The Baltimore Orioles rotation of the future will be put on hold a little longer. MLB.com reports that the Orioles sent their top three prospects to Minor League camp ending their 2015 big league spring training. It’s not much of a surprise, but disappointing that the O’s top prospects have to wait one more year.
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The rotation is pretty much set for the reigning American League East champions. Chris Tillman returns as the ace with Wei-Yin Chen, Bud Norris, and Miguel Gonzalez at the top. Ubaldo Jimenez and Kevin Gausman are battling it out for the last spot. There simply wasn’t any room for Dylan Bundy and Hunter Harvey.
Dylan Bundy, the Orioles No. 1 prospect and Grading on the Curve’s No. 23 overall, was the first reassigned to Minor League camp. The 22-year old righty is highly touted amongst all prospect ranking boards. He had a rough go in Spring Training, allowing seven hits and four runs over his six innings pitched. He was hit at a .318 lick and allowed six walks as well registering a 2.17 WHIP.
The former 2011 No. 4 pick overall by the Orioles has been derailed by injuries in his early career. Tommy John surgery struck first in 2013 and then a lat strain ended his 2014 year. His upper-90s fastball lost some velocity and he was a bit wild with his curveball and changeup, both expected from a youngster recovering from Tommy John surgery. Bundy simply needs more time to work the kinks out and should be an imposing force for years to come.
Hunter Harvey, the Orioles No. 2 prospect and sliding in at No. 24 on the Grading on the Curve Top 50, is also heading to the Minor Leagues. The 20-year old righty was also a former first round pick, selected 22nd overall in 2013. Like Bundy, his 2014 season was cut short by injury.
Harvey was amidst a solid debut 2014 when he was shut down in July from elbow issues. He had earned South Atlantic League All Star honors and was invited to pitch in the MLB Futures game. Harvey will need this full season to recover as he tries to get his fastball back to the mid-90s. He has a solid curve, but still needs to work on his changeup, so Harvey may still very well be more than a year away.
Unlike Bundy, Harvey was solid in a small sample size this spring. He made three appearances allowing just one hit and striking out four. He did walk two batters, but erratic control in the first Major League spring training is not unexpected.
Joining the two pitching prospects in Minor League camp will be Orioles No. 3 prospect, first baseman Christian Walker. Walker is appearing to be a fourth round steal after a monster 2014 over two levels in the Orioles system.
The 23-year old right handed hitter racked up two Eastern League Player of the Week Awards as well as Mid and Post-Season All Star honors. He slashed a combined .288/.357/.489 with 26 home runs and 96 RBI. Walker is a bit of a free swinger, striking out 132 times in 532 combined at bats. He earned a late season call-up by the Orioles where he registered one hit, his first career home run.
Walker did not perform well this spring, getting just one hit in 12 at bats. Should Chris Davis continue his regression and Steve Pearce prove more valuable at DH, Walker could be back in Baltimore this season.
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