If it seems like it has been a while since the Baltimore Orioles have had a shortstop in their farm system that the “experts” like, well, it has. That has changed a bit thanks to a good 2016 season from Ryan Mountcastle.
Outside of Manny Machado, the Orioles have not had a shortstop prospect that has gotten much press in quite some time.
When the Orioles selected Mountcastle, 19 (turns 20 in February), in the first round (36th overall) of the 2015 MLB Draft, many felt that while he was a quality player, the O’s selected him so high in order to save money for later in the draft.