Fansided

Best MLB player on each team in 2019

By Joshua Sadlock

ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 02: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts to his solo homerun for a 1-1 tie with the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Angel Stadium on May 2, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - MAY 02: Mike Trout #27 of the Los Angeles Angels reacts to his solo homerun for a 1-1 tie with the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at Angel Stadium on May 2, 2018 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – APRIL 06: Jonathan Villar #2 of the Baltimore Orioles leads off second base during a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on March 6, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – APRIL 06: Jonathan Villar #2 of the Baltimore Orioles leads off second base during a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on March 6, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

Baltimore Orioles: Jonathan Villar

It’s slim pickings in terms of best player on the Baltimore Orioles as the franchise begins a deep and total rebuild. All-Stars Manny Machado, Adam Jones, Jonathan Schoop, Zack Britton, Darren O’Day and Brad Brach have all moved on to bigger and better things. That leaves a skeleton crew of misfits and prospects to muddle along until the next championship window opens in Baltimore.

The best of the bunch is shortstop/second baseman Jonathan Villar, who is the team’s likely representative in this year’s All-Star Game. The 27-year-old came over last July when the team traded Schoop to the Milwaukee Brewers. He is one of the league’s fastest players, and the new-look Orioles might actually let him run wild as they try and cobble together wins. Villar is a career .258/.325/.397 hitter, but he has some pop to go along with those wheels. Last year, he hit 14 home runs and stole 35 bases while being thrown out only five times.

As far as the rest of the roster goes, Trey Mancini, Mychal Givens and Dylan Bundy are all worth watching for Orioles fans. Mancini has been tearing the cover off the ball in the early going and looks visibly slimmed down. There’s 30-homer potential for the outfielder/first baseman. Givens has one of the more intriguing arms in baseball, and can run his fastball up to 97 mph from his sidearm delivery. When Givens is on, he is impossible to hit. Bundy might never blossom into the ace the Orioles thought they were getting, but his starts are still worth tuning in for.

Orioles fans might be better off finding a way to stream the organization’s minor league games and getting excited about the future.

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