Mike Baumann

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #18 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: The Orioles invested multiple high draft picks on starting pitching candidates in the draft in the last years of the Dan Duquette era. Baumann, signed for $500,000, may be the last hope at one of them panning out in a major league rotation. The 2019 Orioles' minor league pitcher of the year was slowed by an elbow injury in 2020 and took a while to get to his best form in 2021. Baumann started the year riding the Triple-A shuttle between stints in the major league bullpen, but the team recommitted to him starting in the second half and he pitched well in Norfolk in that role.
  
  Scouting Report: His fastball is still plus as he averaged 96 mph in the big leagues, and started to get swinging strikes on his above-average low-90s slider as the season went on. The Orioles believe his curveball can be his best secondary pitch as it has elite traits at its best, but Baumann is still learning to be consistent with the pitch and throw it well more often. In general, that's the prescription for Baumann overall--to continue to find consistency with his delivery to make it more repeatable, and more frequently achieve the top-end spins and directions for his pitches.
  
  The Future: Even if those gains don't materialize, Baumann still has the stuff to stick in a major league bullpen. However, he's a third pitch away from being able to compete as a back-end starter.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 45. Slider: 55. Changeup: 45. Control: 45
• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #11 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: An imposing righthander signed for $500,000 in 2017, Baumann moved quickly and shared the Orioles’ Jim Palmer minor league pitcher of the year award in a 2019 season where he struck out 10.3 batters per nine and pitched a nine-inning no-hitter. A flexor mass strain in his elbow at the alternate site in 2020, and a recurrence the following spring, meant Baumann wasn’t himself for much of 2021, even as he made his major league debut.
  
  Scouting Report: Baumann spent most of the year trying to sync up his delivery and establish that foundation for his season. Without it, he didn’t consistently get into the upper 90s with his plus fastball, instead often pitching in the 93-94 mph range with it. His plus slider didn’t always have the bite it did in 2019, and he didn’t throw his curveball or changeup enough for anyone’s liking. The fastball and slider give Baumann a high floor as a reliever, but the Orioles hope a healthy offseason will have Baumann comfortable with his delivery in spring training so they can keep developing him as a starter.
  
  The Future: Should Baumann come into 2022 healthy, he has the stuff to be in the rotation mix for the Orioles in spring training. He can be a back-end starter if his whole arsenal is in play.
  
• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #8 prospect in 2021
  Fastball: 60. Curveball: 50. Slider: 60. Changeup: 45. Control: 50
  Track Record: A third-round pick who signed for $500,000 in 2017, Baumann quickly overpowered hitters at the lower levels and rose to Double-A Bowie in 2019, where he threw a nine-inning no-hitter and earned a share of the Orioles minor league pitcher of the year award after striking out 142 hitters in 124 innings. He was one of the most buzzworthy pitchers at the alternate training site in 2020, but a flexor mass strain in his elbow shut him down in August.
  
  Scouting Report: Baumann pitches off a high-spin four-seam fastball that’s routinely 93-96 mph and touches 99, yet yields mostly ground balls. His plus slider at 89-90 mph bites like a cutter and breaks bats like one, too, giving him another power offering. During the 2020 shutdown, he worked on a 12-to-6 curveball with good depth and spin that’s his clear third pitch now, with his fringe-average changeup lagging behind. Baumann learned the adjustment required to correct delivery issues that cause him to leave pitches up in the zone at times.
  
  The Future: Baumann’s short-term health with the flexor mass strain is a concern, but the pitcher he was before showed a mid-rotation ceiling. He’ll likely be added to the 40-man roster and start at Triple-A in 2021 if healthy.
• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #10 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Each of Baumann's first two full seasons have included swift promotions, but the difference in 2019 was how things improved for him at his new level. Baumann pitched well at high Class A Frederick upon his promotion in 2018 and to start 2019, but he found another gear at Double-A Bowie in the second half. He threw a no-hitter on July 16 and anchored Bowie's playoff rotation on its playoff run, sharing the Orioles' minor league pitcher of the year award with Grayson Rodriguez.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: While consistency has at times eluded Baumann, he is a good strike-thrower who was one of the primary beneficiaries of the team's new pitching development program and saw strides with all four pitches. His four-seam fastball has good spin and explodes on hitters, sitting 93-96 mph and reaching 99. His above-average slider at 88-89 mph has cutter action and sharp bite, while his highspin curveball and split-changeup each flash average potential. Baumann goes deep in his delivery, which impacts the consistent shape of his pitches and limits his control to average.
  
