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1. 21. Garabez Rosa- SS, 19, Grade- C
   

To be honest I don’t know much about Rosa besides his stats. I haven’t seen him play and I have not read anything about him. The Orioles do not have a very good track record of finding talent in Latin America, but they may have something in Rosa, who they signed out of the Dominican Republic. At 6’2” Rosa is very big for a shortstop, but he only weighs 166 lbs! As he grows into his frame it is possible that he could outgrow the position, but he could also grow into some power. He already shows a very strong hit tool, hitting .330 in the Gulf Coast League. However he is far from a polished offensive product. One look at his stats shows that he has very little plate discipline, walking only 3 times in over 200 at-bats. It will be very hard to hit for a high average while consistently extending the strike zone.

            Rosa is likely too raw for a full-season assignment and should play in the NY Penn League in 2009. I’m very intrigued to read more about him, and hopefully see him play in 2009.

 22. Wilfredo Perez- LHP, 24, Grade- C

Perez is another one of my favorite prospects in the O’s system. Perez is extremely slender at only 145 pounds. He is a left-handed reliever who throws a fastball consistently 89-91. He combines that with a filthy curveball. As his very strong batting average against and K/9 number indicate Wilfredo can be a hitter’s nightmare, often making hitters looks silly.

            Perez struggles with control and command, and is not particular dominant against lefties. Lefties hit 253 against Perez in 2008 compared to a 192 clip by righties. This trend held true in 2007 as well. Unfortunately for the Orioles, unless Perez improves against lefties he will not be effective as a lefty specialist. With that being said Perez has tremendous stuff and should be a useful piece in a major league bullpen.

 23.  Bradley Bergesen- RHP, 23, C

The Orioles’ pitcher of the year in 2008 Bergesen had a tremendous year. Prior to 2008 Bergesen had struggled as a pro, since being drafted in the 4th round of the 2005 draft. Bergesen features a low 90’s FB, often sitting at 90-91 with solid life. He complements his heater with a slider and a change. The slider is more advanced than the change at this point. Bergesen pitches to contact and tries to keep the ball on the ground, but his GO/AO ratios have been hovering just below 1.5 the last two years. That is good, but not great, especially for a pitcher who makes his living by keeping the ball on the ground.

            While its clear that Bergesen is not as good as his 3.22 ERA indicates, I think he can find a place in the majors. Many of his detractors point to his 4.4 K/9 in AA this year and argue that is simply too low to find success in the majors. While that is true Bergesen is still young enough to improve that number. If he can raise that to about 5.5 he could fit as a 5 starter who lives by keeping the ball on the ground. If that doesn’t happen I still think Bergesen could fit as a long man out of the pen. Bergesen will move to AAA in 2009, and will likely make his major league debut at some point during the season.

 24.  Justin Turner- 2B, 24, C

  AFL                    89      337     7      1     4     18      362     449     811     3     1

Turner was acquired, along with Ryan Freel and Brandon Warring, from the Reds in the Ramon Hernandez trade. Turner is a grinder who doesn’t posses a ton of tools, but finds a way to get the job done. He doesn’t have much power, but everywhere he went in 2008 he hit for a high average, including the Arizona Fall League. He doesn’t walk much, but he makes a lot of contact, and gets on base enough to profile at the top of the order. Unfortunately he doesn’t have much speed so it is more likely that turner could find himself at the bottom of the order in the big leagues.

Turner is just average defensively at second, and he lacks the arm and range to play short which hurts his ability to be a utility man, but he should have value nonetheless. I don’t think he has the tools to hack it at 2nd full-time in the big leagues, but he is close to big-league ready, and could fill in for a couple months if Roberts is dealt.  

 25.  John Mariotti- RHP, 24, C

Mariotti is a prospect that I think is a major sleeper. The Orioles’ 18th round in 2007 out of Coastal Carolina College. He was old for the sally league, but had an absolutely ridiculous GO/AO ratio. That 5.64 is not a typo, and last year it was even higher at 5.92! He battled through injuries in 2008 compiling only 33.2 innings, but he should be healthy in 2009, and I’m very excited to see what he can do if he can stay healthy for a full year. If he stays healthy he should at least be able to fit into a major league pen as a right-handed specialist who can come in and keep the ball on the ground.

