Friday, September 11, 2009

Baby Birds: The Notable Minor League Performances of 2009: Part 2

Part 1 was last week and covered the low minors. Now, we look at Frederick, Bowie and Norfolk.


Frederick Keys - High A

1B/3B Brandon Waring


G AVG OBP SLG BB K 2B HR SB
Waring 128 .273 .354 .520 45 120 35 26 5



At 23, Waring tore up the Carolina League. Waring came over from Cincinnati in the Ramon Hernandez trade in the offseason and had the best year of his professional career. Waring took home the Caroline League MVP award and continued to hit well in a brief stint in Bowie to finish the season.


OF Robbie Widlansky


G AVG OBP SLG BB K 2B HR SB
Widlansky 86 .340 .395 .506 29 48 31 7 5



An 11th round draft selection out of Florida Atlantic in 2007, Widlansky won the Carolina League batting title with a .340 average and showed some good gap power. At 24, Widlansky was a bit old for the league too but he and Waring should make the Baysox lineup a bit more formidable in 2010.


SP Zach Britton



IP ERA BB K HR WHIP
Britton 140.0 2.70 55 131 6 1.27



A 21-year-old lefty sinkerballer who was named Carolina League pitcher of the year, struck out nearly a batter per inning and induced groundballs 65% of the time. Yeah, it's time to start getting excited about Zach Britton. The 3rd round pick in the 2006 draft is paying dividends.


RP Pat Egan



IP ERA BB K HR WHIP
Egan 92.2 1.94 16 75 2 0.96



The stats above are cumulative from stints in Delmarva, Frederick and Bowie but the bulk of it was as a Key. A 36th round pick in 2006, Egan keeps the ball in the park, walks damn near nobody and can strike you out to boot.


Bowie Baysox - AA

3B Josh Bell



G AVG OBP SLG BB K 2B HR SB
Bell 127 .295 .376 .516 61 98 35 20 3



The stats above are the combined numbers from his time in Chattanooga and his time in Bowie but he was equally good on both teams. Only 22, Bell came to the Oriole organization in the George Sherrill trade and looks to be on the fast track to Baltimore. He's the best hope for a "home grown" solution to Baltimore third base vacancy.


SP Steve Johnson



IP ERA BB K HR WHIP
Johnson 145.1 3.41 62 154 18 1.28



While we're on the Sherrill trade, Johnson was the second half of the haul. Johnson's a flyball pitcher but the righty mowed down hitters while pitching for three teams at two levels in '09. May stay at Bowie to begin 2010 but should be in Norfolk shortly.


RP Eddie Gamboa



IP ERA BB K HR WHIP
Gamboa 83.2 1.08 17 75 5 1.17



Another late round pick (21st round in 2008), Gamboa started the year in Delmarva and ended up in Bowie. He's moved fast and seems to be getting better. He's part of the good relief pitching depth in the Oriole system.


RP Luis Lebron



IP ERA BB K HR WHIP
Lebron 60.1 2.54 33 91 5 0.99




The 24-year-old righty from the Dominican Republic was absolutely filthy striking out 13.06 per 9 and saving 20 games between Frederick and Bowie. He throws in the upper 90's and can throw a slider for strikes.


Norfolk Tides - AAA

OF Jeff Fiorentino



G AVG OBP SLG BB K 2B HR SB
Fiorentino 102 .312 .387 .510 48 62 26 12 13



At the age of 26, Fiorentino finally put together a season the Orioles were hoping for when they drafted him in the third round in 2004. He led the Tides in average, on base percentage, homers and RBI. Let bloomer? Fluke season? Who cares? It was a hell of a performance.


SP Jake Arrieta



IP ERA BB K HR WHIP
Arrieta 150.2 3.40 56 148 13 1.37




The stats above are combined and he dominated at Bowie but by season's end he had his legs under him in Norfolk and posted a 3.60 ERA over his last 10 starts. He'll start the season in Norfolk but could be in Baltimore by the All-Star break.


RP Josh Perrault



IP ERA BB K HR WHIP
Perrault 72.0 2.13 18 74 7 1.01



He's 27 but he was lights out in his first year in the Oriole organization. Stats include his Bowie stint and he's heading to the AFL and if he performs well, he may be in position to make the Oriole bullpen out of Spring Training.




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