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Yohan Ramírez is low man on the totem pole but in a true meritocracy Mike Baumann would be vulnerable. Jacob Webb has done a nice job so far but I saw a 90 mph and nothing higher than 93 mph yesterday. I’d put him in that group of not totally secure. Suarez seems like he could be a high leverage nugget if he can’t last in the rotation. All things being equal, if Bradish comes back, prefer to see Wells in the rotation and Suarez in the 7th and 8th inning role unless Suarez can consistently do a 5 and dive like yesterday. P.S. Jacob Webb’s fastball is down from 94.9 last year to 91.7 this year. That’s concerning to say the least.

Ranked #259 prospect in 2020 draft Gibson popped onto the national radar last fall in Jupiter, when he struck out 12 batters and walked two while showing a four-pitch mix over six innings. The Liberty commit has a physical, 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame and a below-average operation, but he showed an ability to repeat it consistently and threw solid strikes in that outing. What will challenge scouts given the shortened 2020 season is Gibson’s limited track record. He was close to an unknown before his performance in Jupiter, and teams probably don’t feel great about the information they were able to add to his file this spring. In Jupiter, Gibson threw a 90-93 mph fastball and showed good feel for a slider, curveball and changeup. The slider sat in the mid-80s and was a firm breaking ball, the curve flashed two-plane break and his changeup was in the 82-85 mph range with good depth and sink. His curveball and changeup both looked like above-average offerings. With some stiffness and crossfiring action in his delivery, scouts wonder about Gibson’s reliever risk and without significant looks to clarify that question this spring teams might opt to let him get to campus in Lynchburg.

Baseball America 4YR Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted Age At Draft: 21.2 Gibson made a strong early impression at Liberty by putting up a 3.32 ERA with 70 strikeouts and 21 walks in 65 innings as a freshman in 2021. His second season wasn’t as strong. With 72 strikeouts in 56 innings, his strikeout rate was actually up year over year, but otherwise, the numbers paint a grimmer picture. His ERA ballooned to 6.75, his hits allowed per nine innings went from 7.1 to 10.1 and his walks allowed per nine innings went from 2.9 to 4.8. Gibson didn’t pitch at all for Liberty in the 2023 season, but threw in the Cape Cod League during the summer. He struggled through his first four appearances, posting a 13.50 ERA in 10 innings, with 12 strikeouts and eight walks. Gibson pitched around 89 and got his fastball up to 92, but he struggled to land his secondaries, which include a downer curveball in the mid 70s, a low-80s slider and a mid-80s changeup. There’s arm talent here, but his inconsistencies, lack of playing time and history with arm injuries in 2022 could make him a complicated draft target.

Good job on the Carlos Tavera mention. He finished with 4 perfect innings an 7 strikeouts. Easily his best performance since 2022 in Aberdeen and perhaps in his pro career. If he follows this one up with something similar he gets his own page.

Rumor is that he consistently skipped Bible study.

Oh, how the Tides have turned.

Unless Baumann gets it in gear, I would dump him before anyone. Can’t trust guys who can’t throw strikes.

I thought his FIP was in the 4’s last year. Yeah, it was pretty bad.

Yeah, but he made it out of the first inning in every start and even his FIP wasn’t terrible. He’s now getting owned down in AAA.

Ok. I’m ready to tangle with you. 1. Who the Orioles eventually took or who the mock drafts had going to the Orioles doesn’t change the fact that every major draft expert that we reference on here had Druw Jones as the best player in the draft on the day of the draft. 2. Holliday had helium but no one had him ranked one. Many said if the O’s picked Holliday or Johnson that it was defendable especially if there was extra savings. 3. Because of the Orioles history there were rumors of Jacob Berry and Termarr Johnson as underslot. 4. I challenge you to find one of the major guys I listed or one of your choice who wouldn’t have taken Druw Jones if it was their choice. 5. Knowing your ability to research I eagerly await the results.

Has he got enough speed for CF? If he keeps hitting that might be an interesting thought.

Yeah, that was weird with Coulombe. 4 non competitive ?? Fastballs. I’ve never seen him look like that.

Maybe Westburg to 2B and Mayo up for 3B. My money is still on the kid.

If he can stay healthy it should be fun. Last year he had a couple of hot streaks cut short by injury and then he was never the same the last time he came back.

One of the top 3 Oriole starts of the year?