That he can dominate two leagues in the same season, and be considered the number one prospect in both of them!
The Eastern League Top 20 is out at BA, and once again Wieters takes the top spot.
Also, for the second straight league, one of the guys Wieters caught lands in the number 2 spot.
That would be youngster Chris Tillman. I remember last off-season hearing one of the guys that discusses prospects on ESPN (I think Keith Law, but not 100% sure), say that when it's all said and done, the Erik Bedard trade will be a slam dunk for the Orioles. However, that it won't be remembered as the Adam Jones trade. It will be remembered as the Chris Tillman trade. That's pretty high praise, considering what it looks like Jones is going to be able to do.
No other Birds prospects landed in the Top 20, but in the write-up they mentioned that lots of others were considered, and that a really deep Eastern League is the only reason they weren't on there. It mentioned Nolan Reimold, Lou Montantez, Brad Bergeson, David Hernandez, and Jason Berken.
I have to say, although it was disappointing that there were so few Orioles in the lower leagues, I'm really, really encouraged by the turn-outs from the Carolina and Eastern Leagues. Especially considering that 2008 first-rounder Brian Matusz isn't involved in these lists, and I think the Orioles system is about as good as I've ever seen it.
This will be the last Top 20 League list I'll look at, because I would be floored if anyone from Norfolk made a Top 20, just because the Orioles really didn't have any prospects there this season.
I'm working on an off-season checklist/wish list that i'll have up sometime in the near future, and I'll also post my playoff predictions either tonight or tomorrow after we finally figure out who won the AL Central. I'm rooting for the Twins tonight.
Keywords: Baltimore Orioles
