HHP: Luke Q and A Spin
I'll try to tackle the questions to the best of my knowledge.
How does faster spin rate seem to affect each pitch specifically?
4S FB drop less when they spin faster,...
Spin Cycle: Under the radar free agent pitchers
While new GM Mike Elias was with the Astros, they coaxed improvement out of a number of pitchers with high spin rate breaking balls by changing their...
Orioles name Koby Perez as Senior Director, International Scouting
Discussion Here
Koby Perez has been named the club’s Senior Director, International Scouting. Perez will oversee all aspects of the Orioles’ international scouting operations...
HHP: Luke Siler on the Stanford Swing, Drew Jackson and Why Loft is the...
The pull happy lift approach is why Drew Jackson started hitting better. He was doing the old Stanford Swing (definition from Baseball Prospectus if you aren’t familiar with the term, “The Stanford...
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 StatsÂ
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:Â
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...
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Toronto Scored The Win Late
Limited to two hits through six innings, the Toronto Blue Jays (29-29) scored six runs combined duting the seventh and eighth innings...
MINOR LEAGUE GAME SUMMARIES FOR 5/29/2026
Sebastian Gongora (2-2) allowed 2 runs on 2 hits, including a homerun, walked 1 and struck out 4 in 6.2 innings pitched...
Toronto Walks Past The Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles dropped Thursday's game with the Toronto Blue Jays (28-29) by a score of 2-1. The eventual winning run...