Baltimore Orioles: Second Base Depth On The Farm

Contributor Chuck Boemmel continues his series of looks into a position-by-position breakdown of the prospects in the Baltimore Orioles organization. Up next, a look at the second base options down on the farm.

Spring training is quickly approaching for the Baltimore Orioles (their first full-squad workout is scheduled for Feb. 17th) and with that in mind, Birds Watcher felt this was an ideal time to take a look at the prospects in the talent pipeline on a position by position basis.

Second base is a position in the minor league system that has seen a multitude of players; many in the system will play all around the infield (second base, shortstop and third base).  That being said, it is easy to envision a prospect who plays another position now emerging as a second base prospect in the future.  For the purpose of this piece, only those minor leaguers who are primarily second basemen will be considered.

You can view previous parts of our series here:

• Baltimore Orioles third base prospects to watch
• Baltimore Orioles outfield prospects to watch
• Baltimore Orioles shortstop prospects to watch

While none of these names are “prospects”, they could be interesting pieces to keep an eye on. Acquired in the April 2019 trade with the Seattle Mariners for RHP Mike Wright, Delmarva’s Ryne Ogren, while still a few years away, could eventually see some time at second base in Baltimore.

Ogren, Seattle’s 2018 12th round draft pick out of Elon University, spent the 2019 season with the Shorebirds where he hit .253/ .343/ .318 with 37 runs scored and 31 RBI (100 wRC+).  He produced a .977 fielding percentage with three errors in 133 total chances over 356.2 innings played at second base.  Known for his strong work ethic, Ogren has the versatility to move around the infield as well.

While Ogren played all four infield positions in Delmarva, second base was his primary position and may provide his best shot at making the major league roster in Baltimore.  I expect him to continue his development in Frederick (A-Adv.) during the 2020 season.

Selected in the minor league portion of the 2019 Rule-5 draft, Wilbis Santiago brings a solid bat and steady glove to the Orioles organization.   The 24-year-old native of Cotul in the Dominican Republic, hit a combined .312/ .341/ .416 with 23 runs scored and 23 RBI in 2019 while playing at both Lake County (A) and Lynchburg (A-Adv.) last season in the Cleveland Indians organization.  Currently listed on the Norfolk Tides (AAA) roster, Santiago should see time at either Norfolk or Bowie (AA) in 2020.  He is an intriguing middle infield option to follow.

Dilson Herrera was signed by the Orioles as a minor league free agent out of the New York Mets organization in December of 2019.  He spent his 2019 season in Syracuse (AAA) where he hit .248/ .330/ .501 with 24 home runs and 64 RBI.  He also brings with him major league experience having played 53 games for the Cincinnati Reds in 2018.

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Jean Carmona was acquired in the 2018 trade with the Milwaukee Brewers for Jonathan Schoop and played second base in Aberdeen (A-Short) last season.  Despite hitting just .224/ .290/ .271, the 20-year-old Dominican Republic native has room to grow as he matures.  He has spent his entire time in the Baltimore organization in Aberdeen and hopefully will move to a full season affiliate in 2020.

Called “worth mentioning” in my breakdown of the shortstop prospects, Cadyn Grenier is also worth mentioning here at second base as well.  He split time with Adam Hall in Delmarva (A-Low) at both second and short and could very well factor into the future discussion at second base in Baltimore.

I will admit that the options at second base may appear sparse but that is not the case.  As stated at the beginning of this piece, infield versatility is being practiced at the minor league level and a prospect that hasn’t yet been considered may emerge as a second base candidate.

That is all the more reason to follow the Baltimore minor league system as the rebuild continues.