Orioles Upgrade
March 11, 2003
Orioles right-handed pitching prospect Steve Bechler died in Spring Training after collapsing from heat exhaustion and dehydration on the practice field. Bechler, a third-round pick of the 1998 draft, spent most of last year at Triple-A Rochester, going 6-11 with a 4.09 ERA in 24 starts. The righthander made three relief appearances with the Orioles, with his major league debut coming September 6 against the Anaheim Angels. He was supposed to start this season at Ottawa, the Orioles' Triple-A affiliate. Bechler was 35-48 with a 3.82 ERA in five minor league seasons. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and the Orioles organization.
Latest Team News
The Orioles traded Chris Richard and cash to the Rockies for power-hitting prospect Jack Cust. Cust was a first round pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1997. After playing in the Diamondbacks farm system, he was traded to the Colorado Rockies in January 2002. Cust, who was last years Triple-A All-Star MVP has excelled at every level in the minor leagues. In his last two seasons in AAA he has compiled monster stats...50 HR, 134 RBI, 155 R, 185 BB. His OBP has been above .400 at every level and his slugging percentage has never dipped below .524. The only alarming stat is that he struck out 281 times in AAA ball! Cust will likely start the season at Triple-A Ottawa, though management has not ruled out him making the Opening Day roster. The Orioles also cut 10 players in camp and optioned Sean Douglass and Darnell McDonald to Triple-A Ottawa.
Projected Lineup
1. Jerry Hairston Jr., 2B
2. Gary Mathews Jr., OF
3. David Segui, DH
4. Tony Batista, 3B
5. Jay Gibbons, OF
6. Jeff Conine, 1B
7. BJ Surhoff/Marty Cordova, OF
8. Geronimo Gil, C
9. Deivi Cruz, SS
The Orioles plan to use Melvin Mora as their backup outfielder. Jay Gibbons claims to be pain-free and ready for the season. He had 15 home runs over half a season in 2001 and 28 home runs last year despite having two leftover sutures pressing against a nerve in his right wrist. The Orioles are counting on him to be ready and if he is 30-35 HR’s isn’t out of reach. If the Orioles fail to add some power to their lineup they may be forced to run more. CF Gary Mathews Jr. could swipe 25+ bases this year.
Projected rotation:
1. Rodrigo Lopez
2. Omar Daal
3. Sidney Ponson
4,5 Pat Hentgen, Jason Johnson, Rick Helling
Pat Hentgen is coming back from reconstructive elbow surgery that he had in Aug 2001. In his 4 starts last season, he went 0-4 with a whopping 7.77 ERA. He will likely be the Orioles fifth starter coming out of Spring Training. Youngsters John Stephens and Sean Douglass, who will start the season at Triple-A Ottawa, will be waiting in the wings should Hentgen fail.
