Last week, we looked at possible candidates for the Orioles’ starting rotation in 2022 who were on the 40-man roster and had major league experience. Now, let’s look at some of the top candidates who are on the 40-man roster without major league experience and a few who aren’t.
Kyle Bradish
Background: Bradish, a 25-year-old right-hander, came to the Orioles as part of the four-player package from the Los Angeles Angels for starting pitcher Dylan Bundy in December 2019.
Bradish’s 2021: After three strong starts at Double-A Bowie in which he allowed just seven hits in 13 2/3 scoreless innings while striking out 26 and walking five, Bradish was promoted to Triple-A Norfolk. Bradish was 5-5 with a 4.26 ERA in 21 games with the Tides. He struck out 105 and walked 39 in 86 2/3 innings and earned a spot on the 40-man roster.
Outlook: Bradish is likely to see time with the Orioles but is expected to begin the season at Norfolk.
DL Hall
Background: The 23-year-old left-hander was the Orioles’ first-round pick in 2017 and is considered the second-best pitching prospect in the organization behind Grayson Rodriguez.
Hall’s 2021: After a solid beginning to his season, Hall suffered a left elbow injury in June and didn’t pitch again. In seven starts at Bowie, Hall was 2-0 with a 3.13 ERA. He struck out 56 in 31 2/3 innings while walking 16.
Hall was added to the 40-man roster in November.
Outlook: Hall fell behind Rodriguez because of the elbow injury. Although it’s possible that he returns to Bowie to start the season, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Hall with the Orioles in the latter part of the season.
Kevin Smith
Background: Smith is a 24-year-old left-hander who was acquired from the New York Mets in August 2020 as part of the deal for relief pitcher Miguel Castro.
Smith’s 2021: Like Bradish, Smith had a strong beginning to his season at Bowie. He was 0-1 with a 1.04 ERA in six games. Smith struck out 37 and walked 10 in 26 innings.
At Norfolk, Smith was 3-6 with a 6.23 ERA. He struck out 68 in 56 1/3 innings but walked 49. He was added to the 40-man roster in November.
Outlook: In order for Smith to earn a spot with the Orioles, he’ll have to improve his control.
Non-roster candidates
Kyle Brnovich
Background: Brnovich, a 24-year-old right-hander, came from the Angels along with Bradish, Isaac Mattson and Zach Peek in the Bundy trade.
Brnovich’s 2021: In eight starts at Aberdeen, Brnovich was 4-1 with a 2.36 ERA. He struck out 48 and walked 11 in 34 1/3 innings. After his promotion to Bowie, Brnovich was 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA in 60 2/3 innings. He struck out 75 and walked 15.
Outlook: Because Hall and Rodriguez have attracted so much attention, Brnovich’s 2021 was overlooked. His strikeout to walk ratio of 4.73 was excellent, and he seems like a possibility to start with the Orioles later in the season.
Grayson Rodriguez
Background: The 21-year-old right-hander was the Orioles’ top draft pick in 2018. He’s considered the top pitching prospect in baseball.
Rodriguez’s 2021: Rodriguez began the season at High-A Aberdeen and was 3-0 with a 1.54 ERA in five games for the IronBirds. He allowed just 11 hits while striking out 40 and walking five in 23 1/3 innings.
After his promotion to Bowie, Rodriguez was 6-1 with a 2.60 ERA in 79 2/3 innings, allowing just over five hits per nine innings. He struck out 121 and walked 22.
Outlook: Rodriguez should begin the season at Triple-A Norfolk and should earn a promotion to the Orioles, perhaps as early as June.
Drew Rom
Background: Rom is a 22-year-old left-hander who was the Orioles’ fourth-round pick in 2018. He had a 1.76 ERA in 10 games at Gulf Coast in 2018 and a 2.93 ERA in 21 games at Low-A Delmarva in 2019.
