Steve Melewski

Keith Law on O's pick and a take on Austin Martin (with video)

June 07, 2020, 1:06pm

Orioles

Keith Law on O's pick and a take on Austin Martin (with video)

While pointing out that the Orioles could go underslot with their No. 2 draft pick to go over at No. 30 and/or No. 39, The Athletic's Keith Law still has the club taking Vanderbilt's Austin Martin with its first pick. The draft begins at 7 p.m. on Wednesday night with coverage on both ESPN and MLB Network. That night, the first round features picks No. 1 through No. 29 and then the competitive balance round with selections Nos. 30 through 37. So the O's will have two picks Wednesday. Draft...

Tags:

A look at O's potential pursuit of undrafted players

June 06, 2020, 3:04pm

Orioles

A look at O's potential pursuit of undrafted players

Over the years, there have certainly not been many players signed after the First-Year Player Draft. Not when it was 40 rounds - or before that, 50 rounds. All the good talent was long since scooped up. But this year is very different. The draft is just five rounds. There will be 160 players drafted, or 13 percent of the 1,217 taken in 2019. Some real good talent will be available that won't be taken. But teams will have only a max bonus of $20,000 to offer. Will players that would have...

Tags:

brad ciolek orioles steve melewski featured_sidebar first-year player draft frontstory_orioles3

A closer look at the O's draft preparations (with video)

June 05, 2020, 3:24pm

Orioles

A closer look at the O's draft preparations (with video)

Hired by the Orioles in 2013, Brad Ciolek is a young talent in the front office who has had to do some improvising the last couple of months. Ciolek is supervisor, domestic scouting operations for the Orioles, who have the No. 2 pick in the First-Year Player Draft this Wednesday night. They have three of the first 39 picks and six selections in the five-round draft. Time to add to that elite talent pipeline. The O's could take Vanderbilt's Austin Martin or Texas A&M pitcher Asa Lacy with...

Tags:

brad ciolek orioles steve melewski coronavirus featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

The case for drafting lefty pitcher Asa Lacy

June 04, 2020, 1:38pm

Orioles

The case for drafting lefty pitcher Asa Lacy

Texas A&M left-hander Asa Lacy, who turned 21 on Tuesday, is expected to be one of the top selections next week in the First-Year Player Draft. If the Orioles take him, turn that 21 into 1-2. He'll be a first-round pick and the second player taken. Many mock drafts still project Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson going first to Detroit, leaving the Orioles to grab Vanderbilt infielder-outfielder Austin Martin should they choose to at No. 2. But there are some reasons to consider...

Tags:

asa lacy orioles steve melewski featured_sidebar first-year player draft frontstory_orioles3

A look at Baseball America's surprise mock draft O's selection

June 03, 2020, 12:57pm

Orioles

A look at Baseball America's surprise mock draft O's selection

When Baseball America released its latest mock draft yesterday, it had a real surprise with the Orioles and the No. 2 pick. It was not Vanderbilt's Austin Martin or Asa Lacy of Texas A&M. This mock had the Orioles taking high school outfielder Zac Veen from Orange, Fla. This would be part of a one-two approach in which the O's could sign Veen, get a top player and save some slot space to go well over slot with their No. 30 pick and get two top-rated talents. It's a strategy that has...

Tags:

jj cooper orioles steve melewski featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

Baseball America's Ben Badler on O's international effort (video)

June 02, 2020, 3:06pm

Orioles

Baseball America's Ben Badler on O's international effort (video)

If the Orioles are going to build that elite talent pipeline to get back to winning baseball, they are going to need international talent to be a big element of that effort. Under executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias and senior director of international scouting Koby Perez, the Orioles are trying to quickly bring their international program up to speed. The Tampa Bay Rays placed a major leagues-leading eight players on the latest Baseball America top 100 prospects list and...

Tags:

ben badler orioles steve melewski featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles1 international signings

The latest with the baseball talks, plus international notes

June 01, 2020, 2:33pm

Orioles

The latest with the baseball talks, plus international notes

So is the latest development in the talks between Major League Baseball players and owners going to lead toward an actual season? We'll see about that and time continues to be short. The owners side yesterday proposed a 50-60 game season, which would be followed by a postseason with seven teams in each league making it. The seven-team scenario was in play before the pandemic. The owners have said they will pay the full prorated rate for the shorter season. Ironically, or maybe not, the players...

