O's minor leaguers in '09 -- Shortstops
Wow, did anyone watch the American League Central tiebreaker between the Twins and Tigers tonight? What an amazing game between division rivals.
That's the perfect example of exciting playoff baseball. I hope the rest of the games are that good. In case you missed it, the Twins won in 12 innings.
Anyway, let's get to the next installment of my positional rankings for the 2009 season.
Today, we'll talk about shortstops.
Remember, this isn't necessarily a list of prospects. There are plenty of those kind of lists which are composed by people who get paid a lot of money -- OK, maybe not a lot -- to analyze the prospect status of players.
I'm just here to provide news about the minor leaguers in the organization, so my lists are focusing on several factors. The performance of the players in 2009 and potential to help the Orioles in the major leagues are key considerations.
I admit that I'm not perfect, which is why I'm asking everyone to include their lists in the comments below each entry.
There are a lot of diehard fans around the country who are passionate about the Orioles. I'm sure everyone can provide excellent analysis about the players in the organization, so let's hear your opinions.
In the organization, there are a lot of marginal players at the shortstop position. None of the players really shined above the others this season. It's difficult to rank the players because everyone struggled for the most part in 2009.
Here is how I would rank the top five shortstops in the Orioles' minor league system.
1. Pedro Florimon Jr.
2. Blake Davis
3. Garabez Rosa
4. Moises Ciriaco
5. Greg Miclat
Florimon earns the top spot because he played well during the early part of the season. The 22-year-old infielder represented the Single-A Frederick Keys in the California/Carolina League All-Star Game.
Overall, Florimon batted .259 with nine home runs and 69 RBIs in 122 games while splitting time between the Keys and Double-A Bowie Baysox. He hit .267 in 115 games for Frederick before going 2-for-22 (.091) in seven games with Bowie at the end of the season.
After only batting .223 with no home runs and 19 RBIs in 81 games for the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds in 2008, Florimon showed flashes of offensive potential this season. He finished tied for fourth in the Carolina League with 32 doubles and sixth in the league with 76 runs scored. Florimon was also third on the Keys in RBIs and tied for third on the team in home runs.
Florimon needs to improve his defense, however, if the Orioles expect him to make a contribution in the major leagues. He committed 36 errors, including 35 in Frederick, during the 2009 season. There's no way to spin that statistic in a positive manner.
Davis is the closest to the major leagues among the shortstops in the organization, but he took a step back due to a stress fracture in his left foot during spring training.
After batting .320 with one home run and five RBIs in 13 games on an injury rehabilitation assignment with the short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds, Davis joined the Triple-A Norfolk Tides.
The 25-year-old shortstop slumped at the Triple-A level. He hit .211 with one home run and 14 RBIs in 55 games for the Tides. Davis scored 21 runs with Norfolk this season.
Davis committed 14 errors in 68 games this season. In my opinion, he's not as bad defensively as the numbers might lead you to believe. Still, the errors need to be eliminated.
Rosa is the youngest of the players on the list, which gives him more time to prove that he'll be able to help in the major leagues at some point in the future. His power potential is intriguing, but the rest of his statistics this season need to improve.
The young shortstop, who will turn 20 on Oct. 12, only batted .206 with seven home runs and 30 RBIs in 75 games with the Shorebirds and IronBirds in 2009.
Rosa hit .125 (4-for-32) with one home run and five RBIs in 11 games for Delmarva earlier this season before batting .218 with a team-leading six home runs and 25 RBIs in 64 games for Aberdeen. He also finished tied for second in the New York-Penn League with six triples and added eight doubles and 28 runs scored for the IronBirds.
Ciriaco is a player to watch as he progresses through the organization.
The 21-year-old shortstop batted .261 with one home run and 19 RBIs in 51 games for the Rookie-level GCL Orioles this season. He finished tied for seventh in the Gulf Coast League with 14 stolen bases and second on the Orioles with 26 runs scored.
I'm going to pick Miclat in the final spot on my rankings.
The biggest knock against the 22-year-old shortstop is that power isn't in his vocabulary. Miclat hasn't hit a home run at the college or professional level, and I'm not sure if he has ever hit one.
