Life On The Farm: Baltimore Orioles (# 9)

A lot of graduations to the majors, is the system still stacked?

Graduated To Majors: Lou Montanez (OF, # 29), Nolan Reimold (OF, # 5), Justin Turner (2B, # 27), Matt Wieters (C, # 1), Chris Tillman (SP, # 2), Jason Berken (SP, # 17), Brad Bergesen (SP, # 18), Kam Mickolio (RP, # 10), David Hernandez (SP, # 16), Bob McCrory (RP, # 22), Brian Matusz (SP, # 3)

The Rest Of The Top 10 (with quick commentary)
Hitters: BA-OBP-SLG, AB, HR-RBI, BB-K, SB-CS
Pitchers: G-GS, W-L, ERA, IP-H-HR-BB-K

4 - Jake Arrieta: RHP
AA: 11-11, 6-3, 2.59, 59-45-4-23-70
AAA: 17-17, 5-8, 3.93, 91.2-97-9-33-78
Quick Take: Has continued his march to Baltimore and will likely be contending for a rotation spot in spring training.

6 - Brandon Erbe: RHP
SS: 4-4, 0-1, 4.61, 13.2-13-3-2-11
AA: 14-14, 5-3, 2.34, 73-44-5-35-62
Quick Take: Got a late start in the season due to an arm injury, but pitched very well when he returned.

7 - Bill Rowell: 3B
Hi A: .225-.284-.336, 423, 9-39, 35-122, 3-2
Quick Take: The former first round pick is looking like he desperately needs a change of organization.

8 - Troy Patton: LHP
AA: 11-11, 6-2, 1.99, 63.1-50-4-18-47
AAA: 9-9, 1-3, 6.45, 44.2-62-12-14-26
Quick Take: Excelled in AA before struggling after mid season promotion to AAA.

9 - Brandon Snyder: 1B
AA: .343-.421-.597, 201, 10-45, 27-45, 0-1
AAA: .248-.316-.355, 262, 2-43, 24-64, 3-1
Quick Take: Will battle with Michael Aubrey to contend for a big league job.

AAA: Norfolk Tides (IL)
Breakout Hitter: Nolan Reimold (# 5): .394-.485-.743, 109, 9-27, 18-25, 6-1
Disappointing Hitter: Carlos Rojas (UR): .179-.239-.211, 223, 0-13, 18-30, 2-3
Breakout Pitcher: Chris Tillman (# 2): 18-18, 8-6, 2.70, 96.2-85-5-26-99
Disappointing Pitcher: Radhames Liz (UL): 17-6, 0-3, 5.68, 44.1-56-2-12-37
Quick Take: Reimold got into Baltimore and made himself into a possible ROY candidate while Tillman accelerated his development into being a strong rotation option for Baltimore next season. Rojas struggled badly even after a demotion to AA. Liz just failed to capitalize on his chances and is going to battle this coming season to not fall into organizational player status.

AA: Bowie Baysox (EL)
Breakout Hitter: Brandon Snyder (# 9): Line above.
Disappointing Hitter: Mike Costanzo (UR): .201-.292-.314, 204, 3-29, 27-58, 0-2
Breakout Pitcher: Troy Patton (# 8): 11-11, 6-2, 1.99, 63.1-50-4-18-47
Disappointing Pitcher: Ryan Rodriguez (UL): 26-2, 1-2, 7.16, 44-59-4-23-28
Quick Take: Snyder got a midseason promotion to AAA and struggled, just like Patton. Costanzo just hasn't hit since entering the Orioles organization as part of the big return for Tejada. Rodriguez struggled badly after throwing 14 shutout innings at High A.

Hi A: Frederick Keys (CL)
Breakout Hitter: Robbie Widlansky (UR): .340-.395-.506, 326, 7-59, 29-48, 5-1
Disappointing Hitter: Bill Rowell (# 7): Line above.
Breakout Pitcher: Brian Matusz (# 3): 11-11, 4-2, 2.16, 66.2-56-5-21-75
Disappointing Pitcher: Chorye Spoone (# 11): 4-4, 0-2, 9.42, 14.1-17-3-14-12
Quick Take: Widlansky had a big year and will now try to prove it was for real in AA. Matusz jumped all the way from Frederick to Baltimore. Rowell is in desperate need of a change of scenery. Spoone was rehabbing from an injury, but was highly disappointing in his brief return.

Lo A: Delmarva Shorebirds (SAL)
Breakout Hitter: Ronny Welty (UR): .290-.373-.425, 431, 10-67, 46-120, 13-5
Disappointing Hitter: Tyler Kolodny (UR): .226-.332-.372, 363, 9-42, 42-97, 10-4
Breakout Pitcher: Cole McCurry (UR): 26-25, 6-9, 2.71, 139.1-118-8-46-145
Disappointing Pitcher: Colin Allen (UL): 12-2, 0-3, 7.04, 23-31-4-16-22
Quick Take: Welty had a solid full-season debut where he showed all 5 tools at times. McCurry is another lefty apparently ready to add to the organization's surplus. Kolodny battled all year in his pro debut while Allen was one of the few Shorebirds pitchers who struggled.

TK's Early 2010 Top 10 Prospects:
1) Zach Britton: LHP
The lefty sinkerballer had a strong year at High A (25-24, 9-6, 2.70, 140-123-6-55-131)
2) Jake Arrieta: RHP
Righty will contend for a rotation spot in spring training.
3) Brandon Erbe: RHP
Another righty that may contend for a rotation spot.
4) Troy Patton: LHP
Another strong arm that will contend for a rotation spot.
5) Matt Hobgood: RHP
Didn't show much in his pro debut at R (8-8, 1-2, 4.72, 26.2-32-0-8-16), but was 5th overall pick this year.
6) Josh Bell: 3B/1B
Doubt he stays at third, but his switch hitting power bat will play anywhere.
7) Steve Johnson: RHP
Went 3-2, 2.84 in 7 starts and 37 strikeouts in 38 innings at AA Bowie after coming over in the trade.
8) Caleb Joseph: C
Young catcher hit .284-.337-.450 in 380 at bats with 12 homers and 26 walks against 64 strikeouts.
9) Mychal Givens: SS
Toolsy 2nd round pick will make pro debut next year, likely in R ball.
10) Brandon Snyder: 1B
Will contend for a starting spot this spring training.

Dropped From Top 10: Rowell (# 7)

Final Overview: Even after a rash of defections, they have some very close to the majors pitching. Loaded with both lefty and righty starters and even have another catcher, this system is stocked in some of the hard to find commodities in baseball. This system will be thinned much more next year, but right now it is still a top 10 system.