Red Sox vs the AL East: farm systems

February 27, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Dylan Bundy (49) throws a pitch in the third inning against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

4. Baltimore Orioles

Notable Prospects: Dylan Bundy, Hunter Harvey, Chance Sisco, Christian Walker

The Orioles have two of the top pitching prospects in the division but their system tails off extremely quickly after the top two and lacks the depth to compete with the other systems in the AL East.

The fourth overall selection in the 2011 draft, Bundy raced through the minor leagues and reached the majors in his first full season, developing into the top pitching prospect in the minor leagues. However, injuries have slowed his pace in recent seasons as Tommy John Surgery sidelined him for the entirety of the 2013 season and much of the 2014 season as well. The talent is absolutely still there though and 2015 will be an opportunity for Bundy to prove his worth. Harvey, Baltimore’s first pick in the 2013 draft, also impressed in his first full minor league season. While he only started 17 games due to injuries, Harvey posted a 3.18 ERA and struck out 10.9 batters per nine innings and appears to have top-of-the-rotation potential.

After those two, the Orioles’ system has little in the way of legitimate talent though. Sisco, a 20-year old catcher who slashed .340/.406/.448 in Single-A Delmarva last season, is intriguing and so is Walker, a powerful first baseman who hit .288/.357/.489 between Double-A and Triple-A before a cup of coffee last season. However, the Orioles’ system curtails in talent so quickly that it lands in fourth place in the AL East.