Where O's Top 30 prospects are starting '21

Where O's Top 30 prospects are starting '21

May 4th, 2021

With the 2021 season getting started, here's a look at where the Orioles' Top 30 prospects are projected to start the season:

  1. Adley Rutschman (MLB No. 2), C -- Bowie (Double-A)
  2. Grayson Rodriguez (MLB No. 22), RHP -- Aberdeen (High-A)
  3. Heston Kjerstad (MLB No. 59), OF -- Extended spring training
  4. DL Hall (MLB No. 60), LHP -- Bowie (Double-A)
  5. Gunnar Henderson, SS -- Delmarva (Low-A)
  6. Jordan Westburg, SS -- Delmarva (Low-A)
  7. Dean Kremer, RHP -- Baltimore (MLB)
  8. Michael Baumann, RHP -- Injured (arm)
  9. Yusniel Diaz, OF -- Norfolk (Triple-A)
  10. Keegan Akin, LHP -- Norfolk (Triple-A)
  11. Zac Lowther, LHP -- Norfolk (Triple-A)
  12. Terrin Vavra, 2B -- Bowie (Double-A)
  13. Adam Hall, SS -- Aberdeen (High-A)
  14. Kyle Bradish, RHP -- Bowie (Double-A)
  15. Ryan McKenna, OF -- Norfolk (Triple-A)
  16. Hudson Haskin, OF -- Delmarva (Low-A)
  17. Coby Mayo, 3B -- Extended spring training
  18. Kevin Smith, LHP -- Bowie (Double-A)
  19. Jahmai Jones, 2B -- Norfolk (Triple-A)
  20. Alex Wells, LHP -- Norfolk (Triple-A)
  21. Maikol Hernandez, SS -- Dominican complex
  22. Carter Baumler, RHP -- Extended spring training
  23. Rylan Bannon, 2B -- Norfolk (Triple-A)
  24. Tyler Nevin, 1B -- Norfolk (Triple-A)
  25. Kyle Stowers, OF -- Aberdeen (High-A)
  26. Anthony Servideo, SS -- Delmarva (Low-A)
  27. Samuel Basallo, C -- Dominican complex
  28. Drew Rom, LHP -- Aberdeen (High-A)
  29. Garrett Stallings, RHP -- Aberdeen (High-A)
  30. Darell Hernaiz, SS -- Delmarva (Low-A)

Team to watch

While Norfolk has the most Top 30 players on it with eight, the guess is that people will want to check out Double-A Bowie to finally lay eyes on Mr. Rutschman. He’ll also have some pretty good arms to catch, starting with fellow Top 100 prospect DL Hall as well as Kyle Bradish. There are five Top 30 players on the Bowie roster, but all are in the top 20.

Teams on MiLB.TV

Triple-A Norfolk
Double-A Bowie
High-A Aberdeen
Low-A Delmarva

New faces

The Orioles’ move to build a presence in Latin America led to an influx of young talent currently at their complex in the Dominican Republic (a new state-of-the-art academy is in the works, hopefully to open at some point in 2022.). Two of the biggest signings were shortstop Maikol Hernandez and catcher Samuel Basallo. Both are on the Top 30 and both received seven-figure bonuses to join the organization.

On the shelf

Heston Kjerstad is currently building himself back up after missing action at the alternate site and instructs last year because of myocarditis. The club’s 2020 first-round pick will work his way back slowly and will stick back in extended spring training until he’s ready to begin his professional career. Michael Baumann should be back in a couple of weeks as the Orioles erred on the side of caution when he experienced some arm discomfort earlier this spring.