1. Matt Wieters - Wieters dueled David Price for the No. 1 spot in the 2007 draft, now the two are No. 1 and 2 atop every prospect ranking. When evaluating prospects you always have to consider downside, red flags that are present in a player's profile. Wieters does not have a red flag. He plays an important position, has great power (.260 IsoP in Double-A, 2008) and great patience (15+% walk rate at every level he's played), he's been crazy productive (.442 wOBA in 2008). He's a strong defender with great arm strength. In May 2007 I wrote this about Wieters on my old site, "Wieters is currently hitting .355/.480/.606 for the Jackets with 56 walks to only 39 K's. His bat control and plate discipline are almost unprecedented for a 6'5'' catcher with power...When you think of Wieters think Mike Piazza who can throw." Comparing any college player to a Hall-of-Famer should be taken with a grain of salt, but I think that comp is as accurate as ever. Wieters will be playing everyday for the Orioles in about a month, and he may be the best catcher - or player - in the league already.
2. Brian Matusz - The year after grabbing the draft's top position player, the Orioles selected the top pitcher. Matusz dominated for three years at the University of San Diego, dazzling hitters with a deep assortment of offspeed pitches. Control has always been a strength of Matusz, as he issued just 22 free passes in 105 innings last year (6.4%). Don't be fooled into thinking he's just a guy who has to nibble with questionable stuff. Matusz struck out 40.8% of hitters he faced last year, using a fastball that hits 93-94 mph. He begins the year in High-A ball and should move quickly. He could be the Orioles' opening day starter by 2011.
3. Chris Tillman - Part of the insane haul the Birds got for Eric Bedard, Tillman showed very well for a 20-year-old in Double-A last year (3.46 FIP, 26.6%K). Tillman has a prototypical pitcher's frame, standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 195 pounds. Tillman works primarily off a fastball, curveball combo, both of which are at least above-average pitches. He needs to improve his command (he's walked over 10% of hitters in each of his last two stops) but given his age and solid strikeout ability Tillman looks like a solid bet to be a No. 3 or 4 starter with upside to be much more.
4. Brandon Erbe - Though it seems like Erbe has been around forever, he just turned 21 this past December. A third round pick in 2005, Erbe vaulted himself onto the prospect map with a Rookie League showing that would make Stephen Strasburg jealous (55.2% K, 87 TBF). The scouting reports match the numbers as Erbe works with a mid-90's fastball and devastating slider. If you only wanted to focus on his upside, Erbe might be a top 10 overall prospect. Unfortunately, control has been a problem for Erbe as he racks up the walks and leaves too many pitches up in the zone (20 HR allowed last year). Overall, last season was a step in the right direction, as Erbe decreased his walk rate (from 11.4% to 8.0%) while increasing his strikeout rate 4.5% to 24.9%. The 2008 season also marked his career high in innings pitched. If he can build on the improvement he showed in 2008, Erbe could be in Baltimore soon - even if his future is just as a late inning reliever.
5. Nolan Reimold - Injuries have set back a promising career, but Reimold was healthy in 2008 and looked every bit a future big league stud. Reimold walked 10.8% of the time last year while striking out just 14.0% and jacking 25 bombs in a pitcher's park. Reimold's power ranks with the best in the game and he's shown consistently high walk rates in the minors. A good athlete with a strong arm, Reimold may be locked into a corner outfield spot due to a lack of speed but, he should be at least average in right field. Age is the only thing that gives one pause when looking at Reimold's numbers - he's already 25 years old. But if he can stay healthy he could be an Adam Dunn type power threat and force in the Orioles' lineup very soon.
HM: Jake Arrieta.