Prospects you'll want to watch in each level of the O's system

BALTIMORE -- The defending American League East champion Orioles are set up to have more success this season because they have a roster loaded with talent. But at some point, they may need to tap into their stacked farm system -- one that still ranks as the best in baseball and has quite a few top prospects waiting for their opportunities.

“Just because we have 26 guys that are here right now doesn’t mean that this is the same 26 that’s going to be here a month from now or two months from now or the second half or starting playoff games or starting games that matter in September,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “Fortunately for us, our Triple-A players are not as much veteran-type depth pieces but young players that are really talented and performing in Triple-A, too.

“We feel good about where we are organizationally, especially in the upper levels.”

Let’s dive deeper into Baltimore’s farm system with the 2024 Triple-A campaign underway and the other full-season affiliates set to begin play later this week.

Triple-A Norfolk

Player to watch: INF Jackson Holliday (Orioles No. 1 prospect, MLB No. 1)
Holliday may not be in the Minors for much longer -- he’s knocking loudly on the big league door -- but the 20-year-old infielder will be a must-watch player every game until then. MLB Pipeline’s No. 1 overall prospect is off to a hot start, hitting a leadoff homer in two of his first four games.

Pitcher to watch: RHP Chayce McDermott (No. 8)
The top pitching prospect in Baltimore’s farm system, McDermott reached Triple-A for the first time last year and impressed, recording a 2.49 ERA in 10 outings (eight starts). The 25-year-old had a strong spring, then tossed 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball in his season debut vs. Durham last Friday.

Other top prospects: INF Coby Mayo (Orioles No. 3, MLB No. 29), OF Heston Kjerstad (Orioles No. 4, MLB No. 31), INF/OF Connor Norby (Orioles No. 6), LHP Cade Povich (No. 9), RHP Justin Armbruester (No. 20), OF Hudson Haskin (No. 25).

Double-A Bowie
Opening Day: Friday vs. Reading, 7:05 p.m. ET

Player to watch: C Samuel Basallo (Orioles No. 2, MLB No. 17)
Basallo had a big year in 2023, hitting .313 with 20 homers and a .953 OPS across three levels (Single-A Delmarva, High-A Aberdeen and Double-A Bowie). The 19-year-old returns to the Baysox after playing only four games for them last season, although he isn’t expected to catch in games until late April while recovering from a right elbow stress fracture.

Pitcher to watch: RHP Seth Johnson (No. 10)
Johnson pitched only 10 1/3 innings last year upon his return from Tommy John surgery. The 25-year-old was a Spring Training standout who has electric stuff and a high ceiling.

Other top prospects: OF Dylan Beavers (No. 7), OF Jud Fabian (No. 12), INF Max Wagner (No. 14), RHP Trace Bright (No. 16), OF John Rhodes (No. 23), RHP Alex Pham (No. 24), INF Frederick Bencosme (No. 27), OF/2B Billy Cook (No. 30).

High-A Aberdeen
Opening Day: Friday at Jersey Shore, 6:35 p.m. ET

Player to watch: OF Enrique Bradfield Jr. (No. 5)
No player in the Orioles’ farm system is faster than the 22-year-old Bradfield, who has 80-grade speed and plays exceptional defense in center field. The 2023 first-round Draft pick went 25-for-27 on steal attempts over 25 games last year -- three in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League, 17 for Single-A Delmarva and five for High-A Aberdeen.

Pitcher to watch: RHP Jackson Baumeister (No. 18)
Baumeister was selected with the No. 63 overall pick in Competitive Balance Round B last year, making him the first pitcher taken by Baltimore on the first day of the Draft since Mike Elias became general manager in November 2018. The 21-year-old righty hasn’t yet made his professional debut.

Other top prospects: INF Mac Horvath (No. 11), RHP Juan Nuñez (No. 26), RHP Carter Baumler (No. 28), C Creed Willems (No. 29).

Single-A Delmarva
Opening Day: Friday at Fredericksburg, 7:05 p.m. ET

Player to watch: OF Braylin Tavera (No. 13)
A 19-year-old out of the Dominican Republic, Tavera signed with the Orioles in January 2022. He made his stateside debut last year, slashing .262/.391/.421 over 35 games in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League.

Pitcher to watch: LHP Luis De León (No. 17)
Since signing out of the Dominican Republic in December 2021, De León has quickly pitched his way up to affiliate ball. The 20-year-old southpaw was dominant in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League last year (a 1.65 ERA in six starts), then reached Single-A Delmarva, where he recorded a 2.39 ERA in nine games (five starts).

Other top prospects: INF Leandro Arias (No. 15), OF Thomas Sosa (No. 22).