By Will Lingo
November 5, 2008

Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible. Ages are as of April 1, 2009.

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TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Matt Wieters, c 2. Chris Tillman, rhp 3. Brian Matusz, lhp 4. Jake Arrieta, rhp 5. Nolan Reimold, of 6. Brandon Erbe, rhp 7. Billy Rowell, 3b 8. Troy Patton, lhp 9. Brandon Snyder, 1b 10. Kam Mickolio, rhp

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Matt Wieters Best Power Hitter Matt Wieters Best Strike-Zone Discipline Matt Wieters Fastest Baserunner Xavier Avery Best Athlete Tyler Henson Best Fastball Kam Mickolio Best Curveball Brian Matusz Best Slider David Hernandez Best Changeup Brian Matusz Best Control Brad Bergesen Best Defensive Catcher Matt Wieters Best Defensive Infielder Blake Davis Best Infield Arm Bill Rowell Best Defensive Outfielder Matt Angle Best Outfield Arm Nolan Reimold

PROJECTED 2012 LINEUP

Catcher Matt Wieters First Base Brandon Snyder Second Base Brian Roberts Third Base Billy Rowell Shortstop Luis Hernandez Left Field Nolan Reimold Center Field Adam Jones Right Field Nick Markakis Designated Hitter Aubrey Huff No. 1 Starter Chris Tillman No. 2 Starter Brian Matusz No. 3 Starter Jake Arrieta No. 4 Starter Jeremy Guthrie No. 5 Starter Radhames Liz Closer George Sherrill

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2008 1999 Matt Riley, lhp Dodgers 2000 Matt Riley, lhp Dodgers 2001 Keith Reed, of Newark (Atlantic) 2002 Richard Stahl, lhp Out of baseball 2003 Erik Bedard, lhp Mariners 2004 Adam Loewen, lhp Orioles 2005 Nick Markakis, of Orioles 2006 Nick Markakis, of Orioles 2007 Bill Rowell, 3b Orioles 2008 Matt Wieters, c Orioles

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2008 1999 Mike Paradis, rhp Out of baseball 2000 Beau Hale, rhp Out of baseball 2001 Chris Smith, lhp Out of baseball 2002 Adam Loewen, lhp Orioles 2003 Nick Markakis, of Orioles 2004 *Wade Townsend, rhp Rays 2005 Brandon Snyder, c Orioles 2006 Bill Rowell, 3b Orioles 2007 Matt Wieters, c Orioles 2008 Brian Matusz, rhp Orioles * Did not sign

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Matt Wieters, 2007 $6,000,000 Adam Loewen, 2002 $3,200,000 Brian Matusz, 2008 $3,200,000 Beau Hale, 2000 $2,250,000 Chris Smith, 20001 $2,175,000

ORIOLES LINKS

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The Orioles must feel like they're running to stand still.

There are signs of hope. Catcher Matt Wieters was Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year and may be the best prospect in baseball. The trade of Erik Bedard to the Mariners was a steal, giving Baltimore not only its closer (George Sherrill) and center fielder (Adam Jones) but also its best pitching prospect (Chris Tillman) and a couple of other young prospects who could contribute. Aubrey Huff had a bounceback year, and Nick Markakis looks like he'll occupy right field in Camden Yards for years.

But there was at least as much bad news. The young pitchers the Orioles were counting on either weren't ready for prime time or got hurt. Radhames Liz (6.72 ERA in 17 starts) and Garrett Olson (6.65 ERA in 26 starts) took their lumps in Baltimore. Troy Patton, a key part of the Miguel Tejada trade with the Astros, went down with a torn labrum during spring training. Adam Loewen, who signed for $3.2 million bonus as the No. 4 overall pick in 2002, officially washed out as a pitcher after continued elbow problems. The Orioles decided to try Loewen as a position player and removed him from the 40-man roster after the season, with plans to re-sign him, but he decided to join the Blue Jays instead.

And in fact, the Orioles aren't even standing still. They're dropping back, falling into the cellar in the American League East for the first time since 1988. Baltimore's 68-93 record left it 17½ games out of fourth place and marked its 11th straight losing season.

Things aren't going to get any easier in the AL East. The Rays look like they'll be good for at least the next several years, and the Red Sox and Yankees will continue to be the Red Sox and Yankees. Even the Blue Jays finished 10 games above .500 and have a farm system that's showing improvement.

The Orioles are making progress in player development as well, with an influx of top-end talent in the last few years. Wieters is a legitimate cornerstone player, and the system's top three arms (Tillman, 2008 first-rounder Brian Matusz and Jake Arrieta) all look like legitimate big league starters.

If they're to make a significant jump in the big league standings, Baltimore particularly needs its young pitchers to come through. The Orioles ranked 13th in the AL in ERA (5.13) in 2008 and head into 2009 with no proven big league starters behind Jeremy Guthrie, who's better suited for the middle or back of a rotation than the front.

At least with team president Andy MacPhail now at the helm of the baseball operations, there's a feeling the franchise has a direction and someone with the patience to execute a plan. Spending $10.6 million to get Wieters, Arrieta and Matusz in the last two drafts should pay big dividends, and the trade Seattle gave the rebuilding effort a huge boost. And owner Peter Angelos has been out of the headlines.

MacPhail recognizes the Orioles don't have the depth of talent to compete in the East, but he has assembled several pieces that could help them take a step forward. Getting back in the playoffs remains a mountain that seems too high to climb right now.

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