Baltimore Orioles Top-15 Prospects of 2012

Grades are based on a prospect’s projected value over the course of his career and how likely it is that prospect will fulfill his projected value. Various factors are accounted for including upside, red flags, actual performance, and closeness to the majors. See the 2012 Top Prospect List Primer for more information as it relates to prospect grading and philosophy. Grades can be subject to change.

TO QUALIFY

Hitters must have 100 or fewer Major League ABs.

Starting pitchers must have 50 or fewer Major League innings.

Relief pitchers must have 25 or fewer Major League innings.

Player Grades
Fastball – 50 Now | 55 Future
Slider – 45 | 55
Change-Up – 45 | 50
Control – 45 | 55
Command – 40 | 50
Pitchability – 45 | 55
ETA – 2016
Final Grade – B-/C+

Last Year’s Team Ranking – No. 11

Last Year’s Grade – C+

Body Type – Has a lean, athletic build. Still projectable.

Stuff

Fastball – Mostly sits between 91 and 93 mph, touching 94 and getting as high as 95. The pitch has solid life, good tailing movement, and even some sink when he keeps it down in the zone. It will bore in to right handed hitters.

Slider – A high 70s pitch that has plenty of consistency problems, but can be quite good when its on. Looks like a fastball coming out of his hand, and travels on the same trajectory as well before it slides late out of the strike zone. It becomes loopy and can be easily picked up when its off. Bridwell has an ability to backdoor the pitch and throw it for strikes when necessary.

Change-Up – Still developing, but he’s shown a pretty good feel for the pitch. It clocks in about 7 to 10 mph slower than his fastball and has decent tailing action.

Scouting Report

Athletic, but raw, Parker Bridwell was drafted in the 9th round in 2010 out of Texas where he was a three sport star at his high school. It took $625,000 to sign him away from a commitment to Texas Tech.

Bridwell had a strong performance in short season Aberdeen last year, at least from a peripheral standpoint. He missed bats consistently, striking out 24.4% of all batters faced. He walked under 10% of batters faced as well. But he still ended up with a 4.70 ERA. You can point to the fact that hitters had a .365 BABIP against Bridwell, which speaks to a need to improve his command. He also has to do a better job of keeping hitters off balance and guessing. Bridwell labored down the stretch after a promotion to Low-A Delmarva, proving he wasn’t ready for that level and was probably worn down by the end of the season as well.

Bridwell has sound mechanics, and a clean arm action. He must repeat his delivery better to throw more strikes, something his athleticism should make it easier for him to do. Timing is very important for Bridwell, in that he does this kick out and rotate into foot plant, and it’s timed with his arm action to be precise. When the arm is late, the ball tends to sail to his arm side, out of the strike zone.

Bridwell will look to improve on his performance in Delmarva next year, and if he’s successful he could see a promotion to Frederick near the end of the year.

Best Case Outcome – No. 3 starter.

More Likely Outcome – Back of the rotation starter.

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Other References and Resources Used for This Article – First Inning

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