Luis Ramirez

Ramirez is best known for his 15 strikeout game -- in five innings -- in the low minors in 2004. Despite only having one pitch, a wicked fastball, Ramirez again put up dazzling strikeout numbers in 2005, whiffing 155 to go along with a 2.55 ERA and 1.14 ERA in 162 1/3 innings for Low-A Delmarva. He was old for the level at 23, however, and his lack of a secondary pitch will likely shift him to the bullpen as he progresses through the Orioles' system.

In 2003, the 6'4" 180-pounder topped the Gulf Coast League with 76 strikeouts, 11.31 strikeouts per nine innings, and six wins in 59.1 innings pitched. He posted back-to-back 10 strikeout games, and allowed only one earned run in 24 innings pitched in the entire month of August, being named the Orioles' Organizational Player of the Month. All of this before starting off 2004 in stellar fashion, striking out 15 in five innings in a game early in the season. Ramirez -- who has started 2004 with the short-season Class-A Aberdeen Ironbirds -- has been off the fantasy radar so far in his career, and at 22 is a little old for his current level. With such dominating strikeout totals, however, he can quickly vault up the Orioles' pitching depth chart, especially with the recent trade of Denny Bautista and the general lack of major-league ready pitching in the organization. Expect to see Ramirez in high-A Frederick or Double-A Bowie by season's end.