 26. Jason Berken- RHP, 25, C

Berken pitched alongside Tillman, Hendandez, and Bergesen this year at AA. The oldest member of the quartet, Berken put up solid numbers including an impressive 7.7 K/9. Berken was the Orioles’ 6th round pick in 2006 draft out of Clemson. At only 6’0” Berken does not have a durable starters frame, but since signing Berken has been a workhorse. Throwing 161.3 innings in 2007 and 145.2 last season. Berken profiles as a back-end of the rotation innings eater.

            He gets outs with control and command at this point, posting an impressive 2.3 BB/9, rather than with pure stuff. Berken sits in the low 90s with his FB, features an average slider, and a change. Some may argue that Berken is a better prospect than Bergesen due to his similar success at AA, and with a much better ability to miss bats. But Bergesen is two years younger, and I think long-term he has the better chance of cutting it in a starting role.

27.  Greg Miclat- SS, 21, C

Miclat is a favorite sleeper among many Oriole fans. The O’s 5th round pick out of Virginia in this years draft is a solid defensive short stop, and possesses some good speed. He suffered from an arm injury in college, so the O’s were very cautious with him in his pro debut, but all reports are that he will be 100% healthy in 2009.

            While he didn’t show much power in college he is not viewed as a slap hitter. The University of Virginia has a notoriously big home park. Furthermore, their coaches preach using the whole field and using an inside-out swing. Those two factors could be responsible for why Miclat hasn’t shown much power. He will never have a lot of power, but should be a guy who can drive the ball into the gaps. He has very good plate discipline, and understands his game, trying to get on-base and use his speed.

            Miclat, besides Rosa, is the only legitimate SS prospect the Orioles have. He is the best defensive SS in the organization, and should start 2009 at Lo A Delmarva.

 28. Kyle Hudson- CF, 22, C

 Hudson is another exceptional athlete from the Orioles’ 2008 draft. The 4th rounder out of the University of Illinois, Hudson played on the Illini football team where he returned punts. He has top end speed, and because of that he has tremendous range in center. He reminds me a lot of Juan Pierre. He has very little power, but he understands that and tries to keep the ball on the ground and use his speed.

            Unfortunately for Hudson and the Orioles he broke his wrist sliding headfirst into second this year. He should be healthy for 2009, but wrist injuries are always tricky, and can linger. Hopefully he will be healthy in 2009. With his speed he should be valuable as a defensive replacement and pinch runner, even if the bat doesn’t come around.

 29.  Richard Zagone- LHP, 22, C

Zagone put up great numbers in the NY Penn League after being taken in the 6th round out of the University of Missouri. Although his numbers look great, that is more a reflection of an advanced pitcher exploiting younger competition than it is of Zagone’s stuff. Zagone sits in the upper 80s with his fastball, and complements that with an ordinary slider and a change. Although his stuff isn’t great, the fastball has some life, and he has very good command, which helps his stuff play up.

            As Zagone advances that K/9 will surely decrease, but with his advanced pitchability he could continue to find success. Zagone could profile as a backend of the rotation starter, but it is more likely that he could find himself in a major league bullpen. He had a lot of success against lefties in his pro debut, and could be rise through the system quickly if the Orioles decide to move him to the pen.

 30. Matt Angle- CF, 23, C

One look at Angle’s numbers shows you what type of player he is. He is a grinder who tries to get on-base and use his speed to set the table for his offense. He has very solid plate discipline and an advanced approach at the plate. He has good but not great speed, but gets solid jumps on the base-paths allowing him to steal at a respectable 77% last year. He is a very good bunter, and has some gap power. He played last season as a 22 year old in Lo A, so he was a bit old for the league.

            While I don’t think Angle has the tools to hold down a starting job in the majors, his speed and discipline could make him a valuable 4th or 5th outfielder. The former 7th round pick out of Ohio St. has impressed as a pro, and I’m interested to see how he holds up against better competition as he moves forward.