55 replies to this topic

[BobPhelan]

ESPN has an article up about Kileys 101-200 prospects.
He has George at 114, EBJ at 135, Mejia at 139, Irish 157, De Leon 172, Bateman 195.

[Nigel Tufnel]

Law ranks the O's farm system at #9.

 

The Orioles’ system was on the downswing before 2025, the result of several trades to support the big-league team as they contended, but in the last 12 months they’ve had a banner draft, made several small trades for prospect depth, and seen several guys (Nate George, Dylan Beavers, Luis De León and Esteban Mejia) take big steps forward. They would be a bit higher had they not traded four prospects, including two they’d just drafted, for Shane Baz. It’s still a very hitter-heavy system, as the Orioles have drafted very little pitching with high draft picks under Mike Elias — although they did change course a bit and took two college arms with two second-round picks last year.

 

Ranking all 30 MLB farm systems, from the Brewers to the Padres - The Athletic

[BSLChrisStoner]

ESPN: O's Top 10
https://www.espn.com...-kiley-mcdaniel

 

1 Basallo

2 Gibson

3 Beavers

4 George

5 Bradfield

6 Mejia

7 Irish

8 De Leon

9 Bateman

10 German

[Nigel Tufnel]

Law's Top 20:

1. Basallo (8 overall)
2. Aloy (73)
3. George (78)
4. Irish (85)
5. Bradfield (97)
6. Beavers (just missed)
7. Mejia
8. DeLeon
9. Bateman
10. Gibson
11. Estrada
12. German
13. Wells
14. Dzierwa
15. Quinn
16. Bragg
17. Watts-Brown
18. Tess
19. Martinez
20. Yeaman

 

2026 impact

Basallo should be on the Opening Day roster in some capacity, maybe spelling Adley Rutschman twice a week behind the plate to try to keep Rutschman healthy and at his most productive. Beavers should be the Opening Day right fielder.

The fallen

Rather than naming a specific player, I’m going to do something a little different here, as the Orioles’ 2024 draft class couldn’t have gotten off to a worse start. First-rounder Vance Honeycutt, who I believe struck out more times in his draft year (83 while at UNC) than any first-round pick in history, went to High A and did it again, striking out 40.8 percent of the time, and making so little good contact that he hit just five home runs. I don’t think it’s mechanical, or just a matter of picking up spin; I think he doesn’t see the ball well at all, and he often swings as if he’s just guessing at everything. He remains an incredible defensive center fielder, and there is 70 raw power in there — I saw at least one of the home runs live — so there is some hope he can figure it out, but I can’t buy it.

Griff O’Ferrall hit .228/.322/.304 and is still trying to lift and pull everything when he should just try to put it in play. Ethan Anderson came on a little in the hitter-friendly Arizona Fall League, but he slugged .339 in the regular season, and I don’t think he can catch, which makes him a first baseman with power that would be bad for a shortstop. Austin Overn hit .249/.355/.399 and did steal 64 bases in 72 attempts, but he’s probably a left fielder and he does not take good at-bats. They went for one high schooler, going over-slot in the sixth round for infielder DJ Layton, and he hit .183/.366/.231 in the Florida Complex League with a 27 percent strikeout rate.

George and Tess were in that draft class, so the Orioles aren’t in any danger of a goose egg, and I have to emphasize that it is too early to just write all these guys off. I’m merely saying that it was a very bad year for that group as a whole, and at least some of these guys aren’t going to make it.

Sleeper

This was originally Wellington Aracena, but the Orioles traded him for a utility infielder between when I first wrote it and publication day.

Baltimore Orioles 2026 top 20 prospects: Samuel Basallo, Wehiwa Aloy lead the way - The Athletic

[BaltBird 24]

He does realize they traded Austin Overn too, right?

[Nigel Tufnel]

He does realize they traded Austin Overn too, right?

 

Yeah, somebody brought that up in the comments - he said his point was that almost everyone they drafted in 2024 had a disappointing season.

 

He also said in the comments that Aracena would have been #12 on his list.

[BaltBird 24]

New MLB Pipeline top 30 is out. Nothing too crazy different, but De Leon is now listed as our top pitching prospect. I agree with that.

[RichardZ]

New MLB Pipeline top 30 is out. Nothing too crazy different, but De Leon is now listed as our top pitching prospect. I agree with that.

Crossing my fingers that Luis De Leon and Esteban Mejia are blessed by the healthy arm gods.

[BSLChrisStoner]

New MLB Pipeline top 30 is out. Nothing too crazy different, but De Leon is now listed as our top pitching prospect. I agree with that.

 

• Here are the O's 2026 Top 30 prospects

[BSLChrisStoner]

• Orioles move up in farm system rankings

[BSLSteveBirrer]

So the 2024 #1 ranked MiL system dropped to 15th and has produced zero playoff wins. Good job Elias. LOL  Reality has settled in. In the latest rankings they are back up to  13th. That includes Bassalo and Beavers. I don't quite get how guys 'graduate' off the list  but come this summer gotta think we will fall some?

 

In any event this needs to be the year we see some results. This team is too good, at least on paper, to flounder like last year.

[RichardZ]

So the 2024 #1 ranked MiL system dropped to 15th and has produced zero playoff wins. Good job Elias. LOL  Reality has settled in. In the latest rankings they are back up to  13th. That includes Bassalo and Beavers. I don't quite get how guys 'graduate' off the list  but come this summer gotta think we will fall some?
 
In any event this needs to be the year we see some results. This team is too good, at least on paper, to flounder like last year.

Prospects graduate off the prospect list once they’ve exceeded the rookie eligibility limits which Beavers and Basallo will do in April (even though the are rookies because they were under the limit when the season began).

[BSLSteveBirrer]

Prospects graduate off the prospect list once they’ve exceeded the rookie eligibility limits which Beavers and Basallo will do in April (even though the are rookies because they were under the limit when the season began).

Thanks!

[BobPhelan]

45 days on the major league roster or 130 AB/50 IP, whichever happens first.

[BSLChrisStoner]

MASN: Biggest risers in MLB Pipeline’s new top 30 Orioles prospects

[BaltBird 24]

Nate George your new #1 according to Pipeline now that Basallo and Beavers have graduated.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Nate George your new #1 according to Pipeline now that Basallo and Beavers have graduated.

Meh

[BaltBird 24]

Meh

Very talent rich top 30, but no real elite level guys. Maybe George or someone like De Leon, Mejia, or even a Dzierwa can pop this year.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Yeah, its kinda who it has to be I guess. And Im not necessarily down on George, its just that hes so young and unproven. IM hoping that Dzierwa spring breakout performance was a sign of things to come. He could shoot up boards with a good year between A and AA. Curious how many innings they will have him throw. 

[BobPhelan]

Its Estrada for me.