Baltimore Orioles Prospects Update: Matt Wieters & Chris Tillman

by faketeams on May 14, 2008 7:00 AM EDT in Baseball

David Stockstill, Director of Minor League Operations for the Baltimore Orioles was the guest last Friday on John Sickels' "Down On The Farm" show on XM Radio. He provided some updates for a variety of the O's better known prospects. What stuck out to me was the conservative philospohy the Orioles are using with their players.

This was explicitly stated about the pitcher Chris Tillman, the top pitching prospect the team received from the Seattle Mariners in the Erik Bedard trade, and not so explicitly stated about last year's top draft pick, C Matt Wieters, who is tearing-up Hi A.

AAA Norfolk:
1. Garrett Olson: needs time to adjust to each new level...improved change-up
2. Mike Costanzo: very good athlete...can play several positions...valuable as a utility player
AA Bowie:
1. Nolan Reimold: over-swings because of pressure to get to majors.
2. Chris Tillman: live fastball..let him pitch...will be conservative promoting him due to past organizational errors made by being too aggressive
3. David Hernandez: batters do not see the ball well out of his hand
4. Jason Berken: 92-93 MPH, good slider and sinker, very good command
Hi A Frederick:
1. Matt Wieters: no timetable...will stay at Hi A for the foreseeable future
2. Billy Rowell: working on defense at 3B...learning not to pull every pitch
3. Jake Arrietta: viewed as a start...pitches get away from him becuase he tries to do too many things
4. Brandon Erbe: in tight spots, tires to throw harder...learning how to pitch
Low A Delmarva:
1. Tony Butler: longer arm in delivery...can't be as pinpoint in control as Garrett Olson can be...smoothed out delivery...if commands slider, can move quicker.

Here is an interview by Dave Laurila of Baseball Prospectus with Chris Tillman

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More on Tillman

From Jayson Stark:

FOR THE BIRDS: You often hear Chris Tillman, obtained by the Orioles in the Erik Bedard deal, referred to as a “future ace.” But one scout who covers the Eastern League - where Tillman is currently 3-0, with a 2.87 ERA and a .173 opponent batting average - says the 20-year-old right-hander has been over-ballyhooed. (Imagine that.)

“I don’t see him as a front-of-the-rotation guy,” the scout said. “I see him as more of a solid No. 4, No. 5 type guy. Don’t get me wrong. He’s got a good feel for pitching. He throws strikes. He’s got a very good feel for what he’s doing. But to me, he’s kind of like an Ian Kennedy—a guy who’s advanced for his level, as far as knowing how to pitch. But his stuff isn’t that dominating. I don’t see enough power pitches to call him an ace.”

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by faketeams on May 15, 2008 1:47 PM EDT reply actions