08JUNE2012
Original article link: Machado, Bundy gems of Orioles’ farm system, by Greg Luca
While executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette has been working to build organizational depth and add pitching through the Draft, the Orioles’ two prospects at the top of their farm system have become two of the best in all of baseball
Shortstop Manny Machado and pitcher Dylan Bundy, ranked the Nos. 1 and 2 prospects in the Orioles’ farm system by MLB.com, are moving through the Minor Leagues en route to Major League careers that coudl start as soon as next season.
In the process, they’ve been shooting up prospect rankings. Machado is ranked fourth and Bundy is eighth in MLB.com’s list of the Top 100 prospects.
Bundy has garnered more attention than Machado this year. The 6-foot-1 righty was taken No. 4 overall in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft, making him the top high school player selected.
While Machado’s numbers have not been as awe-inspiring as Bundy’s, there is no less positivity surrounding his future.
Machado was drafted third overall by the O’s in 2010 and hit .257 between Delmarva and Frederick last season. He 
advanced on to Double-A Bowie in 2012 and has hit .239/.333/.371 with three home runs and 18 RBIs in 55 games.
Machado has dealt with the typical ups-and-downs. He reached base safely in 17 of 18 games between April 30 and May 19 but has also hit slumps like the one he’s in now, with only four hits in his past 46 at-bats entering Wednesday.
The 19-year-old already has tremendous bat speed and is projected to develop more power as he grows physically and learns discipline at the plate.
Machado has shown all of the tools to be a solid defensive shortstop, but many feel he’ll outgrow the position. He is already 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds.
Filed under: 2012: USA Minor League Player Updates
Tagged with: 2012 MiLB, Baltimore Orioles, Manny Machado
