Here are Baltimore's 2022 Top 30 prospects
Joe Trezza
@JoeTrezzThree-plus years of rebuilding has transformed the Orioles system from top to bottom, reshaping it from one of baseball’s most vacant into one of the sport’s best. This season long-waiting fans should begin seeing the results of those efforts. The Orioles might not yet be ready to contend in full in 2022. But that day seems closer and closer. Reinforcements are on the way.
That calvary is headlined by No. 1 prospect Adley Rutschman and No. 2 prospect Grayson Rodriguez, who spent the second half of last season as the sport’s top overall and top pitching prospect, respectively. Rodriguez retained his title on the heels of an ascendant 2021, slotting in at No. 6 overall on MLB Pipeline’s new Top 100 Prospects list. That Rutschman was dethroned by Bobby Witt Jr. means little for his long-term prognosis; the first overall pick in the 2019 Draft’s debut is imminent. He could be in Baltimore by May.
The system sports three other Top 100 prospects, giving the O’s an impressive five total for the second straight year: Rutschman, Rodriguez, No. 64 Gunnar Henderson, No. 66 Colton Cowser and No. 90 D.L. Hall. The left-handed Hall could join Rodriguez — along with No. 10 righty Kyle Bradish and No. 13 righty Mike Baumann and/or No. 27 lefty Zac Lowther — in the Orioles rotation by mid-summer. A little further behind are exciting infielders Jordan Westburg and Coby Mayo, near-ready outfielder Kyle Stowers, 2020 second overall pick Heston Kjerstad, and many others.
In short, it’s the type of talent-rich system executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias vowed to build when he took over baseball operations after the 2018 season, warning the process of doing so would be painful. It was. But the Orioles revamped their Minor League operations, invested heavily in the Draft and began making splashes in the international market for the first time. As a result, the dark days may be over soon. These are the next generation of Orioles, and they’re almost here.
Here's a look at the Orioles' top prospects:
1. Adley Rutschman, C (MLB No. 2)
2. Grayson Rodriguez, RHP (MLB No. 6)
3. Gunnar Henderson, SS/3B (MLB No. 64)
4. Colton Cowser, OF (MLB No. 66)
5. D.L. Hall, LHP (MLB No. 90)
Complete Top 30 list »
Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the 2021 preseason list to the 2022 preseason list:
Jump: Kyle Stowers, OF (2021: 27 | 2022: 9)
After struggling in his first pro season, Stowers returned from the pandemic and led the O’s system with 27 homers, jumping three levels in 2021. He should begin the year in Norfolk with a chance to debut before the All-Star break. (Also: Coby Mayo 2021: 18 | 2022: 8)
Fall: Yusniel Diaz, OF (2021: 8 | 2022: 27)
Befallen by injuries for years, the prize of the Manny Machado trade endured a lost season in 2021, hitting .161 in 54 games. He’s now 25, four years removed from his impressive showing in the 2018 Futures Game, and been passed by Stowers and others on the organizational depth chart. (Also: Zac Lowther 2021: 13 | 2022: 28)
Best tools
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.
Hit: 60 -- Adley Rutschman (Colton Cowser, Connor Norby, Cesar Prieto)
Power: 65 -- Adley Rutschman
Run: 65 -- Reed Trimble
Arm: 70 -- Coby Mayo
Defense: 70 -- Adley Rutschman
Fastball: 70 -- Grayson Rodriguez (Felix Bautista)
Curveball: 55 -- D.L. Hall (Kyle Bradish, Zac Lowther, Cater Baumler)
Slider: 60 -- Grayson Rodriguez (Michael Baumann)
Changeup: 70 -- Grayson Rodriguez
Control: 60 -- Grayson Rodriguez
How they were built
Draft: 19 | International: 5 | Trade: 5 | Free agent: 1
Breakdown by ETA
2022: 12 | 2023: 7 | 2024: 5 | 2025: 2
Breakdown by position
C: 2 | 2B: 4 | 3B: 1 | SS: 6 | OF: 8 | RHP: 5 | LHP: 4