  THE FUTURE: Baumann might have the biggest arm of any potential starter in the organization, but has to improve his control and find a consistent third pitch to reach his mid-rotation ceiling. He should see Triple-A Norfolk at some point in 2020.
• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #21 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: After getting great returns from Austin Hays in the third round out of Jacksonville in 2016, they went back to the Dolphins roster for Baumann in 2017, signing him for a below-slot $500,000 as a third-round pick. Baumann cruised to high Class A Frederick within a year of signing, where he was challenged as a power pitcher despite his college pedigree.
  
  Scouting Report: Baumann has a plus fastball in every sense, from its 92-96 mph velocity to its present sink and command potential. He fills up the zone with the pitch, but has been punished for leaving it over the plate at higher levels and must keep it down in the zone. The same goes for his slider, which he sometimes struggles to get behind. Baumann also throws a changeup that's a clear third pitch from a balanced delivery and boasts a sturdy pitcher's frame. His control is below-average, pushing the quality of his stuff down and limiting his strikeouts.
  
  The Future: Baumann's starter track will be vital to him being able to develop the secondary pitches necessary to reach a back-end starter's ceiling. He could prove more useful as a high-leverage set-up man down the road, but he will likely begin 2019 at Double-A Bowie in the rotation.
• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #14 prospect in 2018
  As with Austin Hays a year earlier, the Orioles are already thrilled with their third-round selection out of Jacksonville. A three-year starter there, Baumann was the Atlantic Sun Pitcher of the Year as a freshman in 2015 and struck out a career-high 97 batters in 87.1 innings with a 3.09 ERA and a 1.202 WHIP as a junior, despite an early-season bout with mononucleosis. Baumann, a physical righthander with broad shoulders, throws downhill with a 91-94 mph fastball that touches 97 mph and projects as a plus pitch. He also features an above-average slider and a curveball, plus a developing changeup. With better command and development of his secondary pitches, Baumann could be a No. 4 starter. While the Orioles have moved highly drafted college arms straight to high Class A Frederick for their first seasons recently, Baumann will likely be ticketed for low Class A Delmarva.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #103 prospect in 2017 draft
  Coming out of high school in Minnesota, Baumann was a 34th round pick of the Twins in 2014. Instead of signing, he enrolled at Jacksonville, where he became an immediate contributor and developed into the ace of the staff. This spring, Baumann battled through mono early in the season and showed improvements as the spring unwound. He's got an outstanding pitcher's build with broad shoulders and a lean, high-waisted frame. Baumann's fastball can reach the mid-90s, touching as high as 97, and he shows natural life and cut on the pitch. He throws a low-to-mid-80s slider with late bite that projects as an above-average pitch and an inconsistent but flashy mid-70s curveball. Baumann has a full arm action that's easy and portends future velocity gains. He'll need to iron out his command to be a starter at the highest level, but his upward trajectory gives scouts hope.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Eastern League #15 prospect in 2019
  After 11 successful starts in the Carolina League, Baumann went on to dominate hitters in the Eastern League. The righthander was stingy on the mound, ending up among league leaders in ERA (2.31) and WHIP (0.94) for pitchers who threw at least 50 innings. Baumann even spun a no-hitter on July 16th, striking out 10 batters while allowing just two walks. Baumann works with a plus fastball in the mid-90s that has good life. His changeup was particularly good this season, as it showed split-like action and the ability to work well off the heater. He can spin a slider, but it doesn't have the same consistency. Baumann's control numbers have trended in a positive direction, showing the ability to keep the ball in and around the strike zone. If Baumann's breaking ball improves, he has the tools to start. If not, it's likely he ends up as a two-pitch bullpen arm.
• 
  Ranked New York-Penn League #18 prospect in 2017
  Baumann was the hardest-throwing member of Aberdeen's excellent rotation, pairing a 92-97 mph fastball and a power breaking ball that generally overpowered the league's hitters. The club's third-round pick out of Jacksonville has an excellent frame (6-foot-4, 225 pounds) with broad shoulders and room to grow. He generally ate up righthanders with his fastball/slider combo–they hit .133/.261/.173 against him with only three extra-base hits in 75 plate appearances. Baumann's fastball has excellent sink, but his control and command needs to improve. Like many young pitchers, the strike zone jumps around on him at times and it takes him a while to get locked back in.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: The Orioles invested multiple high draft picks on starting pitching candidates in the draft in the last years of the Dan Duquette era. Baumann, signed for $500,000, may be the last hope at one of them panning out in a major league rotation. The 2019 Orioles' minor league pitcher of the year was slowed by an elbow injury in 2020 and took a while to get to his best form in 2021. Baumann started the year riding the Triple-A shuttle between stints in the major league bullpen, but the team recommitted to him starting in the second half and he pitched well in Norfolk in that role.
  
