Orioles have 4 International Players in the FCL top 20

[Moose Milligan]

It's great if one or two of these guys can pan out.  It's also great that Elias seems to have been nailing the drafts but when it's all said and done bringing the Orioles to the South American market might be the most valuable thing he's been able to do here.

For decades the Orioles declined to play in that market and I do believe it cost them dearly over the years.  If you look at all the talent that's come through the MLB in that time, you have to wonder which players the Orioles could have had if they'd only been willing to compete for those players.  Like, Acuna signed for 100k in 2014.  What if the Orioles were there and offered 200k?

 

[OriolesMagic83]

10 minutes ago, Moose Milligan said:

It's great if one or two of these guys can pan out.  It's also great that Elias seems to have been nailing the drafts but when it's all said and done bringing the Orioles to the South American market might be the most valuable thing he's been able to do here.

For decades the Orioles declined to play in that market and I do believe it cost them dearly over the years.  If you look at all the talent that's come through the MLB in that time, you have to wonder which players the Orioles could have had if they'd only been willing to compete for those players.  Like, Acuna signed for 100k in 2014.  What if the Orioles were there and offered 200k?

 

I believe that up to 1/3 of Mlb players came thru the international draft.  It's hard to compete with top teams when you have a bottom 10 payroll, but it's almost impossible when you cut off 1/3 your talent base.

[Tony-OH]

On 9/25/2023 at 7:55 PM, Frobby said:

Now that is impressive, because it’s not just Orioles writers and fans dreaming on a guy, it’s an objective third party source.  That’s by far the best showing we’ve had for international prospects at the FCL prospects, even if nobody is a Basallo-level prospect.   

The article also mevtons that the O’s had 7 international prospects drafted in the Dominican Winter League, tied for the most of any team.  
 

Not yet at least. While Basallo was playing a "playing age" year younger than Tavera and Sosa, they both out performed him in the FCL. 

The Dominican/Venezuelan scouting under Kobe Perez is really starting to blossom.