Luke’s 2018 Rule 5 Draft Preference List
Primer
This is a difficult and humbling exercise, even the most thorough Rule 5 Draft analysis can easily fail. I ranked Brad Keller 18th on last year’s list and didn’t...
HHP: Frobby and the Prospects
Here are the ceilings of our top guys per OH:
Hall 65
Rodriguez 65
Mountcastle 60
Kremer 60
Diaz 60
Hays 55
Hunter 60
Lowther 55
Knight 55
Hanifee 55
That’s 10 players who have a ceiling of above average major leaguer....
Matthias Dietz – RHP – 2018 #30 Prospect
Matthias Dietz
Age: 232018 Level: A/A+2018 StatsCurrent/Future/Ceiling Grades: 20/40/50
What we know:
Dietz may be the most frustrating pitcher in the organization outside of Hunter Harvey. When it comes to raw stuff,...
Cameron Bishop – LHP – 2018 #29 Prospect
Cameron Bishop
Age: 22
2018 Level: A-
2018 Stats
Current/Future/Ceiling Grades: 25/40/45
What we know:
Left-hander with underwhelming stuff, but above average control. Fastball sits 88-91, but his best pitch is his slider. His changeup...
John Means – LHP – 2018 #28 Prospect
John Means
Age: 25
2018 Level: AA/AAA
2018 Stats
Current/Future/Ceiling Grades: 40/40/45
What we know:
Tall left-hander who can flash major league stuff at times, had a nice summer in AAA before wearing down a...
Brett Cumberland – C – 2018 #27 Prospect
Brett Cumberland
Age: 23
2018 Level: A+/AA
2018 Stats
Current/Future/Ceiling Grades: 30/40/40
What we know:
A switch-hitting catcher who was part of the seemingly underwhelming package of prospects the Orioles got for Kevin Gausman, Cumberland...
Cody Carroll – RHP – 2018 #26 Prospect
Cody Carroll
Age: 262018 Level: AAA/MLB2018 StatsCurrent/Future/Ceiling Grades: 40/40/45
What we know:
Carroll came over from the Yankees in the Zach Britton trade. Carroll is a guy who jumped onto the radar...
Jean Carmona – SS – 2018 # 25 Prospect
Jean Carmona
Age: 18
2018 Level: R+/Short-A
2018 Stats
Current/Future/Ceiling Grades: 20/45/50
What we know:
A young switch-hitting shortstop who was acquired in the Jonathan Schoop trade, is all about projection at this stage of...
DJ Stewart – OF – 2018 #24 Prospect
DJ Stewart
Age: 242018 Level: AAA/MLB2018 StatsCurrent/Future/Ceiling Grades: 45/45/45
What we know:
Stewart is an MLB ready guy, who offers above average power and patience at the plate. He’s limited to an...
Cadyn Grenier – SS – 2018 #23 Prospect
Cadyn Grenier
Age: 222018 Level: A2018 StatsCurrent/Future/Ceiling Grades: 35/45/50
What we know:
The Orioles made Grenier the 37th overall pick in the 2018 draft. He’s a polished shortstop who is likely to...
Jean Carlos Encarnacion – 3B – 2018 #22 Prospect
Jean Carlos Encarnacion
Age: 20
2018 Level: Low-A
2018 Stats
Current/Future/Ceiling Grades: 20/45/55
What we know:
Toolsy third baseman that is more about promise than production at this stage in his career. The best prospect...
Alex Wells – LHP – 2018 # 21 Prospect
Alex Wells
Age: 212018 Level: A+ 2018 StatsCurrent/Future/Ceiling Grades: 25/45/50
What we know:
Wells is a young pitcher from Australia with mediocre stuff but above average pitchability. His fastball sits 88-91 mph...
Michael Baumann – RHP – 2018 #20 Prospect
Michael Baumann
Age: 23
2018 Level: A/A+
2018 Stats
Current/Future/Ceiling Grades: 25/45/50
What we know:
Baumann had a strong performance in short season A ball after being drafted in the 3rd round out of Jacksonville University...
Adam Hall – SS – 2018 #19 Prospect
Adam Hall
Age: 19
2018 Level: Short-A
2018 Stats
Current/Future/Ceiling Grades: 20/45/50
What we know:
Took a big step forward last season as he showed up much stronger in his second pro season. This 19-year...
Rylan Bannon – 2B/3B – 2018 #18 Prospect
Rylan Bannon
Age: 22
2018 Level: A+/AA
2018 Stats
Current/Future/Ceiling Grades: 35/45/50
What we know:
Bannon is an 2B/3B who came over from the Dodgers as a piece in the Machado deal. He hit .275/.389/.507...
Dillon Tate – RHP- 2018 #17 Prospect
Dillon Tate
Age: 24
2018 Level: AA
2018 Stats
Current/Future/Ceiling Grades: 40/45/50
What we know:
More hype than production at this point, this former number one pick is now on his 3rd organization after coming...
Zach Pop – RHP – 2018 #16 Prospect
Zach Pop
Age: 22
2018 Level: A/A+/AA
2018 Stats
Current/Future/Ceiling Grades: 40/45/50
What we know:
Pop just finished his first full professional season. He came over from the Dodgers in the Manny Machado trade. He...
HPP: Who is Mike Elias
by Wildcard
Mike Elias - Currently AGM for Player Acquisition for the Astros. Elias have been through a successful rebuild which should be a big plus. Elias has been instrumental...
Keegan Akin – LHP – 2018 #11 Prospect
Keegan Akin
Age: 23
2018 Level: AA
2018 Stats
Current/Future/Ceiling Grades: 40/50/50
What we know:
Akin made significant strides in 2018. He came into the season in better shape and saw improvements in stuff across...
Luis Ortiz – RHP – 2018 #12 Prospect
Luis Ortiz
Age: 22
2018 Level: AA/AAA/MAJ
2018 Stats
Current/Future/Ceiling Grades: 40/45/50
What we know:
One of the key pieces in the Jonathan Schoop trade, Ortiz brings a solid fastball, slider combination to the mound...
Ryan McKenna – OF – 2018 #13 Prospect
Ryan McKenna
Age: 21
2018 Level: High-A/AA
2018 Stats
Current/Future/Ceiling Grades: 35/45/50
What we know:
McKenna is a small, but toolsy centerfielder who improved his stock greatly in 2018. The Orioles drafted him in the...
Branden Kline – RHP – 2018 #14 Prospect
Branden Kline
Age: 26
2018 Level: High-A/AA
2018 Stats
Current/Future/Ceiling Grades: 40/45/55
What we know:
After missing two and half season with injuries, the 26-year old former 2nd rounder quietly put together a dominating season...
Drew Rom – LHP – 2018 #15 Prospect
Drew Rom
Age: 18
2018 Level: Rookie
2018 Stats
Current/Future/Ceiling Grades: 20/45/55
What we know:
It's all about projection with the 18-year old left-handed pitching prospect. A 4th round pick with a fastball that sits...
Yusniel Diaz – OF – 2018 #5 Prospect
Yusniel Diaz
Age: 22
2018 Level: AA
2018 Stats
Current/Future/Ceiling Grades: 40/55/60
What we know:
The crown jewel of the Machado trade by most accounts, this Cuban outfielder is about potential and tools than pure...
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