Wondering which young players could have an impact in the majors this year? Let MLB FanHouse guide the way in Better Know a Prospect. In this edition we look at three players from the suddenly flourishing Baltimore system.Matt Wieters, C: Does he even need an introduction? Wieters is merely the best prospect in baseball. The No. 5 overall pick in the 2007 draft, he excelled in his first professional season, hitting .355 with 27 homers and 91 RBI across two levels. Catchers that can hit like that and actually stick behind the plate are rare. Gregg Zaun is currently blocking the way in Baltimore, but signed to a one-year deal at age 37, he's nothing more than a placeholder. Wieters is unlikely to break camp with the O's, but he'll get the call sometime in 2009. Shortly thereafter, he'll become a franchise player and one of the very best backstops in the game.
Brian Matusz, SP: Why Matusz here over fellow top pitching prospects Chris Tillman and Jake Arrieta when he's never thrown a professional pitch? Because Matusz is a much more polished product. Another first-rounder, Matusz is a left-hander with a fastball that sits in the low-90s and above average secondary pitches. He showcased excellent control at the University of San Diego last year, walking just 22 hitters in 105 innings and posting a stellar 31:7 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 26 2/3 innings in the Arizona Fall League after that. Couple that type of readiness with his status -- he's the only one of Baltimore's three prized arms on the 40-man roster -- and it seems like he'll be the quickest moving arm in the Orioles' system.
Nolan Reimold, OF: It's now or never for the slugging outfielder who has struggled to stay healthy in four minor league seasons. The 25-year-old has big power with a home run every 20 at-bats in his professional career. He also has a good batting eye, but with 311 strikeouts in 390 games, it's clear there are some holes in his swing. Baltimore already has four outfielders on the roster with the winter addition of Felix Pie, but Pie hasn't performed in the majors and Luke Scott, the incumbent left fielder, struggles against left-handed pitching. If nothing else, the right-handed Reimold could be part of a platoon with Scott, but there's a job to be won in the Charm City.
For comprehensive coverage of the minor leagues, visit John Sickels at Minor League Ball and Baseball America. For minor league statistics, visit Baseball-Reference and Minor League Splits.
