SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- MLB Pipeline has ranked the Orioles' farm system as MLB's best each of the past three seasons. The development of those top prospects has been key to Baltimore's return to the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

The success for the Orioles is evident in the Minors as well, as Triple-A Norfolk won the Triple-A National Championship on Saturday, and there is still more talent yet to come. Down at Salt River Field on the second day of Arizona Fall League action Tuesday, three Orioles prospects outside of the team's Top 30 list carried the Solar Sox to an 8-1 victory over the Rafters.

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First baseman TT Bowens laid the foundation for Mesa's offensive eruption. In the first inning, Bowens crushed a towering two-run homer to left field give the Solar Sox their initial lead, but that was just the beginning of the night for the 25-year-old. He flexed his muscles again in the sixth when he slugged a 432-foot solo home run to center. Both left his bat in excess of 100 mph.

"It's just about preparation and working to get a good pitch and taking advantage of it," said Bowens, who had never hit two homers in a game before as a professional. "It's not an easy thing to do, but tonight it just went my way."

Bowens has gone 4-for-8 with four RBIs through two AFL games. The slugger signed with the Orioles as a nondrafted free agent in 2020 out of Central Connecticut State. He dealt with a hamate bone injury in 2022 that sidelined him but said he made a great recovery -- and added that playing in the AFL will allow him to make up for lost time.

"Missing half a season with an injury is never what you want to do," Bowens said. "Just being able to play every day, get good at-bats, get comfortable. [Just have to] stay consistent and strong."

Peter Van Loon made his AFL debut on the mound and delivered 3 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out four and allowing just one hit. The 24-year-old isn't a flamethrower, as his fastest pitch topped out at 93.7 mph, but his breaking pitches were successful. All four of his punchouts were swinging strikeouts that came on breaking pitches.

Van Loon said the luxury of playing with Orioles catching prospect Connor Pavolony and Double-A Bowie pitching coach Forrest Herrmann enabled him to ease in and dominate.

"It's just about getting back to the basics," Van Loon said. "Just getting ahead of guys. It's always good to start with a clean slate out here."

Pavolony, like Bowens, dealt with a hamate bone injury that limited him to just 27 games this season and caused him to lose feeling in his hand. He considers playing in the AFL a way to showcase his talent, which was on display in the second when he hit a solo home run. He added a walk in the fifth and a single in the ninth.

"I really just want to get at-bats," Pavolony said. "I had an unfortunate stretch of injuries this year and I really want to prove to myself that I can compete with the best of them because that's what [AFL] is. It's the best of the best."

After falling to the Saguaros on Monday, the Solar Sox earned their first win with a combination of excellent hitting and dominant pitching. Five batters recorded two or more hits. James Triantos (CHC No. 9) finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two walks. Ben Cowles (Yankees) also had a three-hit game with two RBIs. Carter Baumler (BAL No. 22) struck out seven in three innings.