Orioles: Wieters revisited
When Baseball America named Matt Wieters the publications' top major league prospect of 2009, he became the first Orioles player so honored since BA started doing its top 100 list in 1990.
The closest any Oriole ever came before was pitcher Ben McDonald, who was ranked second on the very first list after being considered perhaps the most coveted draft player in history the year before.
Only two other Orioles have ever made the top five. Outfielder Jeffrey Hammonds was listed as the No. 3 prospect in 1994 and Arthur Rhodes was the No. 5 prospect in 1992.
Don't know if you can say that being the top guy makes you a can't-miss major league star, but the people at Baseball America apparently know what they're doing. Only once in the 20 years they've done the list has the No. 1 guy been a total bust. That was Brien Taylor, the highly touted Yankees prospect who was No. 1 on the list in 1992 and never made it to the majors.
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Comments
And the biggest reason that Taylor didnt make it was the bar brawl that he was injured in. He was actually a decent pitcher before the fight. Definitely a sad story.
Posted by: mikepcfl | February 25, 2009 10:30 AM
And Brien Taylor missed out because he tore his labrum in a fistfight outside of baseball...
Posted by: David | February 25, 2009 10:31 AM
Peter
Watch out for those pesty typos. It's or its can be tricky but your first sentence should read, "...since BA started doing its Top 100 list in 1990." Sorry for picking at you. I love your column
Posted by: Paul Folkemer | February 25, 2009 10:36 AM
Of course Taylor had a lot of off the field issues that contributed to his shortcomings. He did have a lot of talent, definitely a shame.
Posted by: jj | February 25, 2009 10:56 AM
Schmuckeroni,,
Refresh my memory, didn't your boy andy mac almost mess that one up ? Didn't that deal get done due to the last minute intervention of Peter G. ?
I'm not busting your hump. I'm just asking
I sort of remember things not looking good on a deal getting done 4 a long time. I really can't remember. I'm leaving for the game right now. I wanna show you the cop who shares your resemblance.
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Pete's reply: Peter certainly gave the go-ahead to pay what it took to sign Wieters. I don't know if he saved the deal, however.
Posted by: jason c in south florida | February 25, 2009 11:45 AM
I love the idea but let's see him do it in Baltimore before giving him a key to the city. Remember McDonald and Hammonds were can't miss prospects that aren't exactly HOF material these days.
Posted by: Doug | February 25, 2009 12:01 PM
I love the idea but let's see him do it in Baltimore before giving him a key to the city. Remember McDonald and Hammonds were can't miss prospects that aren't exactly HOF material these days.
Posted by: Doug | February 25, 2009 12:01 PM
Wieters is also the #1 prospect in Baseball Prospectus, which projects him to a) be the best catcher in baseball RIGHT NOW, and b) have a Hall of Fame career.
Posted by: Andrew T. | February 25, 2009 4:18 PM
Pete,
Since we are rebuilding, why don't we just start Wieters now. No disrespect towards Gregg Zaun, he is a hard nosed ball player, but what better experience for Matt then to play at the Major League level. Markakis did the same type of jump in 2006 and it went well. Matt is an even better prospect then Nick was.
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Pete's reply: Not really comparable. Nick spent 2 1/2 years in the minors and doesn't have to learn how to handle pitchers.
Posted by: P.J. Gilley | February 25, 2009 5:19 PM
A friend said he is "Mauer with Power" - plug me when you use it.
He will be up by May and if he is as 'cant miss' as EVERYONE is saying. He will be something special.
The problem remains that there is absolutely NO semblance of a reasonable big league pitching staff to be found anywhere on this team.
And until that changes, the Orioles will be stuck in the doldrums.
Posted by: Canice Murphy | February 26, 2009 8:10 PM