Orioles Prospect Report - May 2024

[Orioles]

From MLB Pipeline's May 1 Here is the hottest hitting prospect in each organization:


Rays: Carson Williams, SS (No. 2/MLB No. 18)

Known more for his power and speed on the offensive side, Williams has shown a more well-rounded game to begin 2024, posting a .368/.415/.592 line over 18 games with Double-A Montgomery. Perhaps most notably, his strikeout rate has dropped from 31.4 percent a year ago to a more manageable 26.8 through the season’s first month. His .490 BABIP is unsustainable, but he’s helping push that up by stinging a ton of pullside line drives, another positive indicator in his hitting development.


Nationals: James Wood, OF (No. 2/MLB No. 13)

Wood got off to a vicious start by going 15-for-34 (.441) with eight extra-base hits and nine walks in his first nine games with Triple-A Rochester, and even though it seems like he’s slowed down a touch, he’s still riding an eight-game hitting streak into Wednesday’s action. The 21-year-old is slashing .326/.434/.484 through 24 contests at the Minors’ top level and has flexed speed with eight steals. His 93.9 mph average exit velocity is also second in Triple-A among hitters with at least 50 batted balls.


Phillies: Gabriel Rincones Jr. (No. 10)

After hitting well in the AFL in 2023, the hope was Rincones would put up some serious numbers while calling hitting-friendly Reading home. He’s done just that, with a .300/.417/.600 line over his first 13 games. He’s third in the Double-A Eastern League with his 1.017 OPS and has enjoyed home cooking for sure, with a 1.222 OPS in five games in Reading.


Reds: Cam Collier, 3B (No. 7)

Perhaps Collier served notice of what was to come when he homered in the Reds’ first Spring Breakout game in March. Remember, the Reds’ first-rounder in 2022 had reclassified for that Draft, so even though this is his second full season, he’s still only 19 years old. That makes his .933 OPS (.298/.326/.607) with High-A Dayton, not to mention the fact that he leads the Midwest League with his seven homers and his 25 RBIs and is fourth in SLG, that much more impressive.


Giants: Cole Foster, SS/2B (No. 26)

Foster's ability to do a little bit of everything as a switch-hitting middle infielder got him drafted in the third round out of Auburn last July. He struggled on both sides of the ball during his pro debut but has looked much steadier this spring, slashing .307/.376/.453 in Single-A.