Now that the Orioles’ alternate training site is up and running, top prospects keep flooding in. The club on Thursday added left-hander DL Hall (Baltimore's No. 3 prospect), outfielder Yusniel Diaz (No. 7) and utility infielder Ramón Urías to their player pool, assigning all three players to train at their Prince George Stadium camp in Bowie, Md.
The additions swell the number of players in the Orioles’ pool to 56, including nine of the organization’s top 12 prospects. They have four remaining spots open for either incumbent prospects, 2020 Draftees, possible waiver claims or some combination of all three -- and the O's will have a fifth opening when left-hander Ty Blach, who underwent Tommy John surgery Wednesday, is officially placed on the 60-day injured list.
Top prospects still absent from Baltimore’s pool include right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (the club's No. 2 prospect), shortstop Gunnar Henderson (No. 6), lefty Zac Lowther (No. 10) and 2020 first-round Draft pick Heston Kjerstad. Club officials haven’t spoken specifically about plans for any of those players, but all could potentially be added in the coming days.
As of now, the Orioles are content with bringing Hall, their highest-touted left-handed prospect, and Diaz, the prize of the Manny Machado trade in 2018 into the fold. Hall, 21, was expected to begin the season with Double-A Bowie after pitching to a 3.46 ERA at Class A Advanced Frederick in 2019. It is also where Diaz, 23, spent much of the past two seasons, hitting .255 with 16 homers and a .770 OPS for the Baysox.
Urías, 26, was acquired on a waiver claim this spring from the Cardinals, having played in St. Louis’ system since signing in 2018 out of the Mexican League. He spent most of the last two seasons at Triple-A Memphis, batting .262 with 14 homers and a .773 OPS, all while seeing time at all four infield positions.
From the trainer’s room
• In addition to Blach, shortstop Richie Martin (right wrist fracture) also underwent surgery that Hyde called “very successful” on Wednesday. Martin is expected to miss two to three months, which could sideline him for the entire 2020 season.
• Struck in the right forearm by a comebacker last Friday, righty Dillon Tate is yet to begin throwing, per Hyde. Tate underwent an MRI earlier this week that revealed no structural damage, but he remains sore. Hyde said Tate, the club’s No.27 prospect, is day to day.
Play ball
Starting Thursday night, the Orioles will play a series of “Orange” vs. “White” intrasquad games under the lights at Camden Yards, complete with a working scoreboard, PA system and pumped-in crowd noise. Hyde chose four captains to draft teams of their teammates: Chris Davis, Jose Iglesias, LeBlanc and Cobb. He declined to disclose which player was selected with the No. 1 pick.
The goal is to simulate game action as well as possible in preparation for the club’s first exhibition contest on Sunday in Philadelphia.