Despite the fact that the Orioles currently hover anywhere between 20 and 30 games under .500, I\u2019m more excited about the Orioles than I was on October 3, 2014, when Delmon Young doubled home 3 runs to take the lead over Detroit in the ALDS. That day was the loudest I\u2019ve ever heard the yard and I was there the night Cal Ripken Jr. played his 2130th consecutive game, and the day Ken Griffey Jr. hit the warehouse in the Home Run Derby.<\/p>\n
Gone are the days where drafting at the top of the first round automatically meant the Orioles would be drafting the best prospect in the system. In fact, Colton Cowser may have struggled to break in to the top 5 if last year\u2019s first round pick, Heston Kjerstad, wasn\u2019t battling issues related to Myocarditis. This current Baltimore system has a ton to be excited about, top to bottom. From the soon-to-be top prospect in baseball to an emerging international presence, GM Mike Elias has a plan and continues to execute that plan each time he has the opportunity.<\/p>\n
Prospects1500 Tiers:<\/strong>
\nTier 1: <\/strong>Players with high expectations of both making the majors and playing at an All-Star level for a number of years
\nTier 2:<\/strong> Players with an above average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
\nTier 3:<\/strong> Players with an average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor
\nTier 4:<\/strong> Players who have the potential of making the majors, or have high likelihood of making the majors but providing minimal impact (e.g. middle reliever, low-ceiling UT guys)
\nTier 5:<\/strong> Players who are worth keeping an eye on, but likely to never make a team\u2019s 40-man roster<\/p>\n