The Orioles will select the contract of top prospect Manny Machado before Thursday night's game against the Royals, according to a team press release. Machado, the third overall pick of the 2010 draft, is hitting .266/.350/.431 at Double-A Bowie this season. The 20-year-old was regarded as the 11th-best prospect in the game according to Baseball America's preseason rankings and moved up to the #9 slot in BA's midseason rankings.
Though Machado was drafted as a shortstop and has played all but five pro games at the position (three games at DH, two games at third base), it appears as though the O's will use Machado at third. Though J.J. Hardy has struggled to a .658 OPS this season, he has a firmer grip on the shortstop position than the defensively-challenged Wilson Betemit and Mark Reynolds have at the hot corner. It's a big surprise to see Machado called up this early, though with the Orioles in a pennant race, "if we can do something that makes us two inches better to have a chance to win the last 49 games, we’re going to do it," manager Buck Showalter tells MLB.com's Brittany Ghiroli (Twitter link).
The early call-up will put Machado in line to be arbitration-eligible after the 2015 season (though not Super Two-eligible) and able to hit free agency after the 2018 season at age 26, according to MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith. These calculations are based on Machado remaining in the majors, which Nicholson-Smith calls "a big if."
Say whaaaaaaaaat.
Solid post bro.
You forgot Joey Lawrence up there as well
Whoa.
Wow. Shocked. This might turn out to be a mistake, but it’s hard not to be excited. Anyone else going? Wieter’s debut was a lot of fun.
I was already goin for my Mandarin Chen shirt. Now I feel like a kid on Christmas eve.
A’s fan. I’ll probably watch tomorrow. I love watching debuts of top prospects.
Only problem is they haven’t actually said if he’ll play in the first game against the Royals, just that he’ll be up for it. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
He will play primarily against left handers. The O’s are facing 2 lefties this weekend, one tonight and the other on Sunday. He’s playing tonight.
Why? He’s been mediocre at AA and really hasn’t dazzled anywhere. I sense a big mistake coming.
Wrong categorically.
Mediocre???? LOL
he hasn’t been amazing at the plate, but looking at his stats as the full story is irresponsible.
he’s one of the youngest players in AA and plays a premium position
I think his past ten games or so are beyond belief, but even looking at the whole picture, I think an almost .800 at AA at (just turned) 20 is lighting it up.
Bryce Harper wasn’t even close to that when he was called up, which of course proves nothing except that talent is the indicator not a quick stat check.
the biggest thing to reiterate is that he turned 20 a month ago. that performance at that age at that level at that position is fantastic
i would bet against him being very productive in the show this year, but no one should be talking down his performance in AA
Yet if he were a Mets prospect, he’d be the best SS prospect since Arod.
No, he’d still be a 20 year old posting mediocre numbers at AA. I’m not saying he’ll be a bad player long term, nor am I saying he isn’t an excellent prospect (one of my favorites actually). His numbers do not indicate that he is ready for the majors though. Again, he’s 20 so this isn’t surprising.
.870 OPS since the break. Not saying he’s ready to perform at an elite level, but pretty sure he’s among the top 14 position players in the organization, so I don’t have a problem with this at all.
My fear is that it stunts his development most likely in a mental way. Of course, we can’t get inside his head, so that fear may be unfounded.
Harper put up .724 OPS over 37 games at AA and then a .690 OPS over 21 games at AAA before he was promoted.
Sometimes the talent outweighs the stat sheet with top prospects.
And that call up was a mistake in my opinion (look at how he’s slumping now). Also, Machado is not a prospect on the level of Harper. Harper and Trout might be the best talents of the next 30 years, Machado is just another elite top prospect.
Saw this guy play at a Bowie game once.. Excellent hands at short– his swing was smooth as well. He’s going to have a very good career, but perhaps he should’ve seen Norfolk..
And Dylan Bundy promoted to AA. Good night to be an O’s fan!
After his amazing start at low A, Fredrick was a little disappointing. I hope they allow him to use his cutter again at AA.
Unleash the beast and see what he can do!
Someone got jealous of all the Trout/Harper talk
Trout/Harper/Chen talk.
I don’t think many people outside of Baltimore are talking about Chen… just like almost no one outside of Milwaukee is talking about Mike Fiers… and his numbers are superior to Chen’s. Granted, he’s made ten fewer starts, but that’s only meant 55 additional innings. Also, like Fiers, Chen is 27 years old… not exactly a young, up and comer.
Granted he got blown up tonight, but Chen is pitching is the Al East, so apples and oranges.
Yeah not quite. At best it’s oranges to tangerines… such a silly argument.