  Scouting Report: His fastball is still plus as he averaged 96 mph in the big leagues, and started to get swinging strikes on his above-average low-90s slider as the season went on. The Orioles believe his curveball can be his best secondary pitch as it has elite traits at its best, but Baumann is still learning to be consistent with the pitch and throw it well more often. In general, that's the prescription for Baumann overall--to continue to find consistency with his delivery to make it more repeatable, and more frequently achieve the top-end spins and directions for his pitches.
  
  The Future: Even if those gains don't materialize, Baumann still has the stuff to stick in a major league bullpen. However, he's a third pitch away from being able to compete as a back-end starter.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 45. Slider: 55. Changeup: 45. Control: 45
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: The Orioles invested multiple high draft picks on starting pitching candidates in the draft in the last years of the Dan Duquette era. Baumann, signed for $500,000, may be the last hope at one of them panning out in a major league rotation. The 2019 Orioles' minor league pitcher of the year was slowed by an elbow injury in 2020 and took a while to get to his best form in 2021. Baumann started the year riding the Triple-A shuttle between stints in the major league bullpen, but the team recommitted to him starting in the second half and he pitched well in Norfolk in that role.
  
  Scouting Report: His fastball is still plus as he averaged 96 mph in the big leagues, and started to get swinging strikes on his above-average low-90s slider as the season went on. The Orioles believe his curveball can be his best secondary pitch as it has elite traits at its best, but Baumann is still learning to be consistent with the pitch and throw it well more often. In general, that's the prescription for Baumann overall--to continue to find consistency with his delivery to make it more repeatable, and more frequently achieve the top-end spins and directions for his pitches.
  
  The Future: Even if those gains don't materialize, Baumann still has the stuff to stick in a major league bullpen. However, he's a third pitch away from being able to compete as a back-end starter.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 45. Slider: 55. Changeup: 45. Control: 45
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: An imposing righthander signed for $500,000 in 2017, Baumann moved quickly and shared the Orioles&#39 Jim Palmer minor league pitcher of the year award in a 2019 season where he struck out 10.3 batters per nine and pitched a nine-inning no-hitter. A flexor mass strain in his elbow at the alternate site in 2020, and a recurrence the following spring, meant Baumann wasn&#39t himself for much of 2021, even as he made his major league debut.
  
  Scouting Report: Baumann spent most of the year trying to sync up his delivery and establish that foundation for his season. Without it, he didn&#39t consistently get into the upper 90s with his plus fastball, instead often pitching in the 93-94 mph range with it. His plus slider didn&#39t always have the bite it did in 2019, and he didn&#39t throw his curveball or changeup enough for anyone&#39s liking. The fastball and slider give Baumann a high floor as a reliever, but the Orioles hope a healthy offseason will have Baumann comfortable with his delivery in spring training so they can keep developing him as a starter.
  
