Baltimore Orioles Finally Have Intriguing International Talent

A few recent international signings of the Baltimore Orioles have received high praise, with more instrumental pieces expected to join this year’s class.

In the three years leading up to the arrival of general manager Mike Elias, the Baltimore Orioles signed a total of 27 international prospects. It’s been a long-standing tradition of the Orioles to steer clear of the international market, unwilling to build relationships or invest in key markets to help build up the level of talent in the organization and go after some of the bigger names available year after year.

While there have been plenty of international signings and Dominican Summer League rosters full of prospects, they haven’t consisted of many impact names.

To highlight just how few impactful international prospects have graced Orioles rosters in the past, MLB.com’s Joe Trezza put together his list of the top five O’s international signings, a list topped by “El Presidente” himself, Dennis Martinez. While Martinez had a solid career with the Orioles, piling up 108 of his 245 career wins in an Orioles uniform, the rest of the list features Jonathan Schoop, Wei-Yin Chen, Sidney Ponson, and current Boston Red Sox pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez.

Ponson is more remembered for his off the field struggles than his struggles on the mound and Rodriguez never pitched in an Orioles uniform. However, odds are we won’t have to include Sidney Ponson on a “best of” Orioles list soon.

The days of less than impressive international classes are now behind the organization and the Orioles are quickly becoming notable players on the scene under the leadership of Elias and International Scouting Director Koby Perez. Last year’s “J2” signing day saw the Orioles bring in a record 27 signings, despite having very little time to establish a presence and begin scouting prospective talents.

Just how dedicated are the Orioles to building a reliable pipeline of talent that runs through the international market? Fans could buy a “J2” t-shirt last season which became a quick hit.

Last year’s class didn’t feature any of the more elite names available, but it was a very small, yet greatly impactful, first step towards becoming a team we commonly see connected to the top names.

LHP Luis Ortiz (listed at 6’3” and 195 pounds) was the star of the class, signing for $400,000 and bringing with him a fastball that reaches 93 mph and a beautiful curve offering, per Ben Badler, the ultimate source on international prospects over at Baseball America.

It’s fun to imagine just how much more Ortiz will have in the tank as he continues to grow and fill out that tall frame. Despite his age, the lefty should be able to find early success in the lower levels of the organization, based on looks from the few videos out there. His poise on the mound and ability to use his pitches effectively are well beyond his years.

Baltimore Orioles

Ortiz currently ranks as the 30th best prospect in the Baltimore Orioles system, per MLB Pipeline, and was supposed to begin the 2020 season in the Dominican Summer League.

Just don’t get him confused with the other Luis Ortiz in the system. Remember the one who was part of the return for Jonathan Schoop in the 2018 deal with the Milwaukee Brewers? That Ortiz is a former first-round pick of the Texas Rangers who went 3-7 with a 6.38 ERA and 1.63 WHIP in 14 Triple-A starts last season. In 5.2 innings at the big league level with the Orioles since 2018, Ortiz has given up eight runs on 11 hits with eight walks and just three strikeouts.

Ortiz isn’t the only 2019 “J2” signing receiving high praise. Just last week, Ben Badler put out a piece on Baseball America highlighting 11 pitching prospects he believes could crack the top 100 in the near future. One of those pitchers is RHP Raul Rangel, a 17-year-old 2019 signing who received a $150,000 bonus.

According to Badler, Rangel is a 6’4” yet rail-thin righty at 155 pounds out of Venezuela. Rangel has already been clocked at 93 mph and Badler believes he has the makings of a starting pitcher with a curveball and changeup in his repertoire.

These kids are still a few years away from even reaching the Gulf Coast League and no one can make any solid projections about players when we’re talking about 16-year-old kids, but for Orioles fans, it’s exciting to finally have young international prospects to talk about.

Despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, this year’s “J2” signing period should still continue as planned, bringing in a second crop of players into the organization. With the 2020 draft being reduced to five rounds, a large international class will help bring in some of that depth in the organization the Orioles are in need of.

Per MLB Pipeline, the Baltimore Orioles are the favorites to sign the 29th ranked international prospect on their 2020 Top 30 list, 16-year-old shortstop Maikol Hernandez out of Venezuela. He’s projected to earn one of the highest signing bonuses given out by the Orioles.

From his Pipeline and Baseball America scouting reports, Hernandez could develop plus-hit and speed tools, with the ability to put the ball over the fence from the right side of the plate and play a solid shortstop. He draws a few impressive comps, physically speaking. “At 6-foot-3 and 170 pounds, the lean and athletic Hernandez reminds some scouts of a young Alex Rodriguez and Carlos Correa because of his body type” per his Pipeline scouting report.

With another year of relationship building and scouting the market under his belt, Orioles fans should be even more excited for what’s to come in 2021. For now, 2020 looks to be another decent year of bringing in depth and making sure the organization is an attractive place to play for future international prospects.