Baltimore Orioles top 10 prospects for 2019

10. Dillon Tate, RHP

Birthday: 5/1/1994 (24)
Acquired: Trade with NYY, 2018
Level(s): AA Bowie
Statistics: (combined with Yankees system numbers) 22 G, 123 1/3 IP, 4.16 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 6.6% BB, 18.5% K

Originally drafted #4 overall in 2015 out of UC-Santa Barbara by the Texas Rangers, Dillon Tate is now on his third organization, which would scare a number of people away from him. Instead, there’s a reason why multiple teams want his arm in their system.

Dillon Tate can still reach mid-90s with his hard-spin fastball, and that is the reason so many teams are very interested. Tate has worked hard to simplify his delivery since being drafted. He’s also done well to polish his body on the mound, which increases his athleticism and ability to adjust in game as needed.

Tate’s biggest issue has never been his fastball. That fastball has good movement that seems to work well in the middle of the zone with his spin rate giving an appearance of rise. He does have an impressive slider as well that seems to play up the harder he throws it, oddly working better when it’s more in the 85-87 range than its normal 83-84 range.

While many saw Tate as a guy who would move quickly to the Orioles rotation, his best fit may be as a multi-inning reliever, using his fastball/slider combination and spotting in his average change to work over multiple innings of relief. He could eventually work into a late inning role as well, and he could open 2019 in the Baltimore Orioles bullpen.