Rom’s 2021: Rom was 8-0 with a 2.79 ERA in 14 games for Aberdeen, striking out 73 and walking 17 in 67 2/3 innings. At Bowie, Rom was 3-1 with a 3.83 ERA in nine games, striking out 47 and walking nine in 40 innings.
Outlook: Rom also has been overlooked because of Hall and Rodriguez and has quietly put together a strong minor league resume. Like Brnovich, he had a strong strikeout to walk ratio, 4.62 in 2021. He could return to Bowie or begin at Norfolk and is also a possibility to pitch for the Orioles late in the season.
Summary: The players who don’t need to be put on the 40-man roster yet make this candidate list a strong one.
I didn’t include three other starters in the organization — Blaine Knight, Ofelky Peralta and Cody Sedlock — because they’re eligible for the Rule 5 draft, which has been delayed by the Major League Baseball lockout.
Orioles’ mini-camp: The Orioles are holding a mini-camp in Sarasota this week for 14 pitchers who joined the organization as draft picks or undrafted free agents last year. The camp, which is being run by Justin Ramsey, who will be Triple-A Norfolk’s pitching coach; Joe Haumacher, a Florida Complex League coach; and Ryan Goll, who was Aberdeen’s development coach last season, will run through Saturday. The Orioles will conduct mini-camps throughout the month.
Call for questions: I’ll be answering Orioles questions later this week. Please leave yours in the comment box or email them to: Rich@BaltimoreBasReball.com.
BALTIMORE—What happened? Cole Irvin pitched seven scoreless innings, Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman and Ryan Mountcastle…
A day after he was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, Jackson Holliday was hitless in four…
The plaque on the back wall of the press box at Oriole Park said it…
BALTIMORE—Cole Irvin had his second straight strong start, pitching seven shutout innings, giving up four…
Mike Devereaux played seven seasons with the Orioles and made some outstanding plays in center…
BALTIMORE---Despite just three rehab starts, manager Brandon Hyde said on Saturday that right-hander Kyle Bradish,…
View Comments
Rodriguez is my definition of a youngen, I wouldn’t screw with his time, whatever the new agreement ends up, Hall, not old, I’d have him up to pitch as well, want to be the best, need to see the best…go O’s…
I do hope we’re able to keep Knight, Peralta and sedlock but doubtful. Hopefully they snag someone good in return to make up for their loss. We hear mostly about Rodriguez, Hall, and Bradish but Brnovich, Rom, and Smith are intriguing pieces too. I’m glad they have some decent pitching even with all the focus on position prospects the last several drafts.
Bradish showed pretty strong numbers at Norfolk last season, and he is 25 years old ... what would be the point of sending him back to Norfolk to start the season? Given that the Orioles had one of the worst pitching staffs in MLB history last year, why wouldn't he be on the opening day roster?
Rich: Question for you. Let’s assume the CBA isn’t resolved in time for the Majors spring training. The minor league teams are allowed to have their own spring training (and season). Are Hyde and his MLB staff allowed to attend and conduct the minors camps?
With so many pitching prospects, even a couple have to turn out well, you would think!
I’m willing to wait and watch. The article needs to ask this question: can Hyde manage this situation???
Grayson is a legit #1 Starter prospect. DL Hall isn't too far behind talent-wise. He just needs to get his elbow recovered.
Hoping that 2 or 3 of the rest of this bunch can step in and give the Orioles an ability go 4-5 innings every start and stabilize things for the rest of the team.
It is a decent possibility over time IF they aren't thrown to the wolves too soon.
The pitching will rise up in this organization in unconventional ways---which is clearly the path that Elias is taking here.. hope that his contrarian plan works..
Yes, drafting 3 prospects (pre ME) and ME trading for three prospects definitely qualifies as unconventional and contrarian. No doubt.
Rich lists six prospects, you comment G Rod and DL Hall are legit prospects, then write you hope 2 or 3 or the rest (meaning 4 as I read it) can step in but they shouldn't be thrown to the wolves too soon.
