Orioles: Wieters honored again by Baseball America (updated)
Orioles catcher Matt Wieters was named Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America at the end of last season. Today, the magazine released its top 100 prospects for 2009 and he was at the top of that list, too.
Guess that shouldn't come as a great surprise, but Wieters was chosen over Tampa Bay Rays pitcher David Price, who came up late in the season and starred in last year's American League Championship Series. Here's the link to the entire list.
"It's a great honor, but you have to look at it as what I did last year and this is a whole new year,'' he said. "You can look at that kind of stuff in the offseason, but when spring training comes around, you've got to really get back going and focus on this year."
The Orioles have three prospects in the top 25 -- the other two are Chris Tillman (No. 21) and Brian Matusz (No. 25). Jake Arrieta is ranked No. 67.
> 
Comments
Three of the top 25 is gooood. I don't know about their ETA's, though. 2009 for Tillman? I don't think we'll see him in the majors this year. Probably Weiters and maybe Matusz, but not Tillman. He's only 20.
Posted by: Anonymous | February 24, 2009 1:47 PM
I could see Tillman getting a september call up, but I was surprised by the 2009 ETA on Matusz.
Posted by: Matt | February 24, 2009 2:44 PM
I agree. Although I do not think we will be seeing Matusz either. What's the sense of rushing a pitcher who hasn't even started playing pro ball yet? He shouldn't even be considered for our rotation until 2010.
Posted by: Mr. Deez | February 24, 2009 2:46 PM
22- Tillman projected for 2009
25 Matusz projected for 2009
67 Arrieta projected for 2010
Three of the top 25 is very good, huh?
Posted by: ghostwriter | February 24, 2009 2:52 PM
Somewhere (presumably laying on a pile of cash), Scott Boras is smiling and counting down the days until Wieters becomes a free agent.
Posted by: malbie | February 24, 2009 3:07 PM
is .500 too much to ask for?
.............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Probably.
Posted by: Greg Campbell | February 24, 2009 8:03 PM
Pete-
Weiters' upside is so encouraging it's almost frightening. Let's just hope that the most physically greuling position, catcher, doesn't hinder what could be a long and prosperous career in the orange and black. Are you sure it's not too late to make this kid a career first baseman?
Posted by: patrick lynch | February 24, 2009 9:39 PM
I like what I see. We need to draft another position player stud to boost the "future" offense. I hope we draft Dustin Ackley from UNC. Is it possible that the Bedard trade could go down as one of the biggest rip offs in MLB history?
..............................................................................................
Pete's reply: Yes. Very possible.
Posted by: Rob | February 24, 2009 10:55 PM
How do other teams fare in the top 100 list? Do other teams have four or more prospects?
.............................................................................................
Pete's reply: I didn't crunch the whole list, but I'm sure a lot of teams have three or four, since there are 30 teams and 100 prospects on the list, but three in the top 25 is pretty good.
Posted by: Just an O's Fan | February 25, 2009 6:50 AM
Has an Oriole ever had the #1 spot before?
...............................................................................................
Pete's reply: No, but thanks for asking. I went and looked it up and posted some more Orioles facts about that.
Posted by: Zach | February 25, 2009 9:19 AM
Tillman (who's 21 in April) may or may not come in 2009, but it's certainly not unusual for a pitcher who dominated AA to come through AAA and into the majors the following year. He's going to need to throw more strikes as he comes up; AAA should be a test for him.
Matusz is the same age, he's been developing in college while Tillman was developing in the minors...let's not assume there's a huge difference. Very early indications are that Matusz doesn't have a lot to work on in the minors. We shall see.
Arrieta older by a year, and pitched a level lower than Tillman last year, so you have to figure he's behind Tillman by a lot...but his record and scouting reports are both solid.
.............................................................................................
Pete's reply:Tillman probably is the closest of the three right now, but it's nice the Orioles finally can have an argument about something like that.
Posted by: Tim | February 25, 2009 9:27 AM