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2006 season

October 10, 2006

Orioles AFL preview

Last year, Nick Markakis, Adam Loewen and Brandon Fahey made huge strides during the AFL season and all three saw time with the Orioles this past season. Markakis and Loewen were AFL All Stars and both became significant contributors in Baltimore. Markakis is being mentioned as a contender for Rookie of the Year honors and Loewen solidified his position as a member of the Orioles rotation for the upcoming season and many more to come it appears.

The improvement made by Markakis in the desert last year was marked. At one point during the 2005 season, he was passed over for promotion to Baltimore in favor of Jeff Fiorentino (one of the baby Birds showing up in Surprise this fall) who was felt by some in the Orioles organization to be a more advanced player at that point in time. 'Nick the Natural' made up for lost time by belting AFL pitching at a rate of .326 with a home run and twelve RBI’s. After showing his stuff in the spring, Markakis broke camp as the Orioles starting left fielder, eventually making the move to his natural outfield position in right. He finished the '06 campaign with a .291 batting average.

Loewen went to the AFL last year to get repetitions so as to improve his control and make it more likely he would meet his date with destiny on Opening Day 2007 when he had to be added to Baltimore’s 25-man roster. After dominating the AFL, he started the '06 season at AA Bowie and eventually progressed to AAA Ottawa, and then onto Baltimore where he gradually gained confidence and poise to go along with his improved pitching.

Fahey played hard last year and forced his way onto the Orioles 40-man roster this season, eventually making it to Camden Yards where he filled in for an injured Miguel Tejada and Brian Roberts. Eventually, he made a switch to left field and seems to have improved his chances to stick with the Orioles next year in a utility role.

 

This year, the Orioles contingent to the AFL consists of Cory Morris, Brian Finch (I am still peeved that the Orioles took him ahead of Andre Ethier in the 2000 draft), Nick McCurdy, Ryan Keefer, Bryan Bass, Jeff Fiorentino and Nolan Reimold. Ryan Hubele and Dustin Yount have been named to the Grand Canyon taxi squad.

This year’s crop may produce similar results as last season for the Orioles. Fiorentino finished the season with Baltimore with a respectable .256 batting average. After starting slowly at AA Bowie, he got over some injuries and finished on fire. In 19 games with the parent club, Fio flashed the leather in left field and showed he can cover some ground in the outfield. Reimold probably has the best chance of repeating Markakis’ success.

Probably the most advanced position and hitting prospect in the Orioles organization, Reimold displays a five tool makeup. Reportedly, he is prone to striking out a lot and some time in the desert this fall could give him the reps he needs to hone his skills to compliment his power. Bass is a former #1 pick who has not had much success in his professional career and this may be his last chance to show that he can play the game above the Single A level. Finch and Morris are two right handed pitchers who need successful AFL seasons to advance their standing as prospects. Keefer and McCurdy will be there to get reps after having some health problems this past season.

Hubele is probably the Orioles top catching prospect, and after showing some success last year in the AFL, the additional work cannot hurt his chances next season as he tries to improve his standing in the organization. The fact that he is a native of the Phoenix area most likely did not hinder his selection to this year’s roster. Yount rounds out this year’s group of Orioles. Once again, he is a native of the area as well as being the son of Robin Yount.

Last year was a very good year to be in the stands and wear an Orioles cap. Here’s hoping the Orioles can catch lighting in a bottle again this season and develop some help for the big league club.

--- John Kazlo
(Kazlo is a diehard Orioles fan and Richmond Braves supporter from Virginia)

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