Young Arms

Here at Baltimore Sports Report we are going to keep you updated to how the top Orioles prospects are doing in the farm System.

C  Matt Wieters– After a slow start, the Orioles top prospect has raised his average steadily over the last week. He had two hits in Monday nights win which raised his average currently to .222. Even though he’s started slow, watch out for Wieters in the coming weeks to start to understand the Triple-A level and begin to tear through International League pitching.

OF Nolan Reimold– One of the many options the Orioles have that could play leftfield in the big leagues, Nolan Reimold has started well in his first week with Triple-A Norfolk. Through the first week he has 2 homeruns and is hitting .429 with 5 RBI’s. On Saturday night Reimold had 3 RBI’s’ in a game pitched by the Rays top pitching prospect David Price. Reimold has made an early statement that he still belongs among the O’s top prospects.

OF Lou Montanez– Like Reimold, Montanez has given the Orioles something to consider through Norfolks first week. Through 5 games Montanez is hitting .500 with a total of 11 hits. He has 2 doubles and leads the Tides in On Base Percentage with a OBS of .522.

Lou Montanez

SP Brad Bergesen– Though his record indicates he is o-1, you will still be impressed how he pitched in his only start of the season. Probably the first pitcher to get promoted this season out of the young prospects, Bergesen allowed only 1 run through five innings while striking out six. His five innings of work signaled that more positives will come from Bergeusen while pitching in Triple-A.

SP Chris Tillman– Chris Tillman made quite a first impression on the International League in his first start. The 21 year old prospect went 4 innings without allowing a hit and striking out 6. Although he did issue 3 walks, Tillman’s debut was impressive considering the age difference between himself and many of the leagues hitters.

1B Brandon Snyder– After finishing well in the Carolina League last season, Snyder looks to have carried that success with him to Double A. In his first 6 games, Snyder is hitting .462 with 2 homeruns and 7 RBIs. Snyder, who hit his second homerun last night helping lead Bowie to a win, also leads the team with a slugging percentage of .731. If Snyder continues to hit with such proficiently, he could be a valuable infielder to the O’s in the future.

Brandon Snyder

SP Jake Arrieta– Arrieta missed the second half of his Carolina League season last year to pitch for Team USA in the Olympics, an experience he hopes will help him dominate Double-A hitters. In one start, Arrieta allowed 0 runs through four innings of work while striking out 8. A extremely confident pitcher, look for Arrieta to continue to mow down hitters as he tries to make his case to appear in Camden Yards sometime this season.

SP Troy Patton– Often forgotten among some of the younger top pitching prospects, Patton dominated in his first start with Double-A Bowie. Winning his only start so far this young season, Patton pitched four shutout innings allowing only 3 hits while striking out 3. Once a top pitching prospect with the Astros and the key piece of the Miguel Tejada trade, Patton could be one of the surprises in the Orioles farm system should he continue his success.

Check back in throughout the season as we watch the Orioles top prospects all season long.