The Orioles continue to struggle in the always-difficult AL East, but some young talent should have fans excited for the future of the team. Here are our MLB predictions for Baltimore's starting lineup in 2012.
Projected Lineup
Matt Wieters (Catcher) - Baltimore has been waiting for Wieters to break out for the past several years, and they got a glimpse of what the young catcher has to offer last year as he hit .262 with 22 home runs and 68 RBI in 139 games. His .833 OPS in the second half of the season makes it look like the best is yet to come for him.
Mark Reynolds (First Base) - Reynolds hit just .221 last year, but he did provide plenty of production. He hit 37 homers and drove in 86 RBI. This was the third-straight season in which Reynolds has driven in at least 85 runs and hit at least 32 home runs. He provides some consistency (despite a poor average) and power in the middle of this lineup..
Brian Roberts (Second Base) - A serious concussion ended his season after May 16, but he has shown encouraging signs that he will be able to play this season. When healthy, Roberts is a legit leadoff hitter. He hit.283 with 16 home runs, 78 RBI and 30 stolen bases in 2009, but has totaled just 98 games the past two seasons. If he is not ready by the start of the season, Robert Andino could take his place at second.
J.J. Hardy (Shortstop) - Hardy is a great defender and had a breakout season at the plate in his first year as an Oriole. In 2011 he hit .269 with 30 home runs and 80 RBI. If he can stay healthy, he gives Baltimore one of the top offensive shortstops in the league.
Chris Davis (Third Base) - The Orioles are hoping Davis can provide some power for the offense this year. Much like Reynolds, Davis strikes out too much to post a strong batting average, but he is also capable of hitting 38 home runs with 114 RBI, which he totaled in 2008 and 2009.
Nolan Reimold (Left Field) - Reimold could get the first crack at the starting job in the left field this year. He was given limited playing time in each of the last three years, but he could be in line for a breakout season in 2012. He hit 13 homers and drove in 45 runs in just 267 at-bats last season. He should hit right around 24 home runs with 80 RBI if given 500 at-bats.
Adam Jones (Center Field) - Jones is still just 26 years old and finally had the breakout season that the Orioles have been waiting for in 2011. He set career highs with 25 home runs and 83 RBI while hitting .280. The young center fielder was called to the Majors early in his career, which sometimes makes people forget just how much potential they have. Jones should continue to improve and may very well be the best overall player on this team.
Nick Markakis (Right Field) - Markakis had a down year last year, as he was unable to keep up the strong performances of years past. That's not to say that he didn't have a good season, as he did, but his string of four straight seasons with at least 43 doubles was halted when he had just 31 last year. He did hit.284 with 15 home runs and 73 RBI.
Wilson Betemit (Designated Hitter) - Betemit could be the designated hitter come Opening Day, but don't put too much value in his stock, as Reimold and Wieters also are likely to see time at DH. He hit.285 with 8 home runs and 46 RBI with the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals last year.
Projected Lineup
Matt Wieters (Catcher) - Baltimore has been waiting for Wieters to break out for the past several years, and they got a glimpse of what the young catcher has to offer last year as he hit .262 with 22 home runs and 68 RBI in 139 games. His .833 OPS in the second half of the season makes it look like the best is yet to come for him.
Mark Reynolds (First Base) - Reynolds hit just .221 last year, but he did provide plenty of production. He hit 37 homers and drove in 86 RBI. This was the third-straight season in which Reynolds has driven in at least 85 runs and hit at least 32 home runs. He provides some consistency (despite a poor average) and power in the middle of this lineup..
Brian Roberts (Second Base) - A serious concussion ended his season after May 16, but he has shown encouraging signs that he will be able to play this season. When healthy, Roberts is a legit leadoff hitter. He hit.283 with 16 home runs, 78 RBI and 30 stolen bases in 2009, but has totaled just 98 games the past two seasons. If he is not ready by the start of the season, Robert Andino could take his place at second.
J.J. Hardy (Shortstop) - Hardy is a great defender and had a breakout season at the plate in his first year as an Oriole. In 2011 he hit .269 with 30 home runs and 80 RBI. If he can stay healthy, he gives Baltimore one of the top offensive shortstops in the league.
Chris Davis (Third Base) - The Orioles are hoping Davis can provide some power for the offense this year. Much like Reynolds, Davis strikes out too much to post a strong batting average, but he is also capable of hitting 38 home runs with 114 RBI, which he totaled in 2008 and 2009.
Nolan Reimold (Left Field) - Reimold could get the first crack at the starting job in the left field this year. He was given limited playing time in each of the last three years, but he could be in line for a breakout season in 2012. He hit 13 homers and drove in 45 runs in just 267 at-bats last season. He should hit right around 24 home runs with 80 RBI if given 500 at-bats.
Adam Jones (Center Field) - Jones is still just 26 years old and finally had the breakout season that the Orioles have been waiting for in 2011. He set career highs with 25 home runs and 83 RBI while hitting .280. The young center fielder was called to the Majors early in his career, which sometimes makes people forget just how much potential they have. Jones should continue to improve and may very well be the best overall player on this team.
Nick Markakis (Right Field) - Markakis had a down year last year, as he was unable to keep up the strong performances of years past. That's not to say that he didn't have a good season, as he did, but his string of four straight seasons with at least 43 doubles was halted when he had just 31 last year. He did hit.284 with 15 home runs and 73 RBI.
Wilson Betemit (Designated Hitter) - Betemit could be the designated hitter come Opening Day, but don't put too much value in his stock, as Reimold and Wieters also are likely to see time at DH. He hit.285 with 8 home runs and 46 RBI with the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals last year.
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