For the better part of a half-decade, the Baltimore Orioles farm system has been the cream of the crop in Major League Baseball. But in recent years the farm system has graduated a boatload of talent. Rather than a deep and robust system, the Orioles now find themselves a bit more top-heavy with more question marks than usual outside of the top dogs.
There’s little doubt the Orioles still have impact talent on the horizon, but until the organization starts spending in free agency and hunting bigger fish in trades, it’s fair to question the club’s sustainability.
DEVELOPMENTS
As more top prospects graduated in 2024, the likes of Coby Mayo, Samuel Basallo, and Enrique Bradfield Jr. fight to be next in line. Mayo made his debut last summer, struggling to put the ball in play in 46 plate appearances, but he’ll get another shot in 2025 after showing he was ready for a shot with a strong 89-game showing in Triple-A last season.
Bradfield Jr, the club’s first-round pick in 2023 (17) has a very good year in 2024, posting a .272/.358/.371 slash with a strong 15.3% strikeout rate split between two levels. He was even better in a 27-game audition in Double-A (.287/.395/.396, 11.7% K), drew walks consistently, and swiped 74 bags.
He’s yet to hit for much power, and likely never will consistently leave the yard, but he can reach the gaps and let his legs get him into scoring position. Bradfield is a classic leadoff hitter with 80-grade speed, on-base ability, and at least 70-grade defense in center, and he appears to be within a year of the majors after his 2024 campaign.
Right-hander Chayce McDermott again missed bats (32.9% K), but also struggled with control and command, issuing walks and long balls at rates that won’t keep him in the big leagues.
Outfielder Austin Overn, the club’s third-round pick in July, is a burner on the bases, a 70-grade center field glove, and his 21-game professional debut last summer went very well at the plate (.280/.398/.467). He’ll have to work on getting the bat on the ball more consistently, but he’s already reached High-A and his secondary value may be good enough to get him to the majors.
Outfielder Jordan Sanchez was the cherry on top in the 2023 international signing period for the Orioles, signing in the fall, and then raking this past summer in the DSL. Sanchez’s left-handed swing produced a ton of solid contact (.605 SLG) and rarely swung and missed. He’s already 19, but we’ll see his polished bat in Single-A in 2025 to test his physical tools and see if he can maintain his ability to put the ball in play while allowing his raw power to shine.
QUESTIONS
Yes, the Orioles possess a robust lineup with more bats coming in the next couple of ears. It’s an organization that could sustain the blow of losing a big bat or two in free agency or via trade. To this point, Baltimore has not moved impact talent in midsummer or winter deals. Does that need to change? The Orioles’ unwillingness to invest at the top of the draft may be catching up to them.
The case can be made Baltimore has its horse at the top of its rotation for 2025. Grayson Rodriguez is coming into his own as a big leaguer and should take a sizeable step forward next year. Beyond him, however, questions abound.
Zach Eflin will return in 2025 coming off a strong year where he posted a 3.54 ERA in 165.1 innings pitched. He’s a remarkably efficient starter who doesn’t walk hitters, though he doesn’t strike many out either. Eflin is a prototype No. 3 starter in the big leagues without the margin for error in terms of stuff many of his peers possess. Dean Kremer had a nice year in 2024 too, however, his walks can get streaky and he can fall victim to the long ball. Free agent signee Tomoyuki Sugano and Trevor Rogers will likely fill out the Orioles rotation in 2025.
Kyle Bradish isn’t expected back until the late summer months next year. The same can be said about Tyler Wells. John Means is out the door as a free agent.
All this is a long-winded way of asking where the Orioles will get impact innings in 2025. McDermott was acquired via trade in 2021 for Trey Mancini. Maybe he gets bulk innings this summer. He’s knocking on the door, however he’ll need to improve his strike-throwing to ever reach his mid-rotation ceiling. Nestor German should see Double-A in 2025. He tore through High-A in 2024.
Michael Forret should also get a good, long look from the club at Double-A this season. He’s likely still a year away as a 20-year-old, but he’s on the radar. Keep an eye on Brandon Young as well.
He’s still getting back to full strength recovering from Tommy John, but he’s flashed mid-90s stuff. He’s shown a better feel for commanding the baseball than some of the names above him here too.
| LEVEL | TEAM | W-L | TOP PROSPECT |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAA | Norfolk | 69-81 | Samuel Basallo, C/1B |
| AA | Bowie | 62-75 | Enrique Bradfield, CF |
| A+ | Aberdeen | 67-65 | Vance Honeycutt, OF |
| A | Delmarva | 53-78 | Keefer Morfe, RHP |
| R | Orioles | 23-36 | Joshua Liranzo, 3B |
| DSL | Orange | 38-18 | Stiven Martinez, OF |
| DSL | Black | 26-29 | Elvin Garcia, SS |
ADDITIONS & SUBTRACTIONS
In the spring, the O’s shuffled things up as most clubs do, including shipping SS Diego Castillo to the Minnesota Twins, and acquiring RHP Aneuris Rodriguez from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for RHP Garrett Stallings.
They swapped LHP Trey McGough for DH Eloy Jimenez at the deadline after selecting OF Vance Honeycutt (1), SS Griff O’Ferrall (PPI), C Ethan Anderson (2), Overn (3), RHP Allsup (4), and C Ryan Stafford (5) in the first five rounds of the 2024 MLB Draft.
GRADUATIONS
Colton Cowser, OF
Jackson Holliday, 2B
Cade Povich, LHP
Cowser was a top rookie of the year candidate, leading all AL rookies in fWAR (4.0), and homers (24). Holliday struggled to put the ball in play consistently, but he spent the entire year at age 20.
Povich flashed in 16 starts striking out six or more six times, but allowed 12 homers in under 80 frames and struggled with deep counts and the bases on balls.
BIG-LEAGUE RADAR
Basallo, C
Bradfield Jr., OF
McDermott, RHP
Beavers, OF
Jud Fabian, OF
Trace Bright, RHP
Patrick Reilly, RHP
Young, RHP
Creed Williams, C
Max Wagner, 3B
SCOUT SAYS
“Mike truly treats this like a ‘system,’ a living, breathing organism that must be fed, needs water, and is essential to the performance on the field in the big leagues. And as long as this group does that they will have talent riches most others cannot match. The question is how well will they develop without the opportunities to draft top 5 players, but those picks aren’t automatic, so I don’t expect their crops to dry up anytime soon.”
