The Orioles’ best prospects are getting more recognition. Five Orioles are listed among Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects.
Catcher Adley Rutschman, the overall No. 1 draft choice in 2019, is second. Wander Franco, a shortstop in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, is the top prospect in baseball for the second straight year.
The other Orioles in the top 100 are right-handed pitcher Grayson Rodriguez (22nd), left-hander DL Hall (59th), outfielder Heston Kjerstad, last year’s top Oriole draft choice and the second overall (62nd), and first baseman/outfielder Ryan Mountcastle (63rd).
Mountcastle had 126 at-bats for the Orioles in the 60-game 2020 season, four short of rookie status exemption.
The Orioles are one of five teams with five prospects in the Top 100. Arizona, Detroit, Seattle and Tampa Bay are the others.
San Diego has seven Top 100 prospects, the most in baseball. Miami and Toronto have six.
Washington is the only major league team without a Top 100 prospect.
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The rankings are confusing, how can Mountcastle even be included, I understand, he has rookie eligibility, but to have others ranked ahead of him, particularly Kjerstad boggles my mind...go O’s...
Agreed. Has Kjerstad ever even swung a wood bat in competition?
I'm beginning to believe that these lists (even baseball America's) have become nothing more than a marketing tool. It always seems to be a flavor of the month thing.
Agree & there really seems to be no consensus or continuity in the rankings...go O’s...
Kjerstad has a higher ceiling. My guess is defensively they think he is better than Mountcastle. Hard to compare someone who hasn’t even taken batting practice, with someone who had success in the majors this past season. Hopefully in a couple years, these guys are off the list because they are in Baltimore. That will be more relevant than a prospect list. Don’t forget a lot of people had Ryan Leaf over Peyton Manning. It’s all subjective
Number 1 overall ranking for the second straight year, Wander Franco was an international signing from the Dominican Republic for 3.825mm by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2017. Adley Rutschman signed for 8.1mm which was more than double as the number 1 pick in 2019. So, I'm really glad the Orioles are now prepared and committed to the international signing of the better players. Also, Franco has 3 plus years in the Ray's system all below double A and still wasn't called up to the majors. Vlad Guerrero Jr. Played 91 games at double and triple A combined before he was called up by the Blue Jays. So, continue to be smart on that front as well.
And continue the great work Mike Elias, hopefully in 2 years this team will be a playoff and then world series champion soon enough. That's something I can certainly wait for, because as they say, Rome wasn't built in a day!
Wow! You really opened my eyes with the facts on Franco’s signing vis-a-vis Rutschman signing. Especially since they are now 1-2 major league prospects. Once again the Rays have a gifted young player who will no doubt be gone in 6-7 years. That’s beginning to sound all too familiar. Thanks for the info.