Baltimore Orioles: A History Of O’s Prospects In MLB Futures Game

A history of Baltimore Orioles prospects playing in the MLB Futures Game.

2015: RHP Zach Davies

The 2015 game was the first time I vividly remember watching the Futures Game and being really excited about Zach Davies. A former 26th round pick, Davies steadily climbed the ladder with the O’s, moving up one level per year before reaching Norfolk in 2015. Davies posted decent strikeout numbers, limited base hits, and never posted an ERA above 3.89 at any stop while in the organization. Which is exactly why he was traded for Bud Norris? I never understood this trade and seeing Davies’ success since only makes it hurt more. Davies is 40-27 with a 3.87 ERA in 98 starts for the Brewers.

2016: LHP Josh Hader and C Chance Sisco (also 2017)

A Maryland native, Hader went 3-6 with a 2.65 ERA (17 starts) is his only full season with the O’s (Low-A ball) before being traded to Houston for starting pitcher LJ Hoes. Since then, he’s become one of the more dominant relievers in the game for the Brewers, earning two All-Star nods in his three seasons and owning a career 2.25 ERA and 15.2 K/9 rate.

Chance Sisco. What can we say about Sisco? A former top prospect of the O’s, Sisco has rebounded from a terrible 2018 season, currently flexing his power and on-base ability with the major league O’s. With the recent addition of Adley Rutschman, it’s clear that Sisco will not become the starting catcher of the future for the Orioles. He now finds himself trying to convince the Orioles that he can be useful in some role, moving forward. The jury is still out on Sisco, but it may be safe to say that the two-time Futures Game participant won’t develop into the highly-touted player many believed he would become.

2017: LHP Tanner Scott

The jury is still out on Tanner Scott and his 2017 performance perfectly summarizes his career up to this point. Armed with his electric fastball, Scott would surrender hits to Vladimir Guerrero Jr and Josh Naylor, also issuing a wild pitch. Command issues have continued to haunt Scott over the last two seasons as he has bounced between AAA and the pros. In 67 games with the Orioles, Scott owns a 3-3 record with a 5.56 ERA and 1.70 WHIP. While he has 96 strikeouts to his name, Scott also has 41 walks to his credit.

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2018: 1B Ryan Mountcastle and LHP Alex Wells

Mountcastle went 0-2 with a strikeout in his Futures Game performance, but he’s found himself a home at first base and is primed to have a long and successful career with the Baltimore Orioles. Now in Triple-A, Mountcastle is beating down the doors of Camden Yards with a .306 average, 15 home runs, and 50 RBIs through 79 games with the Tides.

A former Jim Palmer Award winner, Wells is now finding success in Double-A, currently sitting at 7-1 with 1.92 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. A command specialist (70 BB in 417 career innings), Wells saw two hitters in his Futures Game performance, getting San Diego Padres prospect Buddy Reed to fly out and striking out St. Louis Cardinals prospect Andrew Kizer on three pitches, all looking.

The 2019 MLB Futures Game will take place at Progressive Field in Cleveland at 7 pm EST on MLB Network.