Photo credit: Joy R. Absalon
Earlier this week I spoke to a major league scout from an opposing team about the Orioles organization.
You can read the first part – which takes a look at some of the current big leaguers – here.
Today, we’re running the second and final segment, which focuses on several players that spent a chunk of the year in the minors – or are still there.
The Orioles’ farm system has been much maligned over the years, but to be fair, much of the core of the 2018 team was developed by the organization: Manny Machado, Jonathan Schoop, Trey Mancini, Zach Britton, Kevin Gausman, Dylan Bundy, Mychal Givens, Caleb Joseph.
Here’s a look at the next wave through the eyes of a talent evaluator from another organization.
The system
“It’s gotten a little better. I like Hunter Harvey a lot if he can come back healthy. I like the (Keegan) Akin kid. He can pitch a little bit. And Austin Hays is a pleasant surprise, a shock really. They have a relatively high pick recently that can do something. That’s rather uncharacteristic on their part. Seriously, their system has gotten a little bit better, but it’s a far cry from, say, Washington or the Yankees.”
Photo credit: Joy R. Absalon
Austin Hays
“I really like the kid, Hays. He looks like he might end up making the Opening Day team next year. They started the clock on him. You only hope there’s not a hole that the big leagues figure out and start abusing it. But it looks like he can protect himself right now and do a pretty good job. And it would get (Mark) Trumbo into that DH role, where you wouldn’t have to run him out to right field, too.”
Photo credit: Joy R. Absalon
Chance Sisco
Sisco took a little step forward defensively for me last year. He at least cared, it looked like. Two years ago, when I saw him in 2016 in Double-A early in the year, his want to be a good catcher wasn’t really there. And I think last year he finally figured out that I’ve got to work at this to get better. Because he did get better last year as the year went on. There was just more energy. He was more engaged than before. Maybe that was the newness of being in the big leagues. Maybe that was him finally realizing there’s a reason nobody wants to catch. It’s the hardest job in the game. He’s got a good bat. It’s not gonna be a powerful bat, but he is gonna hit.”
Photo credit: Joy R. Absalon
Miguel Castro
“I loved what they did with him last year. Letting him go back to the minor leagues and stretching him out. He needs that. He was made a closer in the big leagues at 20, so he didn’t have enough experience. But I would certainly try him as a starter. That was a baffler to me that Colorado moved him.”
Photo credit: Joy R. Absalon
Tanner Scott
“He’s got the stuff to succeed. He reminds me of (former Oriole closer) Randy Myers. That kind of guy. He is gonna pitch at the back end of the game. There is going to be some deep counts. But what they did for him and Castro (at Double-A), when they would have them splitting games and stretching them out for three innings, helped both kids.”
Photo credit: Patrick Cavey
Ryan Mountcastle
“This kid is gonna hit, but they are gonna have to buy him a first baseman’s mitt. He can’t play on the left side of the infield and he can’t play second base, either. He’s just not capable. Every ball he throws across from third is an adventure, whether it’s gonna come close to hitting his mark. He’s got this funky arm action and release. But he is definitely gonna hit. And he’s a big RBI guy, too. He gets hits when it counts.”
Photo credit: Joy R. Absalon
Drew Dosch
“For me, he’s an up and down (Triple-A shuttle) guy. I’ve never seen anything that has jumped out at me, that I’ve said, ‘I really want to acquire this guy.’ I think he is a solid guy, he plays hard. He just doesn’t jump out at you with anything. But I do know some other guys that like him.”
Photo credit: Patrick Cavey
Some 40-man-roster pitchers
“I like David Hess (pictured above) a little bit. I think he’s got a chance to be a bottom-end starter. I like Stefan Crichton a little bit, too. (Jimmy) Yacabonis, I think, is just a thrower, but he’s got a good arm. Some of these kids just need to figure out how to pitch.”
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Good stuff Dan. And credit to you that this scout trusts you to talk openly. I always like the stories on our minor leaguers as that is where "hope springs eternal." Was surprised he didn't mention Cedric Mullins or DJ Stewart.
Keep up the great writing and hope to see you on Wall To Wall from time to time this winter.
Thanks. Mullins was hurt for much of the year so opportunities to see him were scarce. I forgot to ask about Stewart. He should have been on my radar.
Very encouraging report for most of these kids ... especially Castro ... but what I find a bit (OK ... more than bit) alarming is this scout's opionion that Mountcastle can't play the infield? This is the 1st I've heard of this. Wasn't this guy drafted to be a shortstop? Everything I heard was they had moved him to the hot corner in preparation for Manny's inevitable departure. What gives? And to top it off, he's gonna have to "get a 1st baseman's mitt"? Newsflash ... that position is taken for the next 5 years by the organization's albatross. Not good...
Other than that ... not a bad report on the system by an insider. Thanks Dan ... good stuff.
They knew he didn’t have the D to play SS in the majors. They still have hope he can play 3B, and it is early in his transformation. But it doesn’t look great.
It’s kind of funny to hear scouts give rave reviews on Castro. Every single NL team passed him over and a bunch of AL teams when he was on waivers and had options left last year. Hopefully he can repeat last years success out of the pen. I don’t have much for him in the rotation.
This confirms my thoughts from yesterday. The future is brighter than it has been for awhile. Just keep them healthy, be patient, and make room on the roster. This can change the entire complexity of the team. Makes the hometown fans excited about the team. Oh yeah, keep them standing during the National Anthem.
Still would like to see some high upside pitchers come calling.
Number one thing I noticed from the article was "organization getting better but not in the NYY Wash category". How can elite teams like them always be top 5 major league and top 5 minor league when the Orioles struggle consistently at both? Dan you may have hit on it yesterday--lack of scouting. Mountcastle another Trumbo/Mancini not what I wanted to see. Pitching has hope according to the scout. BTW I see where the "trading Manny" articles are hitting the presses.
New York and Washington both do a great job internationally too. Enough said. ... also, tis the season of rumors.
If we don’t change our stance on international FA’s we’ll never get much higher than we are right now. Certainly never top 5. Can’t trade your money for guys like Milton Ramos and Konrad or whatever his name is from Colorado and expect to have a great farm.
Great job Dan! This is both uplifting and cause for consternation because of the many "ifs".
Yeah. That’s kind of the rub on prospects. Promise and ifs.
Thanks Dan.
The only thing I disagreed with is that he said Sisco will not hit for power.
1) OPACY makes EVERYONE hit for power. (Makes me shake my head knowing this swing n' miss lineup Duquette built)
2) Hitters who use the middle of the field, eventually get bigger, stronger, and balls start going out.
Early prediction: Because of the 2 things I mention here, Sisco will hit 15 homers, if not more. I have seen him 3-4 games and his plate discipline and approach are unheard of, coming from this organization.
He’s never hit more than 9 in a season. But he is still young.
If JJ Hardy retires, the Os should hire him to work with Beckham and teach Mountcastle how to throw.