The Orioles have spent the last four seasons in a rebuild that has started from the bottom on up.
Spending drafts making calculated moves, making timely trades for assets and utilizing the international pipeline, the Orioles have built one of the top farm systems in all of baseball.
GM Mike Elias has set out to rebuild the organization from scouting, to coaching, to players. As the process keeps growing, studs such as Adley Rutschman, Grayson Rodriguez and D.L. Hall have been turning heads and keeping fans anticipating their arrival to Baltimore.
Other players such as Kyle Bradish, Tyler Nevin, Kyle Stowers and Nick Vespi have only added to the excitement of what is to come. It also seems weekly that a new name is emerging from the talented pipeline to add to the prestige of talent that has been infused throughout the system.
Infielder César Prieto, the Orioles’ No. 12 prospect, was recently named the Orioles’ Minor League Hitter of the Month.
A member of the Aberdeen IronBirds, Prieto led the South Atlantic League in slugging (.701) for the month of April.
In Aberdeen’s 7-4 victory against Greensboro on the 22nd, Prieto would deliver a 3-for-4 performance at the plate that included a walk. In the game, he would hit two long balls, bringing home three and scoring two runs.
For the month of April, Prieto would hit four doubles, seven homers, knock in 17 and score 11 times for the IronBirds. Prieto also received SAL Player of the Week on April 24.
Prieto’s season totals have him batting .329 with seven homers, 17 RBIs and two steals. He has an OBP of .377 and an OPS of 1.063.
The Bowie Baysox’s Ryan Watson was named the Orioles’ Minor League Pitcher of the Month, as he tied for second in the organization with two wins in three games.
For the month of April, Watson would pitch 13 innings, striking out 16 and only permitting two hits. Opponents batted just .049 against him in April, and his WHIP was 0.385.
In the appearance, Watson didn’t pick up a win. He would collect a save, but it was his appearance on April 13, that was his strongest appearance.
In a game against the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, Watson would pitch the last four innings of the game, allowing Bowie to claim the victory. He would strike out seven, holding the Ponies to no hits or walks in the victory.
For the season, Watson has pitched in five games, amassing a 2-0 record with one save. His ERA stands at 2.28 across 23.2 innings with 28 strikeouts. His WHIP is 0.761, and he has held opponents to a .160 batting average.
With the talent in the organization so strong, finding stand-outs for the month is not an easy task. Between players pushing to make next level jumps and call-ups to the bigs, the talent will be given ample opportunities to shine.
Elias promised a pipeline that would provide talent from top to bottom. Looking at where things stand, the progression is stronger than ever.
We want to congratulate César and Ryan on the honors!
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