With a Tuesday morning matinee wrapping up a six-game homestand for the Orioles' Double-A affiliate in Bowie, here are some quick-hit notes on some of their top performers and most intriguing prospects.
- When the Orioles have to add a left-handed reliever — they have only Brian Matusz and closer Zach Britton on the 25-man roster — I think Tim Berry is a legitimate option. In his second season in Double-A, following up a 6-7 campaign with a 3.51 ERA, Berry has allowed 12 earned runs in 13 2/3 innings to start the year.
But on Sunday, Berry showed good command of an 89-92 mph fastball and threw his changeup for four swinging strikes in a five-inning outing, including all three of his strikeouts. When the pitch doesn't catch the middle of the plate, it's a legitimate major-league out pitch, and could play in the bullpen if the Orioles go that route.
- Right-hander Parker Bridwell walked a tight rope in his second start of the year on April 16. He struck out seven, primarily using his changeup as well, but struggled with his control and walked five in five innings. When he missed with his fastball, he missed low, and he didn't make any mistakes that Erie made him pay for.
In the third time through the lineup, he started using his breaking ball, but the focus was mostly on his changeup, which coaxed 11 swinging strikes, by my count. Developing his third pitch and improving his fastball command and control is obviously paramount if Bridwell wants to remain a starter going forward, but pairing his changeup with any kind of fastball is a good start for the 2010 ninth-round pick.
- Reliever Mychal Givens sat 93-96 mph in a two-inning stint out of the bullpen Sunday, recording three strikeouts despite giving up his first run of the season on a pair of soft hits. He primarily used the fastball, but also worked in a changeup and slider, with one strikeout coming on his changeup and two on his fastball. The converted shortstop was one of the most intriguing bullpen arms I saw during the series.
- Every time I see outfielder Mike Yastrzemski play, he does something impressive. Whether it's snaring a tough hop in the outfield that prevents extra bases or legging out a ground ball and forcing an error in a game when no one is giving that kind of effort, it's clear that Yastrzemski is going to maximize his talents in any way he can to get to the highest level.
Don't let the .200/.259/.240 line fool you. There might be more toolsy players, but if I had to pick one sure-fire major league player from the Bowie lineup, it would be him.
- Another player who might not blow people away but has real value is second baseman Derrik Gibson, signed as a free agent after his entry contract with the Red Sox ran out. Gibson, a former second-round pick, won't hit for much power — he hits a home run roughly every 260 at-bats — but he's steady with his glove, is athletic, and showed improved on-base ability last year before his promotion to Triple-A. Gibson is enjoying his opportunity with the Orioles, and is valuable depth for the organization going forward.