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Baltimore Orioles: Top Ten Prospects for 2018

By Benjamin Chase

BOSTON, MA - JUNE 25: The Baltimore Orioles logo is seen on a batting helmet during the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on June 25, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - JUNE 25: The Baltimore Orioles logo is seen on a batting helmet during the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on June 25, 2015 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Winslow Townson/Getty Images) /
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10. Zac Lowther, LHP

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 4/30/96 (21)
2017 teams/levels played for: short season A-ball Aberdeen IronBirds
2017 Stats: 12 G, 11 GS, 54 1/3 IP, 1.66 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 5.3% BB, 35.9%

Info: One of two second round picks for the Baltimore Orioles in 2017. Lowther was selected in the competitive balance B round with the 74th overall pick. Lowther was the ace for Xavier this spring and jumped up draft boards with his spring performance.

A lefty without huge stuff, Lowther required a tremendous spring run to jump into the conversation in the 2nd round, even after dominating the Cape Cod League in 2016, striking out 54 and walking just 5 in 35 2/3 innings.

Lowther isn’t going to blow anyone away with velocity, but he is exceptional using his deception in his delivery

Lowther isn’t going to blow anyone away with velocity, but he is exceptional using his deception in his delivery that is accentuated by his low 3/4 delivery that makes the ball incredibly difficult for pitchers from both sides to pick up.

Lowther tops out at 92 MPH, working primarily around 90 with excellent late movement. He has a slurvy breaking ball that gets excellent angle as well as late bite to make it difficult for righties or lefties to square up. His change worked better in pro ball than in college, likely in large part due to sequencing.

Lowther showed very well in pro ball, likely due to his advanced pitchability. He doesn’t have a high ceiling, but due to his advanced ability to control the zone and sequence hitters, he should be able to advance to the upper minors with success. At that point, he will have to see how he can attack those hitters.

Lowther will open in full-season ball in 2018, and going on the example of how the team handled 2016 collegiate draftees, he has a chance to open with high-A Frederick.

9. Alex Wells, LHP

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 2/27/97 (21)
2017 teams/levels played for: low-A Delmarva Shorebirds
2017 Stats: 25 GS, 140 IP, 2.38 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, 1.8$ BB, 20.6% K

Info: Wells is the twin brother of Minnesota Twins lefty Lachlan Wells, and both pitchers have worked their way into full-season ball. In Alex’s first season, he made a huge impression in the South Atlantic League with his incredible command and control.

Wells is still fairly recent to the game, having only really played baseball now for a dozen years. For that little experience, Wells has a tremendous feel for pitching.

Wells works with a fastball that tops out in the low-90s and sits just under 90 MPH, working with an average curveball and above-average change that all play up due to his exceptional command of all three pitches. He’s shown an exceptional ability to set up hitters and keep hitters off-balance.

Wells has a fairly low ceiling due to his lack of velocity and sharp breaking stuff, but his command will allow him to continue to have success against lower level hitters. His real test will likely not come in 2018 as he’ll spend 2018 in high-A before moving up to the upper minors in 2019.

Next: #7 and #8

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