typical profile, but there is some deception, the ability to spin the ball, and enough wrinkles to profile in the back of a rotation with modest improvement. I’m not sure if the Orioles will give him a chance to start again, but he should move fast as a versatile reliever.
33. Paul Fry 40
Bullpen lefty with a deceptive FB/SL mix. Stuff isn’t plus, but throws strikes and tunnels his pitches well.
34. Josh Rogers 40
More stuff than Means, but similar pitcher, command over stuff lefty, lives off of weak contact. Doesn’t miss bats nearly as many bats as Means though, so it’s hard to see the success holding up in the majors.
35. Breyvic Valera 40
Solid defense at SS and 2B plus a high contact approach equals a serviceable utility option.
36. Trevor Craport 40
Fringy defensive 3B with good bat to ball skills and average power. The bat would play well as a utility guy, but hasn’t shown defensive versatility yet, has everyday regular upside if he maxes his tool.
37. Seamus Curran 40
Big power, plus plus, fringe glove at 1B. Young cold weather guy with a low effort swing, but pitch recognition issues. Will have to hit a ton to profile, but might just develop into a guy who can hit a ton.
38. Drew Rom 40
2018 4th round pick, HS lefty who touches 91mph with an athletic delivery, some projection left, and the feel for two offspeed pitches.
39. Jimmy Yacabonis 40
Power sinker guy with an improved slider, lives off weak contact. Struggles to miss bats and consistently throw strikes.
40. Gray Fenter 40
Overslot bonus draftee from back in 2015. Had Tommy John surgery. Offers a Mid-90s fastball and plus curveball at his best, but the stuff (and the results) have been inconsistent. The command is below average and he’s destined for the bullpen, where his stuff should play pretty well.
