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Baltimore Orioles Rule 5 Draft: The Locks, Those On The Bubble, And More

ByNick Stevens|
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 22: Fans mingle in the kids zone during the Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 22, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 22: Fans mingle in the kids zone during the Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 22, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
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Baltimore Orioles
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 19: Fans walk along Eutaw Street in the outfield during the Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 19, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

These Baltimore Orioles are likely to stick around, but they will be available in the Rule 5 draft.

Here’s the list of notable minor leaguers available, taking out any upcoming minor league free agents. There are plenty more eligible names, but these are just a small group of guys who once had potential or who have shown at least something during their time in the Baltimore Orioles organization.

Perez has a career ERA of 2.84 and 1.11 WHIP in 269.2 innings over the last five seasons. He can be wild (25 hit batters and 52 walks in the last two seasons), but he’s an exciting pitcher to watch work and does a fantastic job of limiting base hits.

Muckenhirn is someone who a team could take a flyer on. He limited hitters to a .203 average and struck out 65 in 53 innings with Bowie this season. At 25, it isn’t a crazy idea to think he makes a few major league appearances at some point in 2020, especially if the pitching staff performs as it did this season.

There was a lot of hype surrounding Ofelkty Peralta early in 2019 after going 6-2 with a 3.03 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 68 innings. However, this came after two failed attempts at High-A ball and having to repeat full-season ball. Peralta finished the year with his third trip to Frederick, going 3-3 with a 5.48 ERA and 1.62 WHIP.

Matthias Dietz had a lot of promise coming out of the MLB draft. Considered by many to be the top JUCO arm in the draft, Dietz has struggled with command over the last four years. “Struggle” is putting it nicely. I’m fairly certain I saw more balls fly into the field of play while he was warming up than strikes across the plate while in games. He finished the year in Frederick with a 1-8 record, 10.29 ERA and 51 walks in 39 innings. It’s safe to say he won’t be around much longer.

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Palmeiro put up respectable numbers in 2017 and 2018, increasing his home run total, lowering his strikeout rate, and playing a pretty decent second base. Unfortunately, he was moved back to first base with Bowie and had a down year offensively for the Baysox. If Baltimore is going to keep him at first base, a .249 career average, .309 OBP and 35 home runs over parts of four seasons isn’t going to be enough.

I refuse to believe Jomar Reyes is only 22, yet he is. Reyes spent his fourth season in High-A Ball this year, hitting .283 with 32 extra-base hits and didn’t punch any walls. He earned his first trip to Double-A but was immediately placed on the Injured List and saw just one at-bat. He’s someone who followers of the minor league system always hoped would turn his raw power into something, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.

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