Started from the Bottom Now We’re Here

Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

As the 2014 MLB Draft closes in, I was curious to see how many of the Orioles draft picks/amateur free agent signings actually made it up to the Major Leagues through the team’s farm system and is currently on the Orioles active roster. Here is what I found:

• Nick Markakis– Drafted by the Orioles in the 1st round (7th pick overall) of the 2003 MLB Amateur Draft
• Zach Britton– Drafted by the Orioles in the 3rd round of the 2006 MLB Amateur Draft
• Matt Wieters– Drafted by the Orioles in the 1st round (5th pick overall) of the 2007 MLB Amateur Draft
• Brian Matusz– Drafted by the Orioles in the 1st round (4th pick overall) of the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft
• Caleb Joseph– Drafted by the Orioles in the 7th round of the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft
• Jonathan Schoop– Was not drafted; signed by the Orioles as an amateur free agent in 2008
• Manny Machado– Drafted by the Orioles in the 1st round (3rd pick overall) in the 2010 MLB Amateur Draft

Between these seven players, there has been 4 Gold Glove Winners (Wieters x2, Markakis, Machado), 1 Platinum Glove Winner (Machado), and 3 All Stars (Machado, Wieters x2).

The Orioles farm system has  not been very productive over the years as of late. It seemed that whenever Orioles managers like Dave Trembley said we have a lot of talented prospects coming up through the Minors, fans would shake their heads. For whatever reason, these so-called “talented prospects” would either never pan out in the Majors or they would be traded away to another team.

Now the Orioles are starting to see more players make it up to their Major League roster. In the past three years, the Orioles have drafted three top quality starting pitchers (Dylan Bundy-2011; Kevin Gausman-2012; Hunter Harvey-2013).

Unfortunately, if the trade rumors about Jeff Samardzija coming to Baltimore are true then possibly two of these three starters may be gone before fans can ever really see what they have to offer Baltimore.

Hopefully in this year’s draft, the Orioles will be able to get a decent player in the third round (O’s do not have a draft pick until the third round because of off-season acquisitions). If the Samardzija trade occurs then expect the Orioles to try and get a starting pitcher in order to fill the void left by whichever prospect Baltimore has to give to the Cubs.