His speed, however, is a major asset for the organization. The Orioles' fifth-round selection in the 2008 MLB draft collected 26 stolen bases -- including 25 for the Shorebirds -- this season. Miclat batted .228 with 14 doubles, 49 runs scored and 22 RBIs in 111 games for Delmarva before playing in six games for the Keys.
How would you rank the top five players?
Categories: O's minor leaguers in '09
Comments
This lists underscores the fact that the Orioles are very weak in middle infield depth. None of the second basemen jump out at you and certainly none of the shortstops do, either. Luckily, we have one of the better 2B locked up for another three years, but we aren't as lucky at SS.
I guess the best of the two groups is Turner, and he's in his first year with the organization. Could he or has he ever played SS? Davis is the only other guy to watch, the others just seem to be minor league versions of Mario Mendoza. None of them seem to have a grip on playing D and none look like they can swing the bat. Let's hope Davis can develop and maybe Givens can show some promise. Otherwise, it's Izturis for the foreseeable future.
Posted by: ken | October 7, 2009 12:25 AM
Hard to argue with your choices here, but I expect next year around this time, Givens will be at the top of this list. At least, I hope that's how it plays out.
Posted by: Chris in Hawaii | October 7, 2009 2:19 AM
I think you're right on this.
Here is what Baseball America had to say about Florimon in their season recap of each minor league: "Florimon more than anyone else (has his supporters) because of his ability to play shortstop. He's lean, athletic, runs well, throws well and shows good actions in the field. The question is whether his hitting will translate to the higher levels, and that strikeout rate is a little higher than I'd like to see for a guy who doesn't hit for a lot of power."
Question - will Florimon move up to Bowie next year?
I'm very curious to see Mychal Givens next year. Baseball America believes he is a better pitching prospect than a SS; but they said the same about Nick M., and I would love to see Mychal prove them as wrong.
Keep up the great work...looking forward to seeing how our guys perform in the Arizona league.
Posted by: Rich Bookheimer | October 7, 2009 5:48 AM
Great game between Twins and Tigers - Twins class act by sharing moments with fans after the game. MLB travesty by allowing schedule of playoff less that 24 hours after completion of game.
Posted by: Jack | October 7, 2009 7:36 AM
The Orioles fixed the outfield shortage but neglected to do the same with infielders and the pipeline now looks bleak. That said, I'll rate Blake #1 based on his year at Bowie in 2008 with an injury caveat in 2009. The rest of the guys are all filler not worth rating though I really appreciate your efforts in that regard. The real question this leads to is how can the O's fill 3 of 4 infield positions when their reputation scares FA's away and their minor league program is so devoid of prospects at SS & 3B. I'm so glad McPhail resisted trading Roberts!
Posted by: ziggy | October 7, 2009 7:40 AM
never saw any of these guys so don't have a lot to go but what i read. but i would vote for robert andino as the next starting s.s. he's young. showed when given the chance to start he can field the position and hit pretty well particularly with men on base.
Posted by: fkterp | October 7, 2009 8:33 AM
No particular order needed because none of these players will ever see the major leagues...this organization has no credible prospects at shortstop which is a major deficiency.
Posted by: tntoriole | October 7, 2009 9:41 AM
Florimon is 22 in Single A. That means he's not that good.
To bad Sano isnt at the top of this list. What kind of commitment does this team have? Its funny the team they are modeling themselves after signed him. Its not like the Twins have more revenue that the Birds.
Again, the wizards of the warehouse fail to act. I have tried but I cannot jump ship. All I can do is wait for the season to season slow death.
Posted by: Cereal Blogger | October 7, 2009 9:50 AM
Cereal -
I don't think it makes sense to make any judgement regarding the Sano deal at this point. We don't know the entire story behind the negotiations, and there could be a very good reason why he didn't sign here..... maybe he didn't want to?
Plus we will not even know if this was a missed opportunity for about 2-4 years, when he will either be breaking into the majors and maybe making an impact, or bagging groceries somewhere in St. Paul..... or Santo Domingo.
In my opinion it makes more sense to sign Givens for about $950k than to throw $5 mil + at this kid who may or may not be 16 years old.