Off your commenting game today BC. FEN!
You are right about that FEN...it's all good.
We all want the same thing for the Orioles. And I understand why you would be frustrated w Elias.
Sad that we would hope for 4-5 innings per start.
C'mon BC ... a month ago you were selling us on the idea that the boy genius was stockpiling middle infielders to serve as trade bait to build the pitching staff. Has there been a change in plans? To me, it looks like he's aiming for another high draft pick next year. Unconventional indeed. Just lose baby.
BRR,
Not trying to sell anyone, just offer an individual take on where the Orioles are heading and supporting their GM. A GM who has the unenviable task of getting this team out of the cesspool of horrible leadership for many years.
I very much believe that Elias has a plan for when they need more Starting Pitching he will trade for it.
The question for '22 and '23 is this: can these young pitchers mentioned in yesterday and today's Postings be enough to enable the team to be competitive (let's say .400-.500) in 2022? I don't think so... Is this because Elias is "Tanking"? I choose to think otherwise and say no...
The Amateur Draft this April is loaded w talent the Orioles will very well take advantage of.
After next year there will be a lot of talent in the System for him to make any kind of trade to balance the roster out.
Is this the plan any of us would choose? Doubtful..
Is this a plan that can work? Stranger things have happened in our world in the recent past....and I choose to see the cup as half full...
Where are you in Texas? Hoping that it is a lot nicer there than South Baltimore presently.
My fear is that DL Hall may follow in Hunter Harvey's injury plagued career path only to be waived and then claimed by the SF Giants. H Harvey is listed as 6' 3" 210 lbs, DL Hall seems to be whispier (is too a word!) at 6' 2" 195.
This is my amateur opinion only, but I believe that DL Hall has a helluva lot more gumption and internal motor than Master Hunter Harvey.
Gumption and internal motor doesn't keep DL Hall from getting injured though it appears...
My cat's proposal to move the OPACY LF wall back 30' and raise the height of the wall to 12' has been accepted by the genius pair Mike and Sig...
I'll 2nd your cat. Lately, they haven't been able to sell those seats anyway.
I’ll 3rd your cat, it seems to have just as good of senses as Mikey…go O’s…
Someone help me out here. I’m not sure if it’s a good thing or a bad thing to think there’s more talent in the guys mentioned in this piece than in the ones mentioned the other day. Is that good or bad?
I think Rich outlined the guys that have around the team in yesterday's posting.
Today is about the guys that are on the cusp of being called up at some point this year because of their tenure and experience in the Minor Leagues--guys that have pitched in AA and/or AAA that have the innings pitched/games started to be called up to MLB. There is definitely more talent in todays group (w the exception of John Means) than yesterday's.
The Orioles moving the LF wall up from 7 feet 12 feet and back 30 feet from the left field pole to the BP is way overdue....
This is very very welcome news to every fan of this Franchise.
It should be pointed out that the team relied heavily on the Analytics of Elias and Sig Megdal.... He is hellbent on getting things going in the right direction on all fronts...
C'MON MAN!!! ANALYTICS?!?? REALLY BC?
Nobody needed analytics to tell you that the walls at OPACY walls were way too close to home. All you had to do was show up for BP and count the souvenirs flying over the left field wall. FireENow's cat knew it and it can't even count ...can it?
BC, I hope your optimism proves correct. But I wonder how you measure being 'hellbent'. Whatever it means, will grit be sufficient to achieve Elias's goals? Maybe. I also wonder when getting things going right on all fronts, assuming that this is the case here, will produce a competitive team. Until his master plan actually succeeds, ME remains merely a potential rescuer of Oriole glory.
BTW, I also wonder if the changes to the LF wall will change the outcome of more than one or two games.
Moving the left wall back 30' means nothing with our non-existant corps of relief pitchers. All this would accomplish is to put our 5 major league hitters in a tougher position since they play 81 games at the yard while all the other teams in the division play 9 games there. So, who are they hurting?