Tags:

orioles steve melewski baseball america featured_sidebar international signings frontstory_orioles3

Remembering the Orioles' last playoff game

May 31, 2020, 1:40pm

Orioles

It produced an abrupt and loud ending. Bat connected with ball and the contact was very loud. Moments later, the crowd would be very loud, too. Edwin EncarnaciÃ³n hit one 440 feet to left center. It was a first-pitch, three-run homer off Ubaldo JimÃ©nez and Toronto beat the Orioles 5-2 in 11 innings in the 2016 American League wild card game. When the night began, it featured Chris Tillman (16-6, 3.77 ERA) facing Toronto right-hander Marcus Stroman (9-10, 4.37 ERA) in a matchup of 89-win...

Tags:

orioles steve melewski featured_sidebar ubaldo jimenez frontstory_orioles3

Hanser Alberto provides a few hitting tips

May 30, 2020, 11:17am

Orioles

Hanser Alberto provides a few hitting tips

On the Orioles Twitter account yesterday, they showed a video of Hanser Alberto doing some hitting drills. Drills designed to help others make better and more consistent contact hitting a baseball. I'll post the tweet at the end of this entry and, of course, there is never a bad time to hear from happy Hanser. Alberto has certainly made putting the ball in play a big part of his game. His strikeouts are low and his contact rate is high. That helped him last year post a batting average that...

Tags:

hanser alberto orioles steve melewski featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

A take on the outlook for undrafted players next month

May 29, 2020, 5:34pm

Orioles

A take on the outlook for undrafted players next month

Well, we know there will be 160 amateur players taken in the five rounds of the First-Year Player Draft that begins June 10. But what happens after that? What about undrafted players? This year is going to be unlike any before it in the history of the draft. There were few, if any at all, top unsigned players after a 40-round draft that last year saw 1,217 players selected. There was no mad scramble for undrafted players after all those selections. But this year the draft will include just 13...

Tags:

jim callis orioles steve melewski featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

A Steve and Roch video as we discuss the baseball talks

May 28, 2020, 3:21pm

Orioles

A Steve and Roch video as we discuss the baseball talks

Over the last few days, some fans may be losing confidence that we will have a baseball season in 2020. The Major League Baseball Players Association rejected the latest ownership proposal with the sliding scale of salary reductions. The sides seem dug in on their positions and there is not a lot of reason for positivity right now. But this USA Today article indicates to not worry and that they'll get this done. There is too much to lose and no doubt that is true. But time is short. Baseball...

Tags:

orioles steve melewski featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

A closer look at Vanderbilt's Austin Martin

May 27, 2020, 10:12am

Orioles

A closer look at Vanderbilt's Austin Martin

The picture that is painted is an exciting one. It's of a player who not only has a ton of talent but is smart, poised and driven. He can handle the big games and moments. He makes teammates better. What is not to like about Vanderbilt infielder-outfielder Austin Martin? Many outlets project the Orioles will claim him with the No. 2 overall pick in the First-Year Player Draft on June 10. Many tab Arizona State's first baseman Spencer Torkelson to go 1/1 and Texas A&M left-hander Asa Lacy...

Tags:

austin martin orioles steve melewski tim corbin featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

A look at the Orioles roster when last we saw it

May 26, 2020, 3:15pm

Orioles

Who knew we'd see rosters expand twice for the 2020 season? Well, there is an asterisk in that statement. Rosters did expand from 25 to 26 for this season, but the March shutdown of baseball and the delay to re-start the game may expand those rosters further. If Major League Baseball starts in July as hoped, we could see 30-man rosters with 20-player taxi squads. Initially, the 26-man rosters were to include a limit of 13 pitchers, but no doubt that limit will be raised. We just have not heard...

