Dean Jones Report: Hays, Sedlock, Andino are thriving; Lee, Ynoa, Pedro Alvarez aren’t

Only one Orioles affiliate played Monday – Low-A Delmarva – so that’s where outfielder Joey Rickard went to begin his injury rehab assignment.

Triple-A Norfolk and High-A Frederick had scheduled off days, while the rain along the East Coast forced Double-A Bowie’s game at Richmond to be postponed.

Rickard, who has been on the 10-day disabled list with a sprained left middle finger since April 9, went 1-for-4 with a strikeout and a run scored in the Shorebirds’ 4-1 win over Lakewood. He is expected to play at least one more game at Delmarva tonight – weather permitting.

And, of course, Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman is making his way back to full strength with an injury rehab tour through the club’s minor league system.

Tillman has given up four runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings over two starts for Bowie in the past nine days. He has struck out six batters and issued one walk.

Tillman is expected to pitch again Thursday for Frederick at Potomac. Depending on how that goes, he could make his season debut next Tuesday night against the Boston Red Sox.

Before I forget, since right-hander Stefan Crichton has been in the major-league bullpen for nearly two weeks, I won’t include him in my write-ups until he returns to the minor leagues.

The No. 8 prospect on my “Dean’s Dozen” list has a 9.00 ERA in two games for the Orioles. Crichton, 25, has allowed three runs and nine hits in three innings in that span.

As regular readers know, each Tuesday, I provide an update on the players in the Orioles’ minor league system who have earned a spot on my “Dean’s Dozen” list. I categorize each player as a rising stock (“bullish”) or a falling stock (“bearish”), based on recent play.

I also discuss the latest on several other players, divided into two categories (surging and falling). These players change from week to week, depending on who’s hot and who’s not in the organization. As you’ll see this week, one veteran is off to a quick start at Triple-A Norfolk, while another is struggling with the Tides as he adjusts to a new position.

Finally, as I do every week, I have listed the upcoming schedule for all the affiliates in case you’re interested in going to the ballpark to see these players in action. All four teams will be home this weekend, so I’m looking forward to hearing your scouting reports next week.

DEAN’S DOZEN

No. 1: Chance Sisco, C, Norfolk
BEARISH
Statistics: .256, 0 HRs, 10 RBIs, 5 2Bs, 15 Ks in 12 games
MILB.com Player Page

Sisco, 22, showed a couple of positive signs over the past week. The 2013 second-round pick went 2-for-3 with a bases-clearing double and an RBI single in the Tides’ 9-5 victory at Buffalo last Wednesday. And he had an RBI double in Norfolk’s 9-4 loss at Syracuse on Saturday afternoon. Despite those highlights, Sisco only batted .214 (3-for-14) with four strikeouts in four games since our last update. With less than a week to go in April, he is now hitting .256. In comparison, he batted .321 in 17 games last April for the Baysox.

No. 2: Ryan Mountcastle, SS, Frederick
BULLISH
Statistics: .313, 4 HRs, 10 RBIs, 5 2Bs, 11 Ks in 17 games
MILB.com Player Page

It was an up-and-down week for the 2015 first-round selection (36th overall). Mountcastle, 20, went 7-for-11 during a three-game stretch from last Tuesday through the first game of a doubleheader against Salem on Friday night. In that game, he went 3-for-3 with two home runs and knocked in all the Keys’ runs in a 10-3 loss to the Red Sox. But then Mountcastle went into a miniature slump across the final three games of the past week. In that span, he had just one single in 11 at-bats, lowering his season average to .313. He is currently tied for second in the Carolina League with four home runs.

No. 3: Keegan Akin, LHP, Frederick
BULLISH
Statistics: 1-2, 6.60 ERA, 24 Ks, 8 BBs in 15 innings
MILB.com Player Page

Akin, 22, initially was going to be temporarily bumped into a relief role Saturday night to make room for rehabbing Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman. But, thanks to a rainout, the 2016 second-round selection started the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader against Salem at Nymeo Field. And Akin turned in his best start of the season, holding the Red Sox to one run and four hits in five innings to pick up his first professional victory. He struck out seven batters in the 2-1 win, bringing his season total to 24 (third in the Carolina League).

No. 4: Cody Sedlock, RHP, Frederick
BULLISH
Statistics: 3-0, 1.64 ERA, 16 Ks, 8 BBs in 22 innings
MILB.com Player Page

What a doubleheader it was for Orioles fans to watch Sunday afternoon in Frederick. After Akin earned his first career win in the opening game, the 2016 first-round pick (27th overall) led the Keys to a 6-0 victory over Salem to complete the sweep. Sedlock, 21, improved to 3-0 after holding the Red Sox to one hit and three walks in five innings. Last Tuesday, he picked up his second win of the season after allowing two runs (one earned) and four hits in six innings during Frederick’s 4-2 win at Winston-Salem. His 0.82 WHIP is fifth in the Carolina League, while his 1.64 ERA ranks 10th.

