Rutschman, Mountcastle soar for Orioles
Each offseason, MiLB.com goes position by position across each system and honors the players -- regardless of age or prospect status -- who had the best seasons in their organization. Click here to locate your favorite club.The Orioles entered a rebuild last season with the trade of perennial All-Star Manny
Each offseason, MiLB.com goes position by position across each system and honors the players -- regardless of age or prospect status -- who had the best seasons in their organization. Click here to locate your favorite club.
The Orioles entered a rebuild last season with the trade of perennial All-Star Manny Machado to the Dodgers, and the returns from that deal -- along with other assets the organization acquired since then -- have begun to show in Baltimore's system. The organization finished 411-391 (.512) in 2019 as a pair of teams clinched postseason berths. Double-A Bowie made it to the Eastern League Finals, and Class A Delmarva claimed the South Atlantic League Northern Division crown before being ousted in the first round of the playoffs.
Baltimore ended the year with a quartet of MLB.com's Top 100 Prospects in
With an emphasis on developing arms in 2019, the O's feature 15 pitchers among their top 30 prospects. And as Baltimore's Minor League pitching coordinator Chris Holt explained, the philosophy on bringing those arms along has also evolved: "The results are fine, but what we're focused on and what everyone has bought into is the quality of work and having substance to each and every repetition. And the things they were able to learn this year ... they have an improved ability to know what they're working on and why, and that's been very encouraging."
Catcher --
"He was everything that was advertised," Orioles director of Minor League operations Kent Qualls said. "Just a complete player. A switch-hitting catcher with good power, and he made an easy transition into pro ball and was able to play at three levels his first year, which is always impressive. There was a little bit of an adjustment period, but once he got his feet on the ground, he really began to hit and perform well all around."
First baseman --
"He really just put together a fantastic year," Qualls said. "Really, the most complete year as a pro that he's had and what was interesting with all that offensive production was that he was also learning two new positions. We put him at first, and midway through the season, left field was introduced as well. So to have that year offensively while learning two new positions is pretty remarkable."
Second baseman --
"He was really the offensive catalyst for that Delmarva team at the top of their lineup," Qualls said. "When he hit, their offense performed very well and he really -- for a 20-year-old in his first full season -- just put together a fantastic year at the plate and in the field."
Third baseman --
"It's a small sample size, but to step in at Triple-A and perform right away is a good sign," Qualls said. "He is a really sound defensive player, and he started to show more and more power this year. We're looking forward to what's next for him."
MiLB.com 2019 Organization All-Stars: Team by Team >>
Shortstop --
"He's just a steady everyday player, and he was one of the key players in the turnaround for Bowie when he got promoted," Qualls said. "That's when the Bowie team turned the season around, and he was primarily in the leadoff role. But just a breakout season for him offensively. … Always a good reputation with his glove, he's got a true shortstop's glove. Good range, good arm, but a big step forward with his on-base and overall offensive play."
Outfielders
"He did miss some time twice with some nagging injuries, but we are just overall pleased with how he finished the season," Qualls said. "He really put it together at the plate midseason, and then he really finished strong. One of the leaders in the middle of that lineup for Bowie as they made a push for postseason and had a terrific year."
"He was very productive with Norfolk, and he would have put up monster numbers if he stayed there all year," Qualls said. "But he just grinded and earned his way back for a new big league opportunity this year and took full advantage of that opportunity."
"We signed him at end of Spring Training after an injury to
Designated hitter --
"When he was healthy and had consistent playing time, Ryan performed really well," Qualls said. "It takes a while to come back from an oblique strain, and then to get the timing back even, but he was a consistent DH with good power and slugging numbers."
Right-handed starting pitcher --
"He really put it all together this year and once he got to Double-A, he really took off," Holt said. "He improved his delivery quite a bit and was more consistent with the movement to his fastball and breaking pitches. He was working to improve his curveball and changeup, and largely was able to improve both."
Honorable mention:
Left-handed starting pitcher --
"I saw him for the first time in person in Spring Training, and I saw, as advertised, a kid who has some deception quality to his delivery," Holt said. "A lot of poor swings on his fastball recognition. Hitters don't really pick it up. But on the year, he really worked to improve his off-speed weapons and improve his delivery, and it was a really solid year developmentally for him. The work ethic and focus behind his work was also great to see."
Relief pitcher --
"The slider that he has is a very special pitch, and he threw it aggressively this year," Holt said. "He also has continued the work to improve his delivery. There is still work he needs to [get] done, but as far as the year he put together, it was encouraging to see how he learned about going about his work in a more focused manner. He never wastes a repetition."
Rob Terranova is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter, @RobTnova24.