Minor League Baseball is officially back! With that comes one of the most exciting teams in all of the International League, The Norfolk Tides. The AAA team of the top farm club in baseball will start their season against the worst farm system in baseball the Chicago White Sox affiliate Charlotte Knights.
Top Farm in Baseball
The Orioles were announced this week from MLB Pipeline as the best farm system in baseball. This comes as no surprise as Baltimore has developed great talent over the past few seasons and drafting at the top for a majority of the last few drafts. Now some of these prospects will be getting a chance to shine at the Triple-A and possibly find their way to the Majors.
The Tides have decided to break camp this year with multiple prospects on the Orioles Top-30 prospect list. The one headlining the bunch is the Top Pitching Prospect in Baseball Grayson Rodriguez. Rodriguez will likely make his debut for the Tides on Friday against the Knights with hopes for an MLB call up as early as May.
The Orioles top prospect and Franchise changing hopeful Adley Rutschman also looks like he will make his 2022 start with the Tides this season as a strained Triceps injury has pushed him to miss some time and preparation this spring. Adley does not have much to prove still here in Triple-A however, if any. We will likely see him make a few rehab starts and quickly make his debut for Birdland.
The other Tides players listed in the top 30 for Orioles prospects are:
- Outfielder Kyle Stowers (No. 8)
- Infielder Terrin Vavra (14)
- Left-hander Pitcher Kevin Smith (18) (Opening Day Starter)
- Infielder Jahmai Jones (22)
- Outfielder Yusniel Díaz (26).
The Club will also have a familiar face in the dugout leading the Tides this season. Buck Britton will make his debut for Triple-A Norfolk as the Team’s Manager Tuesday night. Britton (younger brother of former Orioles Reliever Zach Britton) played for the Tides for four seasons beginning in 2010.
Previewing Series vs. Knights
Kevin Smith will get the ball to start off the game for the Tides as they face the Charlotte Knights. The Tides will look to approve upon last season’s 52-78 record. Smith is the 18th ranked prospect in the Orioles Organization.
The Charlotte Knights are an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox and currently rank last among the top farm systems in the major league according to MLB Pipeline. This is not due to underperforming talent, but from trading away prospects to bolster the Major League club faster. The White Sox are currently in a win now window and look to repeat as the Winners of the AL Central. They finished 2021 at the bottom of the entire Triple-A Circuit with a 47-81 record.
The Knights have a few interesting players to keep an eye out if you are heading to the ballpark this week or watching this series on MILB.TV.
Kade McClure will get the nod as the opening day starter for the Knights.The organization is hoping for big things from him this season.
Outfielder Adam Haseley will look to start his 2022 campaign strong as he will look to make it back to the big leagues. You might remember Haseley playing up for the Phillies from 2019-2021.
What’s New at Harbor Park?
Fans at Harbor Park will be in for a treat when they get to Harbor Park for a game this season as they have unveiled a brand-new state of the art Video Scoreboard. The scoreboard has been reported to now be the biggest in all of the Minor Leagues.
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About the Author
Christian Rauh is the Co-Founder of Slasher Sports and is the Host of The Rauh Report Podcast and Wake Up! with Wowie and The Kid. You Can find all his written work here.
