Baltimore Orioles: Norfolk Tides Roster Full Of Major League Talent

The 2019 minor league picture is starting to come into focus as the Norfolk Tides (Baltimore Orioles AAA affiliate) announced their break camp roster on Friday.

Friday was an off day for the Baltimore Orioles; despite that fact, the business of baseball continues.  Steve Melewski of MASNsports.com previewed the break camp rosters prior to the start of the 2019 MiLB season on April 4th. These are preliminary rosters, with official rosters not due until next week.

The Norfolk Tides were the first Baltimore Orioles affiliate to officially release their break camp roster via social media.

The roster currently consists of 27 players: 14 pitchers, three catchers, six infielders, and four outfielders.  Five players are among the Orioles Top-30 prospects, per MLB Pipeline, and two are former first-round draft picks.

The roster breaks down as follows:

CATCHERS

• Carlos Perez
• Chance Sisco
• Andrew Susac

INFIELDERS

• Christopher Bostick
• Ryan Mountcastle (2015 1st round pick)
• Jace Peterson
• Jack Reinheimer
• Zach Vincej
• Stevie Wilkerson

OUTFIELDERS

• Jaycob Brugman
• Anthony Santander
• DJ Stewart (2015 1st round pick)
• Mason Williams

RIGHT-HANDED PITCHERS

• Branden Kline
• Lucas Long
• Josh Lucas
• Luis Ortiz
• Evan Phillips
• Yefry Ramirez
• Tanner Scott
• Matt Wotherspoon
• Gabriel Ynoa

LEFT-HANDED PITCHERS

• Keegan Akin
• Sean Gilmartin
• Luis Gonzalez
• Josh Rogers
• Luis Ysla

Keep in mind that the 25-man roster does not need to be finalized until Thursday, April 4th and that changes will be made throughout the season, especially in light of the players remaining in extended spring training (Austin Hays and Cody Carroll among them).

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A projected rotation of Akin, Ynoa, Ramirez, Rogers and possibly Ysla looks stout, while a possible Opening Day outfield of Santander, Stewart, and Williams features two outfielders worthy of a major league roster spot and a former top prospect in Mason Williams.  Sisco should start behind the plate with Mountcastle, Bostick, Vincej, and Wilkerson playing around the infield.

The Tides 25-man roster on Opening Day will not be the same as the 25-man roster at the AAA All-Star break but, I don’t believe that the ‘Norfolk Shuttle” will be as active as in year’s past.  General manager Mike Elias has preached patience and not promoting prospects until they are ready to stay at the major league level, so names like Keegan Akin, Branden Kline, Chance Sisco, and Ryan Mountcastle won’t be making the major league roster anytime soon

The roster in Norfolk will be strong all season long and it will be one worth making the trip from Baltimore to see.