No. 5: Chris Lee, LHP, Norfolk
BEARISH
Statistics: 0-1, 9.28 ERA, 9 Ks, 8 BBs in 10 2/3 innings
MILB.com Player Page

The 24-year-old left-hander continues to struggle at the Triple-A level. Lee failed to make it out of the third inning in his latest start, giving up two runs, five hits and three walks in 2 1/3 innings during the Tides’ 9-5 win at Buffalo last Wednesday. Opponents are batting .388 overall against Lee, whom the Orioles acquired from the Houston Astros in a May 2015 trade. Through three starts this year, Lee has allowed more than 2 1/2 baserunners per inning. Last April with Bowie, he went 4-0 with a 2.49 ERA and 0.91 WHIP. He’s scheduled to pitch against the Bisons again tonight for the Tides at Harbor Park.

No. 6: Cedric Mullins, OF, Bowie
BEARISH
Statistics: .367, 4 HRs, 11 RBIs, 5 2Bs, 1 3B, 17 runs in 14 games
MILB.com Player Page

Just when I thought I’d never rate the 2015 13th-round selection as “bearish” in 2017, it has happened. Although Mullins, 22, has cooled off from his hot start, it’s primarily because of his placement on the seven-day disabled list last Friday with a strained left hamstring. He is expected to miss about two weeks. Before the injury took him out of the Baysox lineup, Mullins only batted .167 (2-for-12) in three games since our last update. But he did hit his fourth home run of the year in Bowie’s 4-1 win over Richmond last Tuesday. Mullins’ .683 slugging percentage is second in the Eastern League through Sunday’s games.

No. 7: Jesus Liranzo, RHP, Bowie
BULLISH
Statistics: 1-1, 4.00 ERA, 9 Ks, 9 BBs in nine innings
MILB.com Player Page

The Dominican Republic native gave up one run and two hits in four innings over the past week. Liranzo, 22, retired the side in order in the seventh inning of Bowie’s 4-1 win over Richmond last Tuesday. But then, in the eighth, he gave up a leadoff double to the Flying Squirrels’ Slade Heathcott, who scored on an RBI single two batters later. On Sunday, Liranzo retired six of the seven batters he faced – walking Harrisburg’s Spencer Kieboom with two outs in the seventh – as the Baysox lost on the road to the Senators, 2-1.

No. 9: Ofelky Peralta, RHP, Frederick
BEARISH
Statistics: 0-0, 4.38 ERA, 18 Ks, 11 BBs in 12 1/3 innings
MILB.com Player Page

Peralta, who turned 20 last Thursday, didn’t have a good birthday celebration this year. On Friday night, the Dominican Republic native allowed five runs, six hits and two walks in 3 1/3 innings as the Keys lost the second game of a doubleheader, 7-6, to Salem. With the performance, his season ERA spiked from 1.00 to 4.38. Peralta needs to work on his control. He is currently tied for second in the Carolina League with 11 walks after finishing third in the South Atlantic League last year with 60 walks in 103 1/3 innings.

No. 10: Austin Hays, OF, Frederick
BULLISH
Statistics: .348, 2 HRs, 10 RBIs, 1 2B, 3 3Bs in 17 games
MILB.com Player Page

It appears to be relatively simple: The 2016 third-round pick can hit. Hays, 21, has reached base safely in all 17 of the Keys’ games this season. Despite going 0-for-3 in Frederick’s 5-1 win at Carolina on April 15, Hays (pictured above) walked in the first inning and was hit by a pitch in the third. After batting .336 in 38 games for short-season Single-A Aberdeen last summer, Hays currently ranks sixth in the Carolina League (and second on the Keys behind Jomar Reyes’ .359) with a .348 batting average this year. He leads the league with 24 hits.

No. 11: DJ Stewart, OF, Bowie
BULLISH
Statistics: .218, 3 HRs, 11 RBIs, 3 2Bs, 11 Ks in 15 games
MILB.com Player Page

Not many Orioles fans can be excited about Mullins’ hamstring injury. But if there’s a silver lining, it’s that Stewart has performed well – albeit in an extremely small sample size – as his replacement atop Bowie’s lineup. The 2015 first-round selection (25th overall) is batting .462 (6-for-13) with a home run, two doubles and four RBIs in three games as the Baysox leadoff hitter. Stewart, 23, has hit .143 (6-for-42) from the fifth and sixth spots in the order this season. While he hadn’t batted leadoff as a professional before this weekend, it’s worth noting that Stewart’s career average in 186 at-bats in the No. 2 spot (.285) is substantially higher than his overall number (.239 in 707 at-bats).

No. 12: Gabriel Ynoa, RHP, Norfolk
BEARISH
Statistics: 0-4, 8.22 ERA, 10 Ks, 5 BBs in 15 1/3 innings
MILB.com Player Page

Ynoa, who will turn 24 next month, lost for the fourth consecutive time to begin the season. In his latest start, the Dominican Republic native – whom the Orioles acquired in February from the New York Mets – allowed four runs, six hits and four walks in three innings during the Tides’ 8-2 loss at Syracuse on Sunday. Ynoa has made it into the sixth inning in only one of his four games this year – and he failed to record an out that time. In comparison, he pitched at least five innings in 22 of his 25 starts for Triple-A Las Vegas in the Mets’ minor league system last year. It’s still early, but Ynoa needs to bounce back soon.

