Tides’ Holliday one of 30 worth watching
The Orioles don’t just have the top-ranked farm system in baseball because of the studs at the top.
Baltimore’s talent pipeline is deep, and for the Orioles to achieve sustainability in the major leagues, the development on the farm is vital.
With Tuesday marking the beginning of the first full week of minor league play at the four main affiliate levels, here is a list of 30 Orioles prospects to watch this season. This is not a traditional top 30 list. Instead, this list of prospects — only ones who have yet to make their MLB debuts — is simply a compilation of intriguing players Baltimore fans should keep their eyes on this season.
The blue chippers
Double-A Bowie catcher-first baseman Samuel Basallo: After reaching Double-A in his first full professional season, the 20-yearold could prove by the end of the season that his bat is big leagueready, but his development as a catcher is something the organization is still committed to. Basallo, who Baseball America ranks as the No. 11 prospect in the sport, was signed out of the Dominican Republic at 16 years old for $1.3 million. High-A Aberdeen center fielder
Enrique Bradfield Jr.: The 2023 first-round pick stole one base per game in 25 minor league contests last season, and perhaps he will keep up that pace this season. Bradfield’s elite speed and defense make him unique in the Orioles’ system, but he still has development left at the plate. Triple-A Norfolk middle infielder Jackson Holliday: The 20-yearold might not be on the farm long. The Orioles’ decision to start Holliday, the 2022 No. 1 draft pick and consensus top prospect, in the minors was controversial, but he should make his MLB debut sometime this spring. He and the rest of the Tides are off to a scorching hot start to the season. Norfolk corner infielder Coby Mayo: Like Basallo and Holliday, Mayo shot out of a cannon last season and is now regarded as one of the best power bats in the minor leagues. If he continues to impress as he did during spring training, his call to the show could come sometime in 2024, too. Norfolk second baseman-corner outfielder Connor Norby: All this 23-year-old does is hit. What position he’ll play in the big leagues is an unanswered question — as is his path to Baltimore — but he had 29 home runs in 2022 and 64 extra-base hits in Triple-A last season.
Acquired via trade
Bowie outfielder Jud Fabian: The Orioles technically didn’t trade for Fabian, instead selecting him with the competitive balance round draft pick they acquired in the Tanner Scott and Cole Sulser trade with the Miami Marlins in 2022. Fabian, the No. 13 prospect in Baltimore’s system, struck out too much last season, but made up for it with his power (24 homers) and speed (31 stolen bases). Bowie right-hander Seth Johnson: As one of two pitchers acquired in the Trey Mancini trade at the 2022 deadline, the 25-year-old has barely pitched after undergoing Tommy John elbow reconstruction shortly after the deal. Johnson was in big league spring training and is the organization’s third-best pitching prospect.
Norfolk right-hander Chayce McDermott: The 25-year-old was the other pitcher acquired in the Mancini deal. McDermott, the Orioles’ top-ranked pitching prospect, was Baltimore’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year after posting a 3.10 ERA and striking out 152 batters in 119 innings last season.
Aberdeen right-hander Juan Nuñez: Nuñez was one of four minor league arms the Orioles acquired in the Jorge López trade at the 2022 deadline. Nuñez, the organization’s sixth-best pitching prospect, struck out 125 batters in 104 ⅔ innings last year between Low- and High-A.
Norfolk left-hander Cade Povich: The 23-year-old was the biggest piece of the López deal, although it’s turned out that Yennier Cano was quite the throw-in. Povich’s struggles with his command raise questions about his viability as a big league starter, but his ability to get swings and misses is undeniable after striking out 31% of batters last year.
The 2023 draftees
Aberdeen right-hander Jackson
Baumeister: Selected 63rd overall in Competitive Balance Round B, Baumeister is the highest-drafted pitcher in the Mike Elias era. The Florida State graduate sports a plus fastball, and the Orioles starting him in Aberdeen is a positive sign of their belief in him. Aberdeen outfielder Matthew Etzel: The 10th-round pick dominated Low-A in his brief time at the level last season, posting a .930 OPS and stealing 16 bases in 21 games.
Aberdeen infielder-outfielder Mac Horvath: The secondround pick has the tools to be a plus defender in the infield and outfield. His bat popped as a junior at UNC, and he posted a 1.057 OPS in 99 plate appearances in the lower minors last year. Low-A Delmarva right-hander Kiefer Lord: In 2022, Lord was a Division III pitcher for Carleton College in Minnesota. After increasing his velocity, transferring to Division I Washington and being drafted by the Orioles in the third round, the 21-year-old might be one of the best stories in the system. Delmarva right-hander Blake Money: He doesn’t just have one of the best names in the system, as his stuff is intriguing with the Orioles stretching him out to be a starting pitcher after selecting the LSU reliever in the 13th round.
International pipeline
Rookie ball shortstop Luis
Almeyda: The prize of the Orioles’ 2023 international class, Almeyda’s $2.3 million signing bonus is the highest in franchise history. Almeyda, who turns 18 next week, had his first professional season end because of shoulder surgery. He’s ranked No. 18 in Baltimore’s system. Delmarva left-hander Luis De León: The 20-year-old southpaw has gone from under-the-radar signee in December 2021 to the club’s No. 5 pitching prospect in a little more than two years. He struck out 67 in 53 ⅔ innings between the Florida Complex League and Low-A last season.
Rookie ball third baseman Joshua
Liranzo: The 17-year-old Dominican Republic native signed in January 2023 and has opened eyes since. Liranzo, who sports plus bat speed and the potential to be a good defender, posted a .793 OPS in the Dominican Summer League last year. Delmarva outfielder Thomas Sosa: After crushing FCL pitching last year, 2024 will be the 19-year-old’s first in full-season ball. The Orioles signed Sosa out of the Dominican Republic in January 2022. Delmarva outfielder Braylin Tavera: Before Almeyda, the $1.7 million the Orioles gave Tavera the year before was a record. The 19-year-old posted an .812 OPS in the FCL last year with nearly as many walks (22) as strikeouts (23).
Other top 30 prospects
Bowie outfielder Dylan Beavers:
The Orioles’ second pick in the 2022 draft, Beavers overcame a slow start last year to end the season strong with an .850 OPS. The 22-year-old is rated as the organization’s 11th-best prospect with high upside. Bowie infielder Frederick
Bencosme: Baltimore signed the Dominican Republic native for $10,000 as part of the 2020 international class, but the 21-year-old has impressed with his bat-to-ball skills. He struck out 14.1% of the time in Aberdeen last year, but still has room to grow at the plate.
Bowie right-hander Trace Bright: Like most Orioles pitching prospects, Bright’s command could hold him back. But the 2022 fifth-round pick struck out 33.9% of batters between Aberdeen and Bowie last year, and his stock could soar if he finds the zone more often.
Norfolk outfielder Hudson Haskin: The 2020 second-round pick has performed at every level in the minors, but hip surgery last year hampered what was the start of another solid campaign. He’s on the injured list to begin the season, but should return to Norfolk soon.
Bowie right-hander Alex Pham: He doesn’t have a traditional starter’s build at 5 feet, 11 inches, but Pham has a starter’s mix with five pitches. He impressed manager Brandon Hyde during a major league spring training game in March after posting a 2.57 ERA and 130 punchouts in 112 innings last year.
Under the radar
Aberdeen right-hander Carter Baumler: The Orioles drafted Baumler in 2020’s fifth round, but he entered 2024 with only 28 ⅔ innings pitched because of several arm injuries, including ones that required Tommy John elbow reconstruction and shoulder surgery. This season is the first time Baumler, 22, has opened a season healthy since he was drafted.