Below is a recap of the team statistical leaders. For batters, the leaders needed a minimum of a 240 at bats to qualify. For pitcher, the qualifying leaders needed to have pitched at least 40 innings this Summer.
(Note: Josh Hader won’t be included in this due to being traded to the Astros)
| Rank | AVG | HR | RBI | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lucas Herbst .276 | Tucker Nathans 9 | Creede Simpson 49 | Tucker Nathans .337 | Tucker Nathans .467 |
| 2 | Tucker Nathans .271 | Creede Simpson 9 | Adrian Marin 48 | Wynston Sawyer .336 | Creede Simpson .385 |
| 3 | Nik Balog .266 | Wynston Sawyer 8 | Torsten Boss 45 | Creede Simpson .334 | Wynston Sawyer .384 |
| 4 | Adrian Marin .265 | Torsten Boss 7 | Lucas Herbst 41 | Torsten Boss .333 | Lucas Herbst .372 |
| 5 | Creede Simpson .248 | Herbst + Hutter 5 | Hutter + Lorenzo 41 | Lucas Herbst .324 | Nik Balog .371 |
| Rank | W | ERA | K/9 | WHIP | FIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parker Bridwell 8 | Lex Rutledge 1.45 | Lex Rutledge 9.35 | Lex Rutledge 1.02 | Lex Rutledge 2.67 |
| 2 | Matt Hobgood 7 | Dennis Torres 3.22 | Parker Bridwell 9.08 | Mychal Givens 1.24 | Brady Wager 2.76 |
| 3 | Juan Guzman 6 | Bennett Parry 3.49 | Bennett Parry 7.89 | Bennett Parry 1.30 | Mark Blackmar 3.32 |
| 4 | Rutledge + Taylor 4 | Matt Hobgood 3.71 | Mychal Givens 7.59 | Brady Wager 1.30 | Mychal Givens 3.36 |
| 5 | Rennie + Blackmar 4 | Matt Taylor 3.77 | Dennis Torres 7.46 | Luc Rennie 1.32 | Parker Bridwell 3.43 |
Instant Analysis (Hitters): Not much to discuss here when the team leader in average was .276.
– Lucas Herbst and Tucker Nathans both had good but not great seasons with Delmarva but are old for the level and look more like solid organizational players than potential big leaguers.
– Nathans is an intriguing story at least as an undrafted free agent signing that played both Soccer and Baseball at Fairfield. He has some versatility defensively and a decent batting eye with occasional pop at the plate. He might make a useful AAA depth type which wouldn’t be a bad outcome at all for someone undrafted.
– The best prospect of this mediocre bunch is 19 year old shortstop Adrian Marin, who held his own (but didn’t dominate) both offensively and defensively all year at Delmarva.
– Gregory Lorenzo has some tools (bat speed and running speed) and plays the game with an energizer bunny level of motor. However, his swing isn’t pretty and his pitch recognition is well below average leading to serious contact issues. He’s young but doesn’t look like anything more than a fringe prospect. The same can be said for Roderick Bernadina.
– Finally, there’s catcher Wynston Sawyer who is my pick for sleeper breakthrough candidate at Frederick next year. He had a better showing this year, repeating Delmarva, with improved plate discipline while tapping into his above average power a little more. If he can stay healthy and get a full season of at bats next year, he could become something more than the fringe prospect he is at the moment. Still, just 21.
Instant Analysis (Pitchers): Overall, it was a below average year for the Shorebirds in terms of pitching prospects for us to discuss. It doesn’t help that the best young pitcher Josh Hader was shipped away to Houston in the Bud Norris deal.
The most exciting talent of the bunch is Parker Bridwell; a returnee to the Shorebirds this year who showed significant growth in his ability to miss bats but needs to work on more consistent command from start to start. He’s an excellent athlete with a potential plus fastball and slider but is a work in progress to remain a starter. We’ll see how he handles the jump up to Frederick next year.
Branden Kline also stands out as an exciting young talent with a hard fastball and an above average slider. His season was cut short due an ankle injury unfortunately. His delivery still needs some altering and his fastball is straight. He probably ends up back in the bullpen.
Lex Rutledge might be the highest rated relief prospect in the Orioles minors (according to me). The lefthander has a strong, athletic build and some explosiveness in his delivery, allowing him to generate a fastball velocity in the 91-95 MPH range with some life and two breaking balls, the best of which is a power curve. He has his command issues at times but it didn’t matter as his raw stuff overwhelmed SALLY league batters. He could be knocking on the door for big league innings in 2014 if he dominates in Bowie like he did at Delmarva.
Matt Taylor had a nice full season in the Delmarva rotation after splitting time between relieving and starting last season. He’s a bit fringy as a SP prospect as his command is mediocre and while his fastball does have above average sink, it only tops out around 89 MPH. Longterm, I could see him getting a shot at pitching out of a major league bullpen but I’m not sold on him as a starter.
Our first two picks in the putrid ’09 Draft, Matt Hobgood and Mychal Givens both pitched out of the Delmarva bullpen. Both saw their velocities creep into the 93-95 MPH range as the season wore on which gives them some promise as potential bullpen options at the MLB level.
Top 5 Shorebirds Prospects
5) Matt Taylor – LHP
4) Lex Rutledge – LHP
3) Branden Kline – RHP
2) Parker Bridwell – RHP
1) Adrian Marin – SS
Others To Watch/ Juan Guzman – RHP, Wynston Sawyer – C, Mychal Givens – RHP, Matt Hobgood -RHP
Slade's Top Orioles Prospects 