Time for new dreamers
The local Orioles are one of those teams signing international prospects. But what is the likelihood of success?
On Monday the Orioles were one of the MLB teams most active in the international free agent market, using their $7 million or so of pool money to sign players both highly regarded and (they hope) diamonds in the rough to help fill out their Dominican Summer League rosters for next season. With the opening of the new Dominican facility long-cherished by Orioles’ brass, they hope to continue an upward trend which has netted them hot prospects like my 2023 Shorebird Position Player of the Year, Samuel Basillo. In fact, it was an international sweep as my 2023 Pitcher of the Year, Deivi Cruz, was also signed in the same 2021 international class as Basillo, as were several other key members of the 2023 team. My 2022 SotY, Luis Valdez, was also a 2021 signee.
But there’s a bit of history behind the Orioles’ upward trend. During the Dan Duquette era as Orioles GM (2011-18) the Orioles barely went through the motions of getting international help. In fact, one of Duquette’s favorite tactics was to trade international bonus pool money to other teams for minor leaguers with some time already under their belts. As a fan sitting at the fourth tier of the Orioles’ chain at the time (after the DSL, Florida Complex League, and Aberdeen - which was short-season rookie ball back then) I seldom saw international players who made an impact, even at our Delmarva level. I may have only had a handful of Shorebirds of the Week or Month who came through the international ranks, as most of them were weeded out in the lower minors.
Since the Elias era and the focus on international talent, though, the situation seems to have reversed, but there are also a few other reasons.
The shorter draft (from 40 rounds to 20) for domestic players is one factor. Now we don’t have that 34th round pick filling out our roster anymore, as the Orioles still only sign a handful of non-drafted free agents to help with the system. Now those NDFAs would be the equal of the 25th round pick in the draft rather than the 45th. In addition, there is a more strict limit on the number of players who can be under contract that came in with the 2021 minor league reorganization.
That reorganization also dropped the Shorebirds a tier in the pecking order, as we no longer have the short-season Ironbirds as a buffer (and a handy roster to stash marginal players on during the period of extended spring training.) So international players who washed out at Aberdeen now reach this level before they draw their release. Combine that with the penchant for the Elias regime to rapidly advance their drafted players from the previous season through the system, and the Shorebirds have gone from a mostly-domestic team to one where American players are the exception.
The dawn of the Elias era and its increased focus on international talent was the signing class of 2019, which back then was announced in the summer. These players were the first baby steps in shifting their focus, and because the Orioles weren’t known as major players in international baseball, their signings that year were mostly in the “diamond in the rough” category. Combine that with the cancellation of the 2020 minor league season and it really put a squeeze on them as far as roster space went.
On July 2, 2019 the Orioles announced they were signing a total of 27 players to minor-league contracts. While Elias was optimistic at the time, stating, “These young players from all parts of Latin America will bolster our burgeoning farm system and jumpstart the continual flow of talent we are building,” I’m sure he knew he was getting players who were overlooked for a reason. In a lot of cases, the “jumpstart” didn’t take.
I looked up the careers of all 27 of these players, and found out the following:
Five were released during/after the 2021 season, which would have been the first and only season for most as the 2020 season was scrubbed. Only one of them made it to the Florida Complex League.
Six were released during/after the 2022 season. Four of the six made it to Florida, the other two never got past the DSL.
Six were released during/after the 2023 season, with one never passing the DSL, one making it to Florida, and four getting to Delmarva.
One tragically passed away in 2023 due to an auto accident. Luis Ortiz had missed the 2022 season due to injury but was on the Delmarva roster at the time of his passing.
Outfielder Luis De La Cruz was traded to the Mets in the James McCann deal, but there are no records of him playing yet for the Mets. He reached the DSL for the Orioles in 2022.
Of the nine active players remaining, one has reached Aberdeen (Edgar Portes), while all the others save one have at least reached Delmarva. Pitcher Jose Ramirez missed 2023 with an injury, but has not progressed past the DSL. However, at season’s end former Shorebirds Harol Arias and Rolphy Cruz were back on the FCL roster, while pitchers Moises Chace and Raul Rangel were playing winter ball.
On the other hand, the 2021 class that Basallo highlighted has collectively wasted little time getting to this level, showing the improvement in the Orioles’ approach and elbowing aside much of the 2019 and 2020 classes. Given that timeframe, it appears much of the 2026 Delmarva Shorebird roster is being signed formally this week. Let’s hope it’s a good one.
Until next time, remember you can Buy Me a Coffee since I have a page there.