Posted by: jeffChill | October 7, 2009 11:00 AM
I'm very glad the Os have Iztauras and Roberts. I think Bell is a very good prospect at 3b. That being said, there doesn't appear to be a viable cleanup hitter on the horizan. We're going to have to trade prospects to get one or continue to give the division away to the Yanks and Sox.
Posted by: Tom | October 7, 2009 11:35 AM
I agree with your list. Back from Burlington, Kansas. Nice place.
Posted by: Herb | October 7, 2009 2:56 PM
Who are these guys?
Posted by: Grumpy Old Man | October 7, 2009 3:22 PM
I think Blake should be number one. He had a great spring training and then got hurt. Injuries that result in along absence and returning in the middle of the year when everyone else is heating up is difficult. I believe he will be a solid hitter in themajors, but because of the injury this year 2011 may be his time. Regarding the fielding of all these guys, I am reminded that Derek Jeter had something like 32 errors in his last year at AAA. And he turned out okay.
One comment about the third pick in the draft, I hope the O's will pick a college player (like Weiters) that plays 1B or 3B and is almost major league ready.
Next year is more growing pains but better win-loss record because of pitching. Watch out for 2011.
Posted by: Ray | October 7, 2009 3:41 PM
1. Mychal Givens
2. Jonathan Schoop
3. Miclat
4. Florimon
5. Rosa
Givens is first round talent and I believe it will show up early next year. Schoop is a 16-17 year old who had an average year but has the talent to be a high end prospect.
Posted by: Justin | October 7, 2009 10:49 PM
Mychal Givens is ahead of all 5 of the SS named, and still may not make it. This team had better find a way to JJ Hardy on this team!! No SS and no #4,5,or 6 batters.
Posted by: dspedden | October 8, 2009 10:03 AM
JeffChill,
Neither Givens or Sano are a proven commodity. But you can never have too many bodies. It makes sense. Do you think Sano is the only SS in the Twins system? The bottom line is that to compete, you add the young players no matter how many you have. You cant just draft Givens & think we are good there. Thats the old way of Oriole thinking. Remember Angelos veto'd a former GM's preference to draft Steven Drew b/c we already had Tejada on the MLB level. Dumb...just dumb. You add players...wherever & whenever you can get them.
Dumb calls like that make me have doubt in the future.
Posted by: Cereal Blogger | October 8, 2009 11:27 AM
Andino is already on the roster, young, talented and will only progress. The o's need to concentrate on the corner positions,, Wigginton will provide adequate backup to the infield. Fiorntino at first, what a concept, he is a gamer, might just work.
Posted by: John | October 8, 2009 3:31 PM
Andino is already on the roster, young, talented and will only progress. The o's need to concentrate on the corner positions,, Wigginton will provide adequate backup to the infield. Fiorntino at first, what a concept, he is a gamer, might just work.
Posted by: John | October 8, 2009 3:31 PM
I agree with you on Andino. People seem to forget he was to be the number one SS for the Marlins until they got Ramirez. But I disagree with you on Fiorentino at 1B. I'd much rather see Michael Aubrey over Fiorentino. Aubrey is a better fielder, and hitter in my humble opinion. That said, given my choice I'd rather have a 35HR, 100RBI guy at 1B, of which Aubrey or Fiorentino are not.
Posted by: Booger | October 11, 2009 8:04 AM
This horrendous shortage of middle infielders I would hang on MacPhail a bit. In this blind rage to add more pitching, we've overlooked a critical need and now we're paying the piper. I would not be opposed to moving Roberts if we could bring in a top notch SS prospect to go with Bell at third. I can hear the Roberts Lovers cringe now but realistically friends how much worse off would we be with this guy?? And to get a SS we could hang our hats on for ten years seems like a non-brainer to me. 2Bs are a dime a dozen anyways...Happy Sunday Peter
Posted by: Steve Johnson | October 11, 2009 9:57 AM
Your list is probably correct at this point, but Davis might move up to genuine prospect with another year of healthy AAA time. Aren't he and Turner tight?
Posted by: rphall | October 13, 2009 5:37 PM