SURGING

Robert Andino, 2B, Norfolk: The veteran infielder, who turns 33 today, is off to a good start with the Tides. Andino is currently tied for fourth in the International League with 32 total bases. And he leads Norfolk in several other offensive categories – runs (nine), hits (17), home runs (tied for first with three), and RBIs (11).

Chris Clare, SS-2B-3B, Delmarva: The 2016 21st-round selection only batted .242 with two home runs and 14 RBIs in 47 games for the IronBirds last summer. But Clare, 22, is hitting .333 (21-for-63) with 13 RBIs and 14 runs through 18 games this year. He went 5-for-5 with three RBIs on April 17 against Greensboro before scoring four times the next day.

Tanner Scott, LHP, Bowie: It’s important to give credit when it’s due. In his new role at the beginning of games, the 2014 sixth-round pick has only given up one run and three hits in nine innings over three starts. Scott, 22, has still walked seven batters in that span, but he has minimized the damage with 13 strikeouts and a .103 opponents’ batting average.

Austin Wynns, C, Bowie: The 2013 10th-round selection leads the Baysox – and sits in second place in the Eastern League – with a .442 average. Wynns, 26, has hit safely in all 12 games in which he has played this year – including six multi-hit performances – and his 1.154 OPS also ranks second in the league.

Jimmy Yacabonis, RHP, Norfolk: In 8 1/3 scoreless innings this season, the 2013 13th-round pick has only allowed three hits and one walk. Yacabonis, 25, has held opponents to a .107 batting average overall, but right-handed hitters are having the most trouble against him. They have just one hit in 18 at-bats (.056 average).

FALLING

Cristian Alvarado, RHP, Frederick: Last year with Delmarva, the Venezuela native was 10-9 with 148 strikeouts and only 29 walks in 148 innings. But Alvarado, 22, hasn’t been able to find much success through three starts this season. He is 1-2 with a 10.80 ERA and has given up a Carolina League-worst five home runs in 15 innings.

Pedro Alvarez, OF, Norfolk: Through the first four games, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 2008 first-round pick (second overall) was hitting .286 (4-for-14) with two home runs and six RBIs. Alvarez, 30, is batting .149 (7-for-47) with one home run, two RBIs and 15 strikeouts in 12 games since then. He’s currently hitless in his past 13 at-bats. And Orioles manager Buck Showalter said this week that the outfield continues to be a challenge for Alvarez, a corner infielder by trade. Translation: Alvarez is a hard-worker who is trying his best, but he’s a big league DH in a minor league outfield.

Adrian Marin, 2B-SS, Bowie: The 2012 third-round selection had two singles and a double in four at-bats during the season-opening, 13-7 victory at Akron. But Marin, 23, has struggled in his next 10 games. In that span, he is only hitting .121 (4-for-33) with 12 strikeouts. A career .245 hitter, Marin is batting .189 overall in 2017.

Tyler Wilson, RHP, Norfolk: After the 2011 10th-round pick finished the Orioles’ 9-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds last Tuesday, the club optioned him to Triple-A in order to add bullpen help before Wednesday’s game. Wilson, 27, allowed four runs, six hits and two walks in three innings Saturday during his first start with the Tides.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Norfolk (5-11)
April 25 – vs. Buffalo (doubleheader), 5:05 p.m.
April 26 – vs. Buffalo, 6:35 p.m.
April 27 – vs. Buffalo, 12:05 p.m.
April 28 – vs. Syracuse, 7:05 p.m.
April 29 – vs. Syracuse, 7:05 p.m.
April 30 – vs. Syracuse, 1:05 p.m.
May 1 – OFF

Bowie (9-8)
April 25 – at Richmond, 6:35 p.m.
April 26 – at Richmond, 10:35 a.m.
April 27 – OFF
April 28 – vs. Akron, 7:05 p.m.
April 29 – vs. Akron, 6:35 p.m.
April 30 – vs. Akron, 2:05 p.m.
May 1 – vs. Erie, 6:35 p.m.

Frederick (8-9)
April 25 – at Potomac, 7:05 p.m.
April 26 – at Potomac, 7:05 p.m.
April 27 – at Potomac, 7:05 p.m.
April 28 – vs. Carolina, 7 p.m.
April 29 – vs. Carolina (doubleheader), 1 p.m.
April 30 – vs. Carolina, 2 p.m.
May 1 – vs. Myrtle Beach, 7 p.m.

Delmarva (9-10)
April 25 – vs. Lakewood, 7:05 p.m.
April 26 – vs. Lakewood, 10:35 a.m.
April 27 – vs. Charleston, 7:05 p.m.
April 28 – vs. Charleston, 7:05 p.m.
April 29 – vs. Charleston, 7:05 p.m.
April 30 – vs. Charleston, 2:05 p.m.
May 1 – OFF