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12-11-2003, 10:20 AM
This was interesting, I thought.
And would someone explain the Rule 5 Draft to me. They mention it in the last few paragraphs, and the names Paradis, Eli Whiteside, and Keith Reed are mentioned. I don't get the whole Rule 5 Draft thing. Why are they exposed?
12/10/2003 3:29 PM ET
Morban honing his skills in D.R.
By Gary Washburn / MLB.com
BALTIMORE -- The Orioles used the Rule 5 Draft last spring to add to their growing list of prospects.
Just a few days before the end of Spring Training, the Orioles added Minnesota infielder Jose Morban to the roster. Because he was a Rule 5 Draft pick, Morban had to remain on the 25-man roster or be returned to his original team, the Texas Rangers.
Morban had played no higher than Single-A ball and was a calculated risk for the Orioles. At times, Morban's presence combined with injuries limited late-game options for former manager Mike Hargrove.
But the Orioles were able to keep Morban on the roster and as the season progressed, he became more versatile. Morban transformed from merely a pinch runner to a backup infielder to a sport starter at shortstop and second base.
Morban hit .141 in 61 games and showed the organization flashes of his potential and defensive prowess. The 24-year-old Morban is likely to begin next season in Double-A Bowie and perhaps will be the team's shortstop of the future. To sharpen his skills, he is playing for Leones Del Escogido in the Dominican Winter League.
So far it's been a struggle offensively. He is hitting .086 (3-for-35) in 10 games at third base. Hitting was Morban's weakness during the regular season, as he was often overmatched by Major League pitching.
"We like Jose a lot," Orioles farm director Darrell "Doc" Rodgers said. "We know he will get his swing back. The important thing for Jose is to develop his skills and just play. We want him to get all the experience he can."
Morban played second base and shortstop last season but his future might be at third. If the Orioles sign a premium free agent shortstop such as Miguel Tejada, Morban would likely move to third base. The club is experimenting with Melvin Mora at third next season but that is likely not a long-term solution.
The organization believes Morban has enough athleticism to adjust to third base without much difficulty. He is 6-foot-2, runs well and has a strong arm. Offensively, he does have power but club officials believe he needs to shorten his swing to generate more contact. That will come in time, according to Rodgers.
"We believe he has a lot of natural ability," Rodgers said. "We know he's struggling but that will end with more playing time. We just want him to keep gaining experience and improving. There's a reason why we selected him."
While the Orioles capitalized on the Rule 5 Draft last season, they could lose a couple of former first-round picks to the Monday's Rule 5 Draft in New Orleans.
Former first-rounders Richard Stahl, Beau Hale, Keith Reed, Chris Smith and Mike Paradis could be nabbed by other clubs in the Rule 5 Draft. Also, former prospects Eli Whiteside and Tommy Arko also are exposed to the draft.
The Orioles have 35 players on their 40-man roster and are taking the chance that players such as Reed, Paradis and Whiteside, who are on the Triple-A Ottawa roster, will not be selected because they would have to spend the entire season with the Major League club, like Morban.
The Orioles can lose a maximum of two players.
"It's a double-edged sword, you can protect so many guys," Rodgers said. "You can't protect them all. We know our players better than any other club. It's a combination of injuries with Hale, Smith and Stahl ... 50 percent of that group is an injury bug and not fulfilling the potential. We still think fairly highly of them."
Gary Washburn is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
And would someone explain the Rule 5 Draft to me. They mention it in the last few paragraphs, and the names Paradis, Eli Whiteside, and Keith Reed are mentioned. I don't get the whole Rule 5 Draft thing. Why are they exposed?
12/10/2003 3:29 PM ET
Morban honing his skills in D.R.
By Gary Washburn / MLB.com
BALTIMORE -- The Orioles used the Rule 5 Draft last spring to add to their growing list of prospects.
Just a few days before the end of Spring Training, the Orioles added Minnesota infielder Jose Morban to the roster. Because he was a Rule 5 Draft pick, Morban had to remain on the 25-man roster or be returned to his original team, the Texas Rangers.
Morban had played no higher than Single-A ball and was a calculated risk for the Orioles. At times, Morban's presence combined with injuries limited late-game options for former manager Mike Hargrove.
But the Orioles were able to keep Morban on the roster and as the season progressed, he became more versatile. Morban transformed from merely a pinch runner to a backup infielder to a sport starter at shortstop and second base.
Morban hit .141 in 61 games and showed the organization flashes of his potential and defensive prowess. The 24-year-old Morban is likely to begin next season in Double-A Bowie and perhaps will be the team's shortstop of the future. To sharpen his skills, he is playing for Leones Del Escogido in the Dominican Winter League.
So far it's been a struggle offensively. He is hitting .086 (3-for-35) in 10 games at third base. Hitting was Morban's weakness during the regular season, as he was often overmatched by Major League pitching.
"We like Jose a lot," Orioles farm director Darrell "Doc" Rodgers said. "We know he will get his swing back. The important thing for Jose is to develop his skills and just play. We want him to get all the experience he can."
Morban played second base and shortstop last season but his future might be at third. If the Orioles sign a premium free agent shortstop such as Miguel Tejada, Morban would likely move to third base. The club is experimenting with Melvin Mora at third next season but that is likely not a long-term solution.
The organization believes Morban has enough athleticism to adjust to third base without much difficulty. He is 6-foot-2, runs well and has a strong arm. Offensively, he does have power but club officials believe he needs to shorten his swing to generate more contact. That will come in time, according to Rodgers.
"We believe he has a lot of natural ability," Rodgers said. "We know he's struggling but that will end with more playing time. We just want him to keep gaining experience and improving. There's a reason why we selected him."
While the Orioles capitalized on the Rule 5 Draft last season, they could lose a couple of former first-round picks to the Monday's Rule 5 Draft in New Orleans.
Former first-rounders Richard Stahl, Beau Hale, Keith Reed, Chris Smith and Mike Paradis could be nabbed by other clubs in the Rule 5 Draft. Also, former prospects Eli Whiteside and Tommy Arko also are exposed to the draft.
The Orioles have 35 players on their 40-man roster and are taking the chance that players such as Reed, Paradis and Whiteside, who are on the Triple-A Ottawa roster, will not be selected because they would have to spend the entire season with the Major League club, like Morban.
The Orioles can lose a maximum of two players.
"It's a double-edged sword, you can protect so many guys," Rodgers said. "You can't protect them all. We know our players better than any other club. It's a combination of injuries with Hale, Smith and Stahl ... 50 percent of that group is an injury bug and not fulfilling the potential. We still think fairly highly of them."
Gary Washburn is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.