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Baltimore Orioles: Prospect Keegan Akin should not be rushed

By Chuck Boemmel

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 11: The Baltimore Orioles mascot performs before the game against the Oakland Athletics at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 11, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 11: The Baltimore Orioles mascot performs before the game against the Oakland Athletics at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 11, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) /
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The Baltimore Orioles need pitching in 2019. Despite that need, pitching prospect Keegan Akin should be left alone and allowed to continue his development in the Minor Leagues

The calendar has now turned to 2019; it is officially time for fans of the Baltimore Orioles to look ahead to the rebuild and stop looking back at the 2018 season. New General Manager Mike Elias and new manager Brandon Hyde have much work to do in advance of the 2019 season.

One of those tasks is to fill out the pitching rotation. The rotation currently has two openings, and if the rumors of trade talks involving Alex Cobb and Dylan Bundy prove to be true, there will be more.

The Baltimore Orioles have many candidates for the rotation, including David Hess, John Means, Yefry Ramirez and Josh Rogers. Another possible candidate is Jimmy Yacabonis. One prospect who should not be considered is Keegan Akin.

Akin, the Baltimore Orioles’ second round draft pick in 2016, has been solid since joining the organization. His 2018 season at Bowie (AA) earned him the organization’s Jim Palmer Minor League Pitcher of the Year Award (he was the co-winner along with Frederick’s Zac Lowther).

Akin finished the 2018 season with a 14-7 record in 25 starts for the Baysox, and pitched to a 3.27 ERA and 1.25 WHIP with 142 strike outs in 137.2 innings of work. Akin was named to the Eastern League All-Star team and was the League’s Pitcher of the Year for 2018 as well.

Despite all of this success, I am of the opinion that patience is required as far as promoting Akin is concerned and that he should be left to pitch in the minors in 2019. I see him moving up to Norfolk (AAA) and would prefer that he stays there.

The Baltimore Orioles have been known to use the Norfolk-to-Baltimore shuttle in order to fill pitching needs, both temporary and season-long.  That shuttle has been an effective 26th roster spot at times but it has derailed players as well.

Case in point for the potential detriment of the Norfolk-to-Baltimore shuttle is former Baltimore Orioles’ pitcher Kevin Gausman. Gausman was optioned to Norfolk from Baltimore in each of the 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 seasons. That movement disrupted his rhythm and continuity as a pitcher and it has been contended that the constant shuffling hindered his development in Baltimore.

I do not want to see that fate befall Akin. Currently ranked as the Baltimore Orioles’ #11 prospect by MLB Pipeline, Akin has the potential to be a vital part of the core that returns the Orioles to prominence.

The rebuild will not start and end in 2019 so there is no need to start the service clock for Akin or waste one of his valuable options. The Orioles under Mike Elias are working towards the future and Akin will be a part of that future. Now is not the time to rush this big (6’0″, 225 lb.), power southpaw.

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No matter what numbers Akin produces in 2019, the temptation to call him up to Oriole Park at Camden Yards must be resisted. Allow him to develop, build confidence and dominate at the Triple-A level in Norfolk. We can wait until September call-ups to see what he has to offer; let’s be patient with Keegan Akin.

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