Baltimore Orioles: Examining spring training for prospects so far

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JUNE 25: The 2019 top overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft, Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles acknowledges the crowd during the fourth inning against the San Diego Padres at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 25, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JUNE 25: The 2019 top overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft, Adley Rutschman #35 of the Baltimore Orioles acknowledges the crowd during the fourth inning against the San Diego Padres at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 25, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

So, how have the Baltimore Orioles done so far in spring training? As of Monday (March 28), they were sitting at a record of 5-5-1, which seems like a vast improvement from their record of 52-110 in 2021.

The point of spring training, however, is to see how your prospects look against Major League talent and to also give your Major League roster the chance to warm up and get ready for the regular season.

How have members of the Baltimore Orioles Top 30 prospects faired so far during 2022 spring training?

Adley Rutschman, who is the top prospect for the Baltimore Orioles, as well as one of the top prospects in all of baseball, has yet to touch the spring training field due to a triceps strain. The Orioles’ second-ranked prospect, Grayson Rodriguez, has thrown in one spring training game and gave up four earned runs in 1.1 innings pitched, and was sent back down to minor league camp. Kyle Stowers, the eighth-ranked prospect in the Orioles’ system, is currently 2-for-19 (.105) in spring training.

There have, however, been many bright spots during the Orioles’ spring training. Yusniel Diaz, the 26th-ranked prospect in the Orioles farm system, is currently 6-for-16 (.375) in spring training, which is something that many people wondered if it was possible out of Diaz, who was one of the highlights of the Manny Machado trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018.

D.L Hall, the fifth-ranked prospect in the Orioles farm system, had a perfect inning on Monday against the Phillies, striking out a pair of batters.

There have been members of the Orioles for years who seem to have had a rebirth during the spring. Ramon Urias, who quietly had a very good year for the Orioles in 2021 (.279, 7 home runs, 38 RBI), is currently having an incredible spring training, batting .500 (6-for-12). Travis Lakins Sr., coming off elbow surgery in the offseason, has a 1.80 ERA in 5.0 innings this spring.

Take this with a grain of salt, however. Even though all of these players may be having an up or down spring training for their expectations, it is only spring training, and there are still six-plus months of regular season to get through.