Middle of the Orioles order

[Tony-OH]

It's starting to look like the Orioles have a solid core of young middle of the order hitters.

Trey Mancini (1B) - The "elder"; statesman at 29 looks like he's back to his 2019 self. Probably doesn't count as young anymore but he's still within his prime window.
Anthony Santander (RF) - The 26 year old put up a .890 OPS last year and this spring has added a team leading walk to show an improved plate discipline.
Austin Hays (CF/RF/LF) - The 25-year old will play all over the outfield and has always been a guy who had a ton of potential but just held back by injuries. Has been the Orioles best player this spring, bar none.
Ryan Mountcastle (LF) - The 24-year old is a rookie of the year candidate and leads the team with four home runs this spring.

I see these guys batting some kind of 2-5 order though Hays could move up to leadoff when Cedric Mullins is not in the lineup. 

This doesn't even count former #1 pick DJ Stewart (27) who's been slowed by a hamstring injury but who put up a .809 OPS last year in limited play and had hit two home runs in three games this spring. Add in 26-year old Mullins who's a plus defender in center field and has been effective while batting just left-handed this spring, and that's a decent amount of young talent. 

Add in the potential to have Adley Rutschman (23) here this year or next, and that's a pretty good core offense.


 

[Moose Milligan]

I think there could be some pretty good upside here.  Hays and Stewart with their injuries are unreliable though.

[Sports Guy]

I think you forgot about Davis!

[Sports Guy]

Just now, Moose Milligan said:

I think there could be some pretty good upside here.  Hays and Stewart with their injuries are unreliable though.

And who knows how long Santander and Mancini will be Os.

But I do agree that the offense has some upside.  It would be nice if Sisco can start hitting like he did in the minors and give the lineup some length.

[Aglets]

So we just need a couple infield bats and we are good to go ring hunting?  

[wildcard]

29 minutes ago, Aglets said:

So we just need a couple infield bats and we are good to go ring hunting?  

3 infield bats

[NCRaven]

Unfortunately, Gunnar Henderson, Adam Hall and Jordan Westburg are probably at least two years away.  But, Franco and Galvis are decent bridges.  Not so sure about Sanchez, but then there's Jones.

[Legend_Of_Joey]

31 minutes ago, wildcard said:

3 infield bats

Plus a catcher...

[NCRaven]

3 minutes ago, Legend_Of_Joey said:

Plus a catcher...

I think Basalio has that covered.  Pay attention to those international signings. 

 

[Yossarian]

Valaika is a scrappy.  Most likely not an every day player, but he could provide some offense, too.  I could see him in the .270 neighborhood for the year.

[interloper]

Yeah we have some good young hitters, man. It's going to be fun (at times). I was encouraged by Pedro's ABs yesterday. As others noted, the lineup could really use like one more dangerous hitter, and the catcher position is the obvious spot. 

I think Ruiz/Franco will provide slightly above league average offense, 2B is blackhole position unless Valaika goes off again this year, and Galvis will have professional ABs. 

[Just Regular]

Anybody want to make some RBI over/unders?    I think somebody getting to 100 is about 50/50.    Mountcastle probably cleanest line.

[spiritof66]

I'll be interested to see how they do tonight against Gerrit Cole. 

[DrungoHazewood]

20 minutes ago, OrioleDog said:

Anybody want to make some RBI over/unders?    I think somebody getting to 100 is about 50/50.    Mountcastle probably cleanest line.

Mancini and Sisco are the only players on the team projected by Fangraphs to have a .325 OBP.  Mountcastle is going to need about 800 PAs to have a decent shot at 100 RBI.

[Just Regular]

6 minutes ago, DrungoHazewood said:

Mancini and Sisco are the only players on the team projected by Fangraphs to have a .325 OBP.  Mountcastle is going to need about 800 PAs to have a decent shot at 100 RBI.

He might get them!    I am interested to see if Mountcastle gets a run at the Ripken things, or if periodic rest will be an organizational staple.

I do hope LF Diaz, RF Santander, 1B Mountcastle, DH Mancini, C Rutschman give more than half a lineup of some .325+ expectation (or Stewart over Diaz there with 1B/LF Mountcastle flex if DJ really pans out) by the second half.    CF might not be dead, and the infield....is for future offseasons.