I think it’s more TROUT! / harper talk at this point, but whatever …
And no, the Orioles don’t base any of their personnel decision on jealousy of the happenings in DC … we’ve developed quite the drinking game in the warehouse for all the major moves.
I literally just traded him a week ago in my keeper league :
And I just picked him up in mine, thanks to MLBTR!
Interesting to say the least, he’s still really young. I don’t mind the move as long as they keep him up for good
Wait. Whaaaaaaaat.
Skipping AAA entirely? With only a .781 OPS in AA? (to be fair, a 120 wRC+ as well, which is awesome from a SS).
edit: isn’t jj hardy the shortstop for the O’s? is machado moving positions? or is hardy hurt?
.870 OPS since the all star break
he’ll be playing 3rd
He’s been better of late, and while he hasn’t set the world on fire, a SS with a .781 OPS at AA as one of the youngest players in the league is impressive.
It looks like he’s replacing Ryan Flaherty, a back IF, on the roster. I’m guessing he fills that role, with perhaps a shot to take some time at 3rd base if he performs well?
I’m betting he spells Betemit early and often, as crazy as it sounds. Hardy’s bat is coming around big time- can’t imagine Machado is coming up just to back up the IF- especially with Andino floating now that Quintilla is locking down the 2B spot.
It isn’t crazy, and is perhaps likely …. I just wish they had allowed Machado to get comfortable at 3rd in the minors before throwing him out there in the majors.
It’s not like it’s unheard of. AA ball is kinda the real final test for top prospects whereas AAA seems to be more of a waiting room. Also as you imply, you can’t expect the same offensive numbers from a shortstop as you would from someone like a first baseman.
Jurickson Profar or Manny Machado?
Who has the better career and who would you take right now?
Profar, but I’d take either
same here.
Profar will win gold gloves, Machado might gain more pop though.
Yeah Profar for me too, but if we’re talking middle infield prospects, the 29 other teams would love to have Machado.
P.S. I think Billy Hamilton winds up in CF.
I think its too soon also.
Anything to help us squeeze into the playoffs though works for me
I applaud the Orioles for seeing this as an opportunity to win now, as oppose to see it as a financial/future risk decision.
Can’t see many teams doing what they just did.
ummm, teams always do this, at this time of year, but i thought he would have better numbers. doesn’t seem to me that he’s ready for the call
Many teams do this either when a player is close to coming up or they are out of the run all together.
I can’t recall (and it may be ignorance) a time recently where a team in the hunt for the playoffs recalled a player who isn’t necessarily major league ready to try and win now.
Many teams do this either when a player is close to coming up or they are out of the run all together.
I can’t recall a time recently where a team in the hunt for the playoffs recalled a player who isn’t necessarily major league ready to try and win now.
Oakland, just did it last week, with Derrick Norris, true not oakland’s best prospect, but he’s the best catching prospect.
Norris was much further along, in my opinion
Yes, he was. but the point is the Orioles, aren’t the only ones to do this. If a team sees this will help the down the stretch their going to jump at the chance. but great move by the Orioles hope it works out.
norris is several years older and spent most of the season in AAA.
David Price?
The angels did this last year with Mike Trout.
cool
This seems like a desperation move for the O’s. I hope it works out, I would love to see the O’s in the playoffs but cannot help but think it hurts Machado’s development by skipping AAA and moving him to a new position at the same time.
I don’t see it as desperation so much. Betemit boots some balls, but its infrequent (though last night comes to mind) that his errors actually cause any significant damage. Certainly not pretty, though.
I wouldn’t say infrequent, Betemit makes Reynolds look like Brooks Robinson
He is being called up as an injury replacement for Ryan Flaherty.
Pujols did skip multiple minor league levels and has turned out fine. However, I would have been a bit leery of calling him up now…is there no better option already on the 40-man roster?
well, the 40-man roster is a non-issue, because we just transferred BRob to the 60 day DL to make space (since he just had season-ending surgery). but the answer is no, not really. Tolleson is on the minor league 7-day DL I believe, Ryan Adams hasn’t been hitting well this season (and he’s not a great defender so that’s where all his value is), and Mahoney can only play 1st. I guess Bill Hall (not on the 40-man) is still around…
Even if they gave Machado a week and it was a failed attempt, the taste of the Big Show might push Machado to work harder to get back again.
It’s interesting that they’re going to give him a taste of a playoff push, too.
Too early to do so in my opinion. Even in a playoff race.
Will definitely watch him debut however. Should be fun!
He’s a good shortstop.. But he’s no Jurickson Profar.
or Ruben Tejada
why is a AAA .266 hitter news?