  The Future: Should Baumann come into 2022 healthy, he has the stuff to be in the rotation mix for the Orioles in spring training. He can be a back-end starter if his whole arsenal is in play.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: An imposing righthander signed for $500,000 in 2017, Baumann moved quickly and shared the Orioles’ Jim Palmer minor league pitcher of the year award in a 2019 season where he struck out 10.3 batters per nine and pitched a nine-inning no-hitter. A flexor mass strain in his elbow at the alternate site in 2020, and a recurrence the following spring, meant Baumann wasn’t himself for much of 2021, even as he made his major league debut.
  
  Scouting Report: Baumann spent most of the year trying to sync up his delivery and establish that foundation for his season. Without it, he didn’t consistently get into the upper 90s with his plus fastball, instead often pitching in the 93-94 mph range with it. His plus slider didn’t always have the bite it did in 2019, and he didn’t throw his curveball or changeup enough for anyone’s liking. The fastball and slider give Baumann a high floor as a reliever, but the Orioles hope a healthy offseason will have Baumann comfortable with his delivery in spring training so they can keep developing him as a starter.
  
  The Future: Should Baumann come into 2022 healthy, he has the stuff to be in the rotation mix for the Orioles in spring training. He can be a back-end starter if his whole arsenal is in play.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 60. Curveball: 50. Slider: 60. Changeup: 45. Control: 50
  Track Record: A third-round pick who signed for $500,000 in 2017, Baumann quickly overpowered hitters at the lower levels and rose to Double-A Bowie in 2019, where he threw a nine-inning no-hitter and earned a share of the Orioles minor league pitcher of the year award after striking out 142 hitters in 124 innings. He was one of the most buzzworthy pitchers at the alternate training site in 2020, but a flexor mass strain in his elbow shut him down in August.
  
  Scouting Report: Baumann pitches off a high-spin four-seam fastball that's routinely 93-96 mph and touches 99, yet yields mostly ground balls. His plus slider at 89-90 mph bites like a cutter and breaks bats like one, too, giving him another power offering. During the 2020 shutdown, he worked on a 12-to-6 curveball with good depth and spin that's his clear third pitch now, with his fringe-average changeup lagging behind. Baumann learned the adjustment required to correct delivery issues that cause him to leave pitches up in the zone at times.
  
  The Future: Baumann's short-term health with the flexor mass strain is a concern, but the pitcher he was before showed a mid-rotation ceiling. He'll likely be added to the 40-man roster and start at Triple-A in 2021 if healthy.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 60. Curveball: 50. Slider: 60. Changeup: 45. Control: 50
  Track Record: A third-round pick who signed for $500,000 in 2017, Baumann quickly overpowered hitters at the lower levels and rose to Double-A Bowie in 2019, where he threw a nine-inning no-hitter and earned a share of the Orioles minor league pitcher of the year award after striking out 142 hitters in 124 innings. He was one of the most buzzworthy pitchers at the alternate training site in 2020, but a flexor mass strain in his elbow shut him down in August.
  
  Scouting Report: Baumann pitches off a high-spin four-seam fastball that’s routinely 93-96 mph and touches 99, yet yields mostly ground balls. His plus slider at 89-90 mph bites like a cutter and breaks bats like one, too, giving him another power offering. During the 2020 shutdown, he worked on a 12-to-6 curveball with good depth and spin that’s his clear third pitch now, with his fringe-average changeup lagging behind. Baumann learned the adjustment required to correct delivery issues that cause him to leave pitches up in the zone at times.
  
  The Future: Baumann’s short-term health with the flexor mass strain is a concern, but the pitcher he was before showed a mid-rotation ceiling. He’ll likely be added to the 40-man roster and start at Triple-A in 2021 if healthy.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 60. Curveball: 50. Slider: 60. Changeup: 45. Control: 50
  Track Record: A third-round pick who signed for $500,000 in 2017, Baumann quickly overpowered hitters at the lower levels and rose to Double-A Bowie in 2019, where he threw a nine-inning no-hitter and earned a share of the Orioles minor league pitcher of the year award after striking out 142 hitters in 124 innings. He was one of the most buzzworthy pitchers at the alternate training site in 2020, but a flexor mass strain in his elbow shut him down in August.
  
