Baltimore Orioles: Top Ten Prospects for 2018
8. Anthony Santander, OF
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 10/19/94 (23)
2017 teams/levels played for: high-A Frederick Keys, AA Bowie Baysox, MLB Baltimore Orioles
2017 Stats: Minors: .382/.453/.745, 64 PA, 5 HR, 7/10 BB/K; Majors: .267/.258/.267, 31 PA, 0/8 BB/K
Info: The Orioles drafted Santander in the Rule 5 draft last offseason, expecting to give him a chance to earn a backup outfielder role, but Santander missed nearly the entire season due to injury, meaning he enters the 2018 season requiring the same roster requirements as a Rule 5 pick.
Santander always possessed a quick bat with power potential that simply hadn’t manafested before the 2016 season, when he hit 20 home runs and 42 doubles at high-A for Cleveland’s Lynchburg affiliate. The Indians likely hoped that he would pass through the Rule 5 draft due to not playing above A-ball before that point.
Santander is primarily a corner outfielder who fits best in left field due to an average arm that he can play up due to his typically accurate throws. He shows some athleticism in the outfield, but not first step quickness that would make him a viable center field option.
Santander’s ability to switch hit makes him an attractive option for the Orioles to possibly retain all season on the roster. He has more loft from the left side and is likely to see more home runs from that side. From the right side, he has more of a line drive swing, but has better control of the zone, likely resulting in a better contact rate.
He’ll need to stick at the big league level all of 2018 or be offered back to the Indians.
7. Cody Sedlock, RHP
Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 6/19/95 (22)
2017 teams/levels played for: high-A Frederick Keys
2017 Stats: 20 GS, 90 IP, 5.90 ERA, 1.72 WHIP, 8.6% BB, 16.4% K
Info: Following in the recent tradition of Illinois relievers that moved into the rotation near the end of their collegiate career and make themselves into first round draft pick, Sedlock was the 27th overall selection in 2016 by the Orioles after making just 5 starts his first two seasons in college before taking over as the Illini’s ace in his senior year, making 14 starts just in 2016.
That leaves Sedlock in a development cycle still as a starter. He works with a heavy fastball that runs to 97 and sits in the low 90s with heavy sink and late life. Sedlock works with a curve and change that can both flash plus but can lose their feel as a game wears on. His slider seemed to take a step back from an above-average pitch to a pitch that he struggled to show well in 2017.
Sedlock’s 2017 showed that he did have some work yet to do in his development as a pitcher.
Sedlock came out and stormed the New York-Penn League in 2016 after being drafted, leading many to believe he farther advanced than where he truly was. Sedlock’s 2017 showed that he did have some work yet to do in his development as a pitcher.
His fastball ranks as one of the most impressive still in the system, with hard sink and run. The issue he had in 2017 was with his delivery, altering his formerly rough delivery, but he never really seemed to find comfort this season and ended up reverting back to his old delivery toward the end of the season and found much more comfort.
The Orioles hope that Sedlock can find the same command he showed in 2016 after being drafted when he can use his old delivery, even if that means he’s not able to be the workhorse starter his frame would indicate he’s built to be.
Sedlock very well may end up in the bullpen long-term, and his stuff would play well in that role, but the Orioles will continue to attempt to develop him in the rotation, likely returning him to high-A at least to open 2018.
Next: #5 and #6