2017 Baltimore Orioles Top 10 Prospects Insider

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SEASON IN A SENTENCE: Baltimore led the majors with 253 home runs and had the big leagues’ best closer, Zack Britton. They rode bombs and their bullpen to a wild-card spot, their third playoff trip in five seasons.

HIGH POINT: The Orioles won seven straight at the end of June, including the first two games of a nine-game West Coast road trip. A Mark Trumbo homer—one of his MLB-high 47—helped key a 12-6 win at San Diego on June 29, giving the O’s their biggest lead in the American League East all year at 5 1/2 games.

LOW POINT: Baltimore and Toronto battled all season before matching up in the wild-card game, where the Orioles’ runs both came on a Trumbo homer. Manager Buck Showalter gambled and held closer Zack Britton back, waiting for a lead that never came. Ubaldo Jimenez gave up a season-ending, three-run homer to Edwin Encarnacion.

NOTABLE ROOKIES: Righthander Dylan Bundy finally stayed healthy and ranked second on the team in wins, while fellow righty Mychal Givens became a crucial setup man in a boffo bullpen. Rule 5 pick Joey Rickard provided an early-season spark as a starting outfielder while Korean Hyun Soo Kim got his bearings; Kim wound up being a key offensive piece in left field, leading the team with a .382 OBP. Lefty Donnie Hart had a great September as a relief specialist.

KEY TRANSACTIONS: The offseason acquisition of Trumbo worked out spectacularly, while late free-agent pickup Pedro Alvarez also worked out well, smashing 22 homers in a part-time role. Late-August trade pickup Michael Bourn started the wild-card game.

DOWN ON THE FARM: Only low Class A Delmarva posted a winning record, but no Orioles affiliate made the playoffs, and the organization’s top performers, such as Yermin Mercedes (the high Class A Carolina League batting champ), Conor Bierfeldt (20 homers) and Aderlin Rodrgieuz, were old for their leagues.

OPENING DAY PAYROLL: $156,868,519 (12th of 30)

— John Manuel

BEST TOOLS
Best Hitter For Average	Chance Sisco
Best Power Hitter	Trey Mancini
Best Strike-Zone Discipline	Chance Sisco
Fastest Baserunner	Daniel Franco
Best Athlete	Austin Hays
Best Fastball	Tanner Scott
Best Curveball	Hunter Harvey
Best Slider	Cody Sedlock
Best Changeup	Brian Gonzalez
Best Control	Joe Gunkel
Best Defensive Catcher	Austin Wynns
Best Defensive Infielder	Irving Ortega
Best Infield Arm	Jomar Reyes
Best Defensive Outfielder	Cedric Mullins
Best Outfield Arm	Dariel Alvarez
PROJECTED 2020 LINEUP
Catcher	Chance Sisco
First Base	Trey Mancini
Second Base	Jonathan Schoop
Third Base	Jomar Reyes
Shortstop	Manny Machado
Left Field	Ryan Mountcastle
Center Field	Adam Jones
Right Field	Austin Hays
Designated Hitter	Chris Davis
No. 1 Starter	Dylan Bundy
No. 2 Starter	Kevin Gausman
No. 3 Starter	Hunter Harvey
No. 4 Starter	Cody Sedlock
No. 5 Starter	Keegan Akin
Closer	Zach Britton

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE
Year	Player, Pos.	2016 Org
2007	Billy Rowell, 3b	Did not play
2008	Matt Wieters, c	Orioles
2009	Matt Wieters, c	Orioles
2010	Brian Matusz, lhp	Cubs
2011	Manny Machado, ss	Orioles
2012	Dylan Bundy, rhp	Orioles
2013	Dylan Bundy, rhp	Orioles
2014	Dylan Bundy, rhp	Orioles
2015	Dylan Bundy, rhp	Orioles
2016	Dylan Bundy, rhp	Orioles

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE
Year	Player, Pos.	2016 Org
2007	Matt Wieters, c	Orioles
2008	Brian Matusz, lhp	Cubs
2009	Matt Hobgood, rhp	Did not play
2010	Manny Machado, ss	Orioles
2011	Dylan Bundy, rhp	Orioles
2012	Kevin Gausman, rhp	Orioles
2013	Hunter Harvey, rhp	Orioles
2014	Brian Gonzalez, lhp (3rd round)	Orioles
2015	D.J. Stewart, of	Orioles
2016	Cody Sedlock, rhp	Orioles

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY
Matt Wieters, 2007	$6,000,000
Manny Machado, 2010	$5,250,000
Kevin Gausman, 2012	$4,320,000
Dylan Bundy, 2011	$4,000,000
Adam Loewen, 2002	$3,200,000