Mack Ade - Jay Bruce v2.0

Good morning.

Things keep changing when it comes to which team has signed which outfielder. Free agent Michael Saunders signed with the Phillies, Jose Bautista looks to be going to Toronto, leaving Baltimore as the best chance of putting together to sell off Jay Bruce.

Using the same “one Bruce for two prospects’ theory, let’s look at some of the guys Sandy and Company should target in the Orioles pipeline –

            First of all, let me say this. There simply aren’t any ‘A’ prospects in this organization. They suck even more than we do.

            That being said…

            From John Sickels -

Chance Sisco, C, Grade B: Age 21, second round pick in 2013, hit .317/.403/.430 in 426 at-bats between Double-A and Triple-A with 61 walks, 88 strikeouts; superior pure-hitting skills with rare 

combination of bat speed, smooth swing, and sharp batting eye; should have no trouble producing OBP and batting average; long-term home run power remains a question but could get to 10-15 a year with maturity; defense remains work-in-progress; decent arm and threw out 33% of runners; receiving has improved somewhat with reductions in error and passed ball rates; may never be more than average with the glove but if he hits as expected that could be enough. ETA 2018.

Anthony Santander, OF, Grade B- Age 22, hit .290/.368/.494 with 42 doubles, 20 homers, 54 walks, 118 strikeouts in 500 at-bats in Low-A; from Venezuela, signed by Indians in 2011; selected by Orioles in Rule 5 draft; switch-hitter with 60/70 grade power; a few issues with contact and swing consistency but controls zone reasonably; may not hit for high averages at highest levels but power should carry forward; good throwing arm, classic right field profile; I like him a lot but health status unclear following fall shoulder surgery; has to stick on the roster due to Rule 5 and could be stashed on DL. ETA 2017.

Keegan Akin, LHP, Grade B-: Age 21, second round pick in 2016 from Western Michigan; posted 1.04 ERA in 26 innings in NY-P with 29/7 K/BB, just 15 hits; fastball at 92-94 with peaks at 96; both change-up and slider have above-average moments but are inconsistent; throws a heavy ball and tough to drive, could develop into three-pitch mid-rotation starter or a two-pitch power bullpen arm; ETA late 2019.

Ofelky Peralta, RHP, Grade C+: Age 19, signed out of Dominican Republic in 2013; posted 4.01 ERA with 101/60 K/BB in 103 innings in Low-A, 87 hits; fastball 92-95 with peaks at 97-98; depending on when you see him, he can show a decent slider, a decent change-up, or a slurvy "blah" pitch, or a change that’s basically slow fastball, or any combination thereof; command is also an issue; nevertheless, has the ceiling of a number three starter or a power closer. ETA late 2019.

Tanner Scott, LHP, Grade C+: Age 22, sixth round pick in 2014 from Howard Junior College in Texas; posted 4.76 ERA with 81/57 K/BB in 64 innings between High-A and Double-A, 40 hits; obviously he walks too many hitters but he also has 100 MPH fastball and a wicked slider; the K/IP and H/IP marks aren’t lying, but neither are the BBs; highest ceiling arm in the system; at age 22, there’s still time to harness it. ETA late 2018.