Orioles Prospect Report - June 2024

[Orioles]

From MLB Pipeline's "Prospects with the best power-speed combo -- one for each team":

Rays: Carson Williams, SS (No. 2/MLB No. 15)

The 2021 28th overall pick has been one of the Minors’ best power-speed options over his first three full seasons in the Tampa Bay system, as he’s been a constant 20-20 threat. He’s well on his way to clearing those marks in 2024 with 10 homers and 15 steals through 48 games for Double-A Montgomery entering Wednesday. An improved hit tool -- Williams’ K rate has dropped from 31.4 percent in ’23 to 27.3 this season -- has allowed the pop to play even more and could get Williams to St. Petersburg by season’s end.

Angels: Joswa Lugo, SS, (No. 7)

We’re going deep dive into pure upside and ceiling here given that Lugo, who signed for $2.3 million just this past January, has a grand total of six Dominican Summer League games under his belt as of this writing. He’s off to a very good start (8-for-22 with five doubles and a home run to go along with two stolen bases), but we’re more looking at the potential for him to have at least above-average power and decent speed, though there is some concern he’ll slow down a tick as he matures.

A’s: Henry Bolte, OF (No. 10)

He’s going to have to get the swing-and-miss under control a bit more, with a 33.8 percent strikeout rate in his young pro career. He does offset that with walks (12.8 percent BB rate) and does get to his power and use his speed -- 14 homers and 32 steals in Single-A a year ago; nine homers and 23 stolen bases in 56 games with High-A Lansing this year while posting a .942 OPS.

Nationals: James Wood, OF (No. 1/MLB No. 4)

Wood’s power is well-known across prospectdom at this point. He’s clobbered nine homers and slugged .596 in 45 games for Triple-A Rochester this season, and his 94.8 average exit velocity and 56.9 percent hard-hit rate rank among Triple-A leaders. The 6-foot-7 outfielder flashes speed with home-to-first times as low as 4.1 seconds, thanks to his long strides. He could be a 40-20 player for the Nationals and won’t be far from joining the club in D.C. once he returns from his current bout with right hamstring tightness.

Giants: Grant McCray, OF (No. 13)

A 2019 third-round pick as a Florida high schooler and the son of ex-big leaguer Rodney McCray, Grant used his plus raw power and plus-plus speed to total 37 homers and 95 steals in the previous two seasons. This year, he slashed .210/.313/.420 with six blasts and as many swipes in 50 Double-A games before getting called up to Triple-A on Tuesday.

Padres: Leodalis De Vries, SS (No. 4/MLB No. 79)

It’s important to remember that this is about future projection, so don’t get too lost in the 17-year-old’s performance in an aggressive assignment to Single-A Lake Elsinore just yet. Padres evaluators love to point out De Vries’ point-guard background when talking about his quickness on the diamond, and his 6-foot-2 frame and current bat speed point to the potential for above-average power down the line. Just give it another year or two before it all starts to come together for the top 2024 international prospect.