Besides Britton and Machado...

[Sports Guy]

...what prospect(for example, Josh Bell doesn't apply here)that is currently in our system(ie, the answer to this can't be, whoever we draft in the first round) do you feel could make a big leap forward this year and be a legit top 50 type guy heading into next year?

[ThisIsOurHouse]

Hoes, if he can stay healthy than his power will increase and he could possibly hit .300. He has excellent plate discipline and will end up with a very good ops by the end of the year.

[RVAbird]

Hoes, if he can stay healthy than his power will increase and he could possibly hit .300. He has excellent plate discipline and will end up with a very good ops by the end of the year.

Speaking of Hoes, Fangraphs has me a bit ticked off. They still have Hoes birth date wrong, making him look three years older than he actually is.

And...you just know some of the uninformed masses have just been glancing at Fangraphs and throwing up names on prospect lists.

I've even sent them an e-mail requesting a correction to no avail.

[Sports Guy]

I would say Schoop has a chance but my guess is if he is moving to third base, that will prevent him from a big jump.

He has a better chance, I would think, to appear very high heading into the 2013 season.

[Arthur_Bryant]

Hoes. In fact I almost expect this one. I believe he is ready to bust loose. Avery is right up there in terms of visibility, but I wonder whether the upper levels will expose him.

Bridwell and Schoop are possibilities, but each has a long way to go in order to rise that high on the radar. Given that there are 30 organizations, having more than two players in the Top 50 would be a pretty good accomplishment.

Klein's ranking depends in part on how the O's use him, and where. A reliever will have a harder time cracking the list, unless he's a blow-away closer. And if Klein starts, he'll need to get significant innings at a meaningful level in order to impress the list-makers.

[Stotle]

Machado - Ranked on potential right now, will need a strong first season to stay in the top 50. Doesn't need to be spectacular, but must be solid season.

Hoes - Best situated to put up a strong season and jump up rankings, but moving into the Top 50 would require a season beyond what I think is reasonable.

Avery - Tools to score highly on rankings but seems less likely to string together a monster season while jumping up a level.

Klein - Innings likely limited; don't see any way he can log the necessary time to "wow" list makers.

Honestly, I think the best potential Top 50 guy for 2012 is likely whoever BAL drafts in June. Machado should stay in the Top 50 barring a rough 1st year.

[NCRaven]

Agree on the group of Hoes, Avery, and Klein. Not as sure about Schoop. Any dark horse's? Mine - Townsend, if he can finally stay healthy. And, Screech is back!

[Sports Guy]

Machado - Ranked on potential right now, will need a strong first season to stay in the top 50. Doesn't need to be spectacular, but must be solid season.

Hoes - Best situated to put up a strong season and jump up rankings, but moving into the Top 50 would require a season beyond what I think is reasonable.

Avery - Tools to score highly on rankings but seems less likely to string together a monster season while jumping up a level.

Klein - Innings likely limited; don't see any way he can log the necessary time to "wow" list makers.

Honestly, I think the best potential Top 50 guy for 2012 is likely whoever BAL drafts in June. Machado should stay in the Top 50 barring a rough 1st year.

Yea, the guy we draft should be in the top 50.

That being said, that player isn't eligible for this question.

End of the day, I agree with what you are basically saying...no one is likely to be in the top 50 heading into next year outside of who we draft and Machado.

I would say Hoes has the best chance but I think his chances are very very slim...Could be top 100 though, maybe even top 80 or so.

[Enjoy Terror]

Ryan Berry. I'm bullish on him, I think he's going to move quickly this year and at least end the year strong in Bowie, maybe even a portion of the season in Norfolk.

[Frobby]

Yea, the guy we draft should be in the top 50.

That being said, that player isn't eligible for this question.

End of the day, I agree with what you are basically saying...no one is likely to be in the top 50 heading into next year outside of who we draft and Machado.

I would say Hoes has the best chance but I think his chances are very very slim...Could be top 100 though, maybe even top 80 or so.

Unfortunately, I agree. However, let's remember that the climb to the top 50 can take a few years for some guys. At age 21 Zach Britton wasn't in the BA Top 100; then he was no. 63 in 2010; now he's at no. 19. Jake Arrieta was never in the top 50; Brad Bergesen was never in the top 100; etc.

[Arthur_Bryant]

Honestly, I think the best potential Top 50 guy for 2012 is likely whoever BAL drafts in June.

This will be true of at least a dozen teams, if not more. The 2012 draft class is likely to be the "pig in the python" on prospect lists for a few years.

[Stotle]

This will be true of at least a dozen teams, if not more. The 2012 draft class is likely to be the "pig in the python" on prospect lists for a few years.

I didn't realize it was a strong draft class.

[Arthur_Bryant]

I didn't realize it was a strong draft class.

That's the rumor. I have it on good authority.

[allstar1579]

Yea, the guy we draft should be in the top 50.

That being said, that player isn't eligible for this question.

End of the day, I agree with what you are basically saying...no one is likely to be in the top 50 heading into next year outside of who we draft and Machado.

I would say Hoes has the best chance but I think his chances are very very slim...Could be top 100 though, maybe even top 80 or so.

Yeah I agree. I think our best two chances are Hoes and Avery, and even best case I could see them top 100 but not top 50.

[Oldorioles]

I'll go with Ryan Berry.

If I had to make a second pick, requiring no name thus far mentioned I would go with Miguel Chalas as my dark horse to make a big leap. I know it was only the DSL, but look at the numbers from the then 17/18 year old.