Kyle Smith, 20, has gone 5-4 with a 2.85 ERA (33ER/104.1IP) in 19 starts with Class A Wilmington this season, in what is his second professional campaign. Smith has limited his opponents to a .238 batting average and has 96 strikeouts in his 104.1 innings pitched. He is currently ranked by MLB.com as the Royals No. 11 prospect. Heading into the season, Smith was ranked by Baseball America as the Royals No. 12 prospect. He was originally a fourth-round pick by Kansas City in the June 2011 Draft out of Santaluces High School in Florida.
Josh Hader, 19, owns a 2.65 ERA (25ER/85IP) in 17 games for Class A Delmarva this season. The 6'3" lefty has allowed just a .215 opponent's batting average and has 79 strikeouts in 85.0 innings pitched. Hader was ranked by MLB.com as the No. 5 prospect in Baltimore's system. He was originally a 19th round selection in the June 2012 Draft.
L.J. Hoes, 23, who was recalled by the Orioles on Sunday, hit .304 (111x365) with 25 doubles, 40 RBI and a .406 on-base percentage in 99 games for Triple A Norfolk this season. He ranks third in the International League in on-base percentage and sixth in walks (58). Hoes is ranked by MLB.com as the Orioles No. 7 prospect and was named their No. 6 prospect by Baseball America at the beginning of the season. Hoes was originally a third-round pick by Baltimore in the June 2008 Draft.
Hoes started last night with the big league club and went 0-5 at the plate. He filled one of the two vacated roster spots. An announcement is expected today regarding the other available spot as well who will make up the starting rotation. Brett Oberholtzer's 7 innings of 3 hit, scoreless baseball will, I'm sure give the front office a bit to ponder when making THAT decision.
