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Baltimore Orioles: Top 10 prospects

Organization Ranking: 22

I've ranked every farm system, as well as the top 100 MLB prospects for 2015. Below, I've ranked at least the top 10 O's prospects, plus an overview of the system and any other names of note beyond the top 10. I also discuss any prospects who might help the big league club in 2015, one or two prospects whose stock has taken a big hit in the past year, and a sleeper prospect who I think can jump into the main top-100 list for 2016.

Non-Insider subscribers: Check out the free Tampa Bay Rays top-10 prospects report to see what these entail.

Top 10 prospects

1. Hunter Harvey, RHP

2. Dylan Bundy, RHP

3. Chance Sisco, C

4. Christian Walker, 1B

5. Jomar Reyes, 3B

6. Zach Davies, RHP

7. Brian Gonzalez, LHP

8. Drew Dosch, 3B

9. Jonah Heim, C

10. Mike Wright, RHP

Overview

The Orioles' system has thinned out a bit after a brief surge due to a variety of factors -- no first- or second-round picks last year, the trade of Eduardo Rodriguez, nothing from Latin America before Jomar Reyes. They still have two potential aces atop their system, and Chance Sisco would be a top-100 prospect if I felt confident that he would stay behind the plate. He can hit enough to profile fine at third base if he has to move, but his receiving isn't great and it's an average arm. Christian Walker's probably a fringe or below-average regular in the majors, but he's performed enough in the minors to deserve a chance with someone, but not likely with Baltimore. Davies and lefty Tim Berry (14) are both skinny starters with good changeups; Davies' changeup is a 70 and he commands it, while Berry doesn't have quite the same velocity and isn't as durable, so he's more likely a reliever while Davies has the better chance to start. Brian Gonzalez, their first pick of the 2014 draft (but in the third round), is still building up arm strength but was sitting 91-92 in instructs; he's got a good change and a chance for an average curve. Drew Dosch a 22-year-old college product, was too old for low-A last year. He can get the barrel to the ball consistently and played above-average defense at third; if there's some more power in there, he could end up an everyday player. Heim can catch, really can throw and has power; I just don't know if he's going to hit. Catchers do frequently develop later as hitters, and Heim's a cold-weather kid as well, so his experience is very limited.

Josh Hart (11) was injured on and off all year, so he wasn't even running well; he should be able to play center field and he'll show power in BP, but seven extra-base hits in 350 plate appearances isn't going to cut it.

Steven Brault (12) didn't start pitching full-time until 2013, but he's 91-92 from the left side, touching 94, with an above-average changeup and two breaking balls that have some promise. It's probably time to put Branden Kline (13) in the pen given the disappearance of his breaking ball and inability to miss A-ball hitters' bats. David Hess (15) is an interesting project: a fifth-rounder who needed delivery work, then was 94-97 in his last appearance for Delmarva with a hammer.

2015 impact

Walker is on the 40-man roster now and could get some bench time. Bundy will return to the majors when his stuff and elbow permits, although I couldn't guess in what capacity. Davies is the more likely call-up to be their No. 5 starter if they need one.

The fallen

Last offseason, Mike Wright looked like he might get time in the back of Baltimore's rotation before 2014 was out, but his delivery was out of whack, he didn't have his regular velocity until late in the year, and he struggled to find his breaking ball. There were signs of life in August, but he's likely a bullpen piece given his trouble maintaining his delivery.

Sleeper

Reyes was their big bonus baby in 2013, and I mean big -- listed at 6-foot-3 but likely taller, and 220 pounds already -- kind of a Miguel Sano body with a little less power but more hitting tools at the same age. He probably won't stay at third, but the bat should profile at first. His performance in the Gulf Coast League as a 17-year-old who skipped the Dominican Summer League was very promising.