Tags:

orioles steve melewski featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles1

MLB has about a week to save the 2020 season

May 25, 2020, 4:46pm

Orioles

MLB has about a week to save the 2020 season

According to STATS, yesterday was the first Memorial Day without a Major League Baseball game since 1880. Yep, it was quiet around MLB on Monday, but hopefully the days we can say that about are dwindling. This is a huge week to determine if there will be a 2020 season. The players and owners will talk money this week and they probably only have days to resolve any differences. There seems to be an unofficial June 1 deadline on such talks. So get it done now or never if they want spring...

Tags:

orioles steve melewski featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

MLBPipeline.com's Jim Callis on O's No. 2 pick and more (with video)

May 24, 2020, 11:21am

Orioles

MLBPipeline.com's Jim Callis on O's No. 2 pick and more (with video)

We have just over two weeks to this year's five-round First-Year Player Draft. The Orioles hold the No. 2 pick in the first round behind the Detroit Tigers at No. 1. The Orioles will also pick at No. 30 and No. 39. They are the only major league team with three picks among the first 39 selections. Many analysts seem to be predicting that Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson goes first to the Tigers. He hit 25 homers as a freshman and 23 as a sophomore. When this year's season was...

Tags:

jim callis orioles steve melewski adley rutschman asa lacey austin martin featured_sidebar first-year player draft spencer torkelson frontstory_orioles3

In the home stretch toward reviving a season

May 23, 2020, 12:57pm

Orioles

In the home stretch toward reviving a season

The message from fans to baseball players and owners might be something like this: You guys got our hopes up for a season, so don't screw it up now. Sure, the dollars at stake are significant for both, and there are issues to work out - about health and money. But if they've come this far - and they already seem to be mostly in agreement on safety and health protocols - so it's time to get this to the finish line. It might look strange to see baseball with no fans in the stands and players...

Tags:

orioles steve melewski featured_sidebar frontstory_orioles3

A trip down memory lane with Gary Kendall (with video)

May 22, 2020, 11:20am

Orioles

A trip down memory lane with Gary Kendall (with video)

He has been a minor league coach and manager for the Orioles organization and his tenure spans 20 years. It's a labor of love for Baltimore native Gary Kendall, whose first O's managing assignment was at Rookie-level Bluefield in 2004. Kendall, now manager of the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, had a big hand in sending many players on to Baltimore. The list includes Trey Mancini, Manny Machado, Jonathan Schoop, John Means, Mychal Givens, Hunter Harvey, Chance Sisco, Austin Hays, Anthony Santander...

Tags:

gary kendall orioles steve melewski orioles farm report frontstory_orioles3

An appreciation of 60 years of love, laughs and having my back

May 21, 2020, 1:19pm

Orioles

An appreciation of 60 years of love, laughs and having my back

I recently described my relationship with my only sister to a friend as "perfect." I recently turned 60, and for 60 years, that word has fit, well, perfectly. There is a big gap, about 20 years, in our ages. So making that perfect was not easy. It's not like we grew up as best friends or went to school together. The age difference could make her seem more like a parent. And I guess that could fit in the sense that my sister was my babysitter often when I was a kid as my parents were off...

Tags:

orioles steve melewski frontstory_orioles3

Feeling a draft: Looking at the O's at No. 2 and more

May 20, 2020, 1:15pm

Orioles

Feeling a draft: Looking at the O's at No. 2 and more

In separate interviews with "MASN All Access" yesterday, Ben McDonald and I offered similar thoughts. The junior college ranks could really benefit in the 2021 season from this year's five-round MLB draft. The draft next month could be very college-heavy. Teams may not take chances on high school players they hardly saw play or didn't see play at all during abbreviated senior seasons this year. Players not drafted could sign for $20,000, but most players who are, in my opinion, in line to...

Tags:

orioles steve melewski austin wynns cedric mullins featured_sidebar john means stevie wilkerson trey mancini frontstory_orioles3

Could these players debut if the 2020 season is played?

May 19, 2020, 2:48pm

Orioles

Could these players debut if the 2020 season is played?

If there is a 2020 baseball season there will no doubt be a few Orioles that will make their major league debuts. How long a list will that be? It will be interesting to see if a season shortened to 82 games means that fewer players debut or if the team will hold off on bringing some players to the majors. There is also the factor of the minor leagues. What if the minors don't play in 2020? Will that mean the Orioles will bring some players up to get experience and reps they couldn't get...