  Scouting Report: Baumann pitches off a high-spin four-seam fastball that’s routinely 93-96 mph and touches 99, yet yields mostly ground balls. His plus slider at 89-90 mph bites like a cutter and breaks bats like one, too, giving him another power offering. During the 2020 shutdown, he worked on a 12-to-6 curveball with good depth and spin that’s his clear third pitch now, with his fringe-average changeup lagging behind. Baumann learned the adjustment required to correct delivery issues that cause him to leave pitches up in the zone at times.
  
  The Future: Baumann’s short-term health with the flexor mass strain is a concern, but the pitcher he was before showed a mid-rotation ceiling. He’ll likely be added to the 40-man roster and start at Triple-A in 2021 if healthy.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Each of Baumann’s first two full seasons have included swift promotions, but the difference in 2019 was how things improved for him at his new level. Baumann pitched well at high Class A Frederick upon his promotion in 2018 and to start 2019, but he found another gear at Double-A Bowie in the second half. He threw a no-hitter on July 16 and anchored Bowie’s playoff rotation on its playoff run, sharing the Orioles’ minor league pitcher of the year award with Grayson Rodriguez.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: While consistency has at times eluded Baumann, he is a good strike-thrower who was one of the primary beneficiaries of the team’s new pitching development program and saw strides with all four pitches. His four-seam fastball has good spin and explodes on hitters, sitting 93-96 mph and reaching 99. His above-average slider at 88-89 mph has cutter action and sharp bite, while his highspin curveball and split-changeup each flash average potential. Baumann goes deep in his delivery, which impacts the consistent shape of his pitches and limits his control to average.
  
  THE FUTURE: Baumann might have the biggest arm of any potential starter in the organization, but has to improve his control and find a consistent third pitch to reach his mid-rotation ceiling. He should see Triple-A Norfolk at some point in 2020.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Each of Baumann's first two full seasons have included swift promotions, but the difference in 2019 was how things improved for him at his new level. Baumann pitched well at high Class A Frederick upon his promotion in 2018 and to start 2019, but he found another gear at Double-A Bowie in the second half. He threw a no-hitter on July 16 and anchored Bowie's playoff rotation on its playoff run, sharing the Orioles' minor league pitcher of the year award with Grayson Rodriguez.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: While consistency has at times eluded Baumann, he is a good strike-thrower who was one of the primary beneficiaries of the team's new pitching development program and saw strides with all four pitches. His four-seam fastball has good spin and explodes on hitters, sitting 93-96 mph and reaching 99. His above-average slider at 88-89 mph has cutter action and sharp bite, while his highspin curveball and split-changeup each flash average potential. Baumann goes deep in his delivery, which impacts the consistent shape of his pitches and limits his control to average.
  
  THE FUTURE: Baumann might have the biggest arm of any potential starter in the organization, but has to improve his control and find a consistent third pitch to reach his mid-rotation ceiling. He should see Triple-A Norfolk at some point in 2020.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  After 11 successful starts in the Carolina League, Baumann went on to dominate hitters in the Eastern League. The righthander was stingy on the mound, ending up among league leaders in ERA (2.31) and WHIP (0.94) for pitchers who threw at least 50 innings. Baumann even spun a no-hitter on July 16th, striking out 10 batters while allowing just two walks. Baumann works with a plus fastball in the mid-90s that has good life. His changeup was particularly good this season, as it showed split-like action and the ability to work well off the heater. He can spin a slider, but it doesn't have the same consistency. Baumann's control numbers have trended in a positive direction, showing the ability to keep the ball in and around the strike zone. If Baumann's breaking ball improves, he has the tools to start. If not, it's likely he ends up as a two-pitch bullpen arm.