By Joe Schiller
When the Baltimore Orioles traded away Manny Machado and Jonathan Schoop last season, it provided the challenging task of replacing two of the team's brighestest defensive stars.
Among the young players in the organization that we continue to preview, 22-year-old Cadyn Grenier is a name you could see making defensive stops at shortstop in just a few years notice.
Grenier was selected by the Orioles with the 37th pick in the 2018 MLB draft and spent three seasons at Oregon State under head coach Pat Casey. He put together his best season in 2018, hitting .319 from the plate with six home runs and 47 RBIs.
The Beavers won the College World Series in a thrilling best-of-three championship series over Arkansas. Down 1-0 in the series, Grenier's single in Game 2 saved his team from elimination and sparked a comeback.
The essence of clutch.With one strike away from #CWS elimination, Cadyn Grenier ropes a single to tie things up at 3. pic.twitter.com/MJSF4sMIVj
— Sporting News (@sportingnews) June 28, 2018Shortly after lifting the National Championship trophy and being selected in draft, Grenier was assigned to Single-A Delmarva. In 24 games, there was a clear adjustment period to life in the majors.
Grenier batted .216 with one homer, 13 RBIs and struck out 53 times.
As important as his bat is, Grenier has been known for his defense prowess. He was tabbed as one of the best defensive prospects coming into the draft.
Grenier is a player that will have a chance to develop heading into his first full season in the minor leagues. I'll be intrigued to see how quickly he progresses on both sides of the plate, especially if the Orioles struggle in the next few seasons.
If the production Grenier showed at Oregon State is there, he's destined for a major league debut in a short time.
