[Jay Elias]

Orioles prospect issues:

RHP Oliver Drake is considered one of the O's better prospects, ranking in the late teens in their system. In the game he has no pitches that he throws at all, and has an extremely low endurance. Via Camden Depot, a scouting report on Drake:

http://camdendepot.com/winter2009_pr...BAL_part2.html

"His fastball is a solid-average offering that ranges from the upper-80s to the low-90s with good late life. Currently, only his slider is a plus-offering, sitting in the low-80s with good tilt and occasional 2-plane action. His curveball and his changeup each show lots of promise, as Drake has shown a good feel for both despite not focusing on either at Navy.

Drake has a durable frame that Baltimore hopes will translate into a solid back-end innings-eater. If he's able to develop a viable third offering and continue to improve upon an already solid fastball/slider combo, he could top out as high as a capable mid-rotation arm. LoA Delmarva seems the most logical jumping-off point after working out of the bullpen in Bluefield and Aberdeen last Summer."


So far for Delmarva (Lo-A) Drake has appeared in 9 games with 8 starts, putting up an ERA of 2.80 with 45.1 innings pitched, 37 hits, 2 HR allowed, 12 BB and 31 Ks.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/mi...d=drake-001oli


Another valuable Orioles pitching prospect without any pitch ratings is Rich Zagone (incorrectly named "Rick" in the game). Zagone is another of the O's top 30 prospects. His scouting report, also via Camden Depot:

http://camdendepot.com/winter2009_pr...BAL_part1.html


"Zagone's refined approach and deceptive delivery played well against less developed talent in the NY-Penn League, his average stuff playing-up on a regular basis. His fastball is a fringe-average offering sitting in the upper-80s with some sink. He can add and subtract velocity from his slider and changeup, which range from the upper-70s to the low-80s and mid-70s to the low-70s, respectively. His slider has average, late bite and his changeup can be an average offering when kept down in the zone. When he fails to stay on top of his slider, it tends to spin and drag up in the zone.

Zagone's stuff is fringy for a Major League starter, though his solid command and above-average pitchability should allow him to progress quickly through the low-minors. His high leg kick helps his stuff to play-up, and he likely profiles best as a situational lefty arm or a low-leverage longarm in the pen. LoA Delmarva should give a little more insight into Zagone's projection."



Zagone is also in lo-A Delmarva, and his stats on the season are 53.2 innings pitched, 40 hits allowed, 3 HR allowed, 20 BB and 54 Ks.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/mi...d=zagone001ric









EDITED TO ADD: If this is not the most helpful way to offer notes on lower end prospects who don't have reports by projection systems, please let me know.