Top talent could come by 2009, but bats are scarce among top prospects.
After churning out three of the parent club’s five starting pitchers for this season, the Orioles’ farm system is reloaded with some quality talent. While two of the top prospects listed below are hitters, the farm is generally barren when it comes to big bats.
Here is The Examiner’s take on the Orioles’ the top 10 prospects, including where they’ll likely spend 2007 and when fans can expect to see them in Baltimore:
1 » BILLY ROWELL, 3B
» The skinny: Rowell, 19, is earmarked as Melvin Mora’s replacement and a future No. 4 or 5 hitter.
» Likely 2007 level: Low-A Delmarva
» ETA in Baltimore: 2009
2 » NOLAN REIMOLD, OF
» The skinny: A tremendous athlete with 30-homer potential, Reimold could be the club’s left fielder of the future.
» Likely 2007 level: Double-A Bowie
» ETA in Baltimore: Sept. 2007/mid-2008
3 » BRANDON ERBE, RHP
» The skinny: Just 19, the 6-foot-4 McDonogh grad is on the fast track, armed with a powerful fastball that reaches the high-90s.
» Likely 2007 level: High-AFrederick
» ETA in Baltimore: 2009
4 » GARRETT OLSON, LHP
» The skinny: Could be a key reliever now, but should emerge as a No. 4 or 5 starter by September.
» Likely 2007 level: Triple-A Norfolk
» ETA in Baltimore: Mid-2007
5 » RADHAMES LIZ, RHP
» The skinny: The club will be patient with the 23-year-old, but command and stamina issues could make him as a late-inning reliever.
» Likely 2007 level: Bowie/Norfolk
» ETA in Baltimore: Sept. 2007
6 » HAYDEN PENN, RHP
» The skinny: After a rough 2006, the 22-year-old will start at Triple-A but should see time in Baltimore eventually.
» Likely 2007 level: Norfolk
» ETA in Baltimore: Mid-2007
7 » PEDRO BEATO, RHP
» The skinny: After a strong debut, the 2006 sandwich-round pick will make the jump to full-season ball this year.
» Likely 2007 level: Delmarva/Frederick
» ETA in Baltimore: 2009
8 » JIM HOEY, RHP
» The skinny: Hoey, 24, jumped from Delmarva to Baltimore in one year. He’s slated to be the future set-up man to closer Chris Ray.
» Likely 2007 level: Norfolk
» ETA in Baltimore: Mid-2007
9 » BRANDON SNYDER, 1B/C
» The skinny: The 2005 first-round pick had a terrible 2006. A position change is likely for 2007, and at 20, he can climb back into the picture with a good summer.
» Likely 2007 level: Delmarva
» ETA in Baltimore: 2009
10 » JAMES JOHNSON, RHP
» The skinny: The organization’s pitcher of the year in 2005, Johnson stalled a bit last year despite making his big-league debut.
» Likely 2007 level: Norfolk
» ETA in Baltimore: Sept. 2007
