Here's where the Orioles’ Top 30 prospects are starting the season
With the Minor League season opening this week, here's where the Orioles’ Top 30 prospects are projected to start:
1. Jackson Holliday (MLB No. 1), SS -- Norfolk (Triple-A)
2. Samuel Basallo (MLB No. 17), C -- Bowie (Double-A)
3. Coby Mayo (MLB No. 29), 3B -- Norfolk (Triple-A)
4. Heston Kjerstad (MLB No. 31), OF -- Norfolk (Triple-A)
5. Enrique Bradfield Jr., OF -- Aberdeen (High-A)
6. Connor Norby, 2B -- Norfolk (Triple-A)
7. Dylan Beavers, OF -- Bowie (Double-A)
8. Chayce McDermott, RHP -- Norfolk (Triple-A)
9. Cade Povich, LHP -- Norfolk (Triple-A)
10. Seth Johnson, RHP -- Bowie (Double-A)
11. Mac Horvath, 3B -- Aberdeen (High-A)
12. Jud Fabian, OF -- Bowie (Double-A)
13. Braylin Tavera, OF -- Delmarva (Single-A)
14. Max Wagner, 3B -- Injured
15. Leandro Arias, INF -- Delmarva (Single-A)
16. Trace Bright, RHP -- Bowie (Double-A)
17. Luis De Leon, LHP -- Delmarva (Single-A)
18. Jackson Baumeister, RHP -- Aberdeen (High-A)
19. Luis Almeyda, SS -- Extended spring training
20. Justin Armbruester, RHP -- Norfolk (Triple-A)
21. Joshua Liranzo, 3B -- Extended spring training
22. Thomas Sosa, OF -- Delmarva (Single-A)
23. John Rhodes, OF -- Bowie (Double-A)
24. Alex Pham, RHP -- Bowie (Double-A)
25. Hudson Haskin, OF -- Norfolk (Triple-A) -- Injured (hip)
26. Juan Nuñez, RHP -- Aberdeen (High-A)
27. Frederick Bencosme, SS -- Bowie (Double-A)
28. Carter Baumler, RHP -- Aberdeen (High-A)
29. Creed Willems, C -- Aberdeen (High-A)
30. Billy Cook, OF/2B -- Norfolk (Triple-A)
Team to watch
How can you not want to watch the Norfolk Tides in action, especially if you like offense? The Tides reached double digits in the runs department in three of their first four games, averaging 9.75 runs per game overall. Check them out soon, because who knows how long Jackson Holliday will be there, but baseball's top prospect along with fellow Top 100 guys Coby Mayo and Heston Kjerstad, not to mention O’s No. 6 prospect Connor Norby, are must-see TV these days.
Players we could see in 2024
See the aforementioned note about Norfolk. It’s crowded in the big leagues, but it’s hard not to envision at least a portion of the season with Holliday in the Major League lineup every day. Mayo and Kjerstad should get opportunities as well, based on need in Baltimore.
New faces
Three members of the 2023 Draft class are embarking on their first full seasons, led by Bradfield, the club’s first-round pick, whose speed could help him race up the organizational ladder. Horvath and Baumeister are the other two from the Draft, they're also college guys starting the year in High-A Aberdeen with Bradfield.
On the shelf
Haskin had a left hip impingement that required surgery last summer. The recovery left him a little behind the curve to be ready for Opening Day, but there’s a good chance he’ll be on a Minor League rehab assignment soon and eventually join that stacked lineup in Norfolk.