Brandon Waring

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #25 prospect in 2012
  The Orioles acquired Waring with Ryan Freel and Justin Turner in a December 2008 trade that sent Ramon Hernandez to the Reds. Waring has some of the best power in the system and has hit 70 homers in three seasons since the deal, yet never has been able to earn a long look for advancement. The Carolina League MVP in 2009, he ended that season and spent all of the next two in Double-A. Waring's bat has stagnated. He made an adjustment in his swing last season, moving his hands down to free them up more, and it helped for a while. He cut down on his strikeouts but he finished the year batting a career-low .222. He may never hit for average because he's too aggressive, but Waring is a confident hitter with a balanced approach and legitimate power to all fields. He has improved his defense to the point that some scouts now rate him as an average defender at third base. He has the hands and arm strength to make the routine plays. He also has played a good bit at first base and can handle left field in a pinch, though he's a below-average runner. He has been blocked by such players as Josh Bell and Brandon Snyder, but they've failed at the big league level, so maybe Waring will get a look in 2012.
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  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #23 prospect in 2011
  Waring has hit 49 homers in two seasons since coming over from the Reds (along with Justin Turner and Ryan Freel) in a trade for Ramon Hernandez in December 2008. Waring's calling card is his above-average power, and he has the ability to drive the ball to all fields as well as the strength to drive it deep. He's confident and aggressive at the plate, but he doesn't adjust his approach to hit for average. He continues to work on pitch selection, though he'll always pile up large strikeout numbers. The bigger impediment toward Waring claiming a big league role is finding him a defensive home. He split time between third base, first base, left field and DH in 2010, seeing most of his action at the hot corner. He has an average arm and surprising quickness and agility for his size, but most scouts don't think he can hold down third base on an everyday basis. He's a below-average runner. Waring should get an opportunity to play every day in Triple-A this season, though his long-term role is most likely as a power bat off the bench.
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  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #18 prospect in 2010
  The Orioles unloaded catcher Ramon Hernandez to the Reds before the 2009 season to clear the way for Matt Wieters, getting Waring, Ryan Freel and Justin Turner in return. Waring provides a power bat in an organization in need of them, and he led Baltimore farmhands with 27 homers and 96 RBIs in his first season in the system. He added two more homers in a nine-game stint in the Arizona Fall League. Waring's raw power is well above-average and he can drive the ball out of the ballpark in all directions. He also piles up a lot of strikeouts and will have to shorten his swing and adjust his approach to hit enough at higher levels. He needs to improve his pitch selection and understand game situations and counts better to avoid being an all-or-nothing hacker. He played mostly at first base last year so that Tyler Henson could play third at Frederick. While Waring has experience at the hot corner and has the arm to play there, concerns about his range and footwork may keep him at first base. He's a slightly below-average runner. If Waring can't change his approach to handle more advanced pitching--his primary task this year in Double-A--he'll wind up as no more than a power bat off a big league bench.
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  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #26 prospect in 2009
  When the Orioles decided to clear Matt Wieters' path to the big leagues by trading Ramon Hernandez in December, they received Waring and second baseman Justin Turner from the Reds. Waring has established himself as a good power prospect by hitting 40 home runs in his first season and a half since being drafted. He was the South Carolina 4-A high school player of the year in 2004 and then headed to Wofford, where he finished second in NCAA Division I with 27 homers as a junior in 2007. He then led the Rookie-level Pioneer League with 20 bombs in his pro debut. Waring has a long swing but generates a lot of bat speed and shows power to all fields. He could add even more pop as he fills out his big frame. He tends to get pull-happy and chase pitches out of the zone, leading to big strikeout numbers. Waring started off as a skinny second baseman in high school, but as he has grown and filled out, he moved first to shortstop and then to third base. He also played some first base and may move there or to an outfield corner down the road because of concerns about his footwork and range at third. His arm is slightly above average, while his speed is a tick below. Waring will start off in high Class A with his new organization. His power potential is a needed commodity in the organization.
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  Ranked Cincinnati Reds #23 prospect in 2008
  In each of the past three years, the Reds have seen an unheralded college draftee turn into a star at Rookie-level Billings. Adam Rosales came first in 2005 and was followed by Chris Valaika and then Waring. After a broken wrist ruined his sophomore season in 2006, Waring finished second in NCAA Division I with 27 homers last spring. Five came during the Southern Conference tournament as he led ninth-seeded Wofford to the title. Signed for $94,000 as a seventh-round pick, Waring continued his power display in his debut. He led the Pioneer League with 20 homers, including 10 in a span of 10 games. He generates above-average bat speed from his large frame and can catch up to quality fastballs. He has a level swing, but he's prone to chasing pitches out of the zone. He also can get pull-happy at times, which is unnecessary because he has shown opposite-field power. Waring's speed is below-average and his athleticism is fringy, so he'll have to work to stay at third base. He has enough agility and arm strength, though he'll have to improve his footwork to avoid a move to first base or an outfield corner. Cincinnati sent Rosales and Valaika to low Class A after their big debuts, and likely will do the same with Waring.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Pioneer League #5 prospect in 2007
  Few hitters in Pioneer League history can match what Waring accomplished this season. He hit a league-high 20 home runs, 10 of which came in a 10-game stretch at the end of the year, to fall three short of the league record Greg Morrison established in 1997. Waring has plus power and bat speed. He's an excellent fastball hitter with power to the opposite field. He still needs to avoid chasing breaking balls in the dirt and uppercutting the ball too much with his swing. As with his teammate Frazier, Waring may have to switch positions. He made 16 errors in 63 games and must improve his footwork. He could wind up in left field or at first base.

• December, 2009 Scouting Report
  The Orioles unloaded catcher Ramon Hernandez to the Reds before the 2009 season to clear the way for Matt Wieters, getting Waring, Ryan Freel and Justin Turner in return. Waring provides a power bat in an organization in need of them, and he led Baltimore farmhands with 27 homers and 96 RBIs in his first season in the system. He added two more homers in a nine-game stint in the Arizona Fall League. Waring's raw power is well above-average and he can drive the ball out of the ballpark in all directions. He also piles up a lot of strikeouts and will have to shorten his swing and adjust his approach to hit enough at higher levels. He needs to improve his pitch selection and understand game situations and counts better to avoid being an all-or-nothing hacker. He played mostly at first base last year so that Tyler Henson could play third at Frederick. While Waring has experience at the hot corner and has the arm to play there, concerns about his range and footwork may keep him at first base. He's a slightly below-average runner. If Waring can't change his approach to handle more advanced pitching--his primary task this year in Double-A--he'll wind up as no more than a power bat off a big league bench.