3 things to pay attention to down in the Florida Complex League

This might be the best FCL Orioles team we've seen in a very long time

Written by: Nick Stevens

If you’re a fan of watching Baltimore Orioles minor league games, viewing options have been slowly improving. Norfolk’s broadcast has always been top notch, while Aberdeen and Delmarva now provide us with a center field camera view, and even the Dominican Summer League Orioles streamed one of their two games every day on YouTube (with fun data!).

Unfortunately, there’s still zero streaming of any kind down in the Florida Complex League. We’re left with video clips the players themselves post to their social media, box scores, and the occasional blurbs of notes/data provided by Baseball America pieces throughout the FCL season, but no actual stream of games.

The initial 2025 FCL Orioles roster is the most talented roster we’ve seen in many years and there are three distinct groups of prospects to pay attention to. Hopefully, many of these players are in Delmarva in the near future, but for now, when you’re checking out the FCL box scores, pay attention to these specific groups.

The freshmen class of international prospects

The 2024 international signing class is the most talented group signed by the Orioles since the Mike Elias regime took over (maybe 2025 takes the crown, but their careers haven’t started yet). This group put up fantastic numbers in the DSL last season and a notable group has made their way to Sarasota for their first season of pro ball in the States.

OF Stiven Martinez will play all season as a 17-year-old and is coming off a DSL season where he hit 4 HR with a 137 wRC+ at the age of 16. He’s going to strike out a healthy amount, but Martinez has immense raw power and he’s already being picked as someone who could potentially emerge as the top prospect in the system one day. Fellow OF Jordan Sanchez also brings impressive power to this lineup, hitting 21 extra-base hits (6 HR) with a 15% BB/20% K rate, and a 165 wRC+ last season in the DSL. Now 18, the Cuban-born prospect should be one of the first players promoted to Delmarva soon.

In the infield, switch-hitting SS Elvin Garcia has people wondering who he is after FanGraphs ranked him as the 5th best prospect in the system this season. Garcia hit 10 doubles, 5 triples, and 1 home run last season, with a 153 wRC+. At just 17 and listed at 165 pounds (I know these numbers are never accurate, but they are the closest for a player’s first season), Garcia was already hitting 102 mph on the EV meter. Catcher Adriander Mejia had 33 walks to 15 strikeouts in 50 games, while hitting .291 with an .811 OPS.

Also, SS Felix Amparo had a dreadful debut season in 2023 (.628 OPS, 40 K/7 BB in 187 at-bats), but put up a .313 average, .886 OPS, 6 HR, and a 16/13 K/BB in year two down in the DSL. He signed for just under $350,000 back in 2023.

On the mound, RHP Esteban Mejia (6’3”/18 years old) struck out 44 in 27 IP in the DSL last year. He was tagged last week by Baseball America as one of the top 10 prospects in the FCL to watch with his fastball that hits 98 mph, plus slider, and changeup. RHP Kevin Velasco (6’2”/19 years old) had a 1.13 ERA with 52 K/10 BB in 40 DSL innings and RHP Adrian Heredia (6’1”/20 years old) had a 1.83 ERA with 56 K/18 BB in 44.1 DSL innings. And LHP Andy Fabian (6’4”/210/22 years old) was an older signing back in December 2023, but he struck out 45 in 37 IP and showed a polished pitch mix that should get him up through the system quickly if it clicks for him this season.

FCL repeaters with big ceilings

Lists of top Orioles prospects are full of international prospects, but outside of Samuel Basallo, the top dollar international prospects are missing. SS Maikol Hernandez ($1.2 million) has done nothing since signing in 2020, OF Braylin Tavera ($1.7 million) hasn’t done more much, and SS Luis Almeyda ($2.3 million) has been hit with injury after injury since joining the organization.

Almeyda is back in the FCL to begin 2025 after an ankle injury and issues with both shoulders have limited him to just over 200 at-bats through two seasons. He ended last season with the strongest month of his very young career: .855 OPS, 2 HR, 15 BB in 21 games. When healthy, Almeyda has plus-power potential and should remain on the left side of the infield. Still just 19, a strong start and a healthy year could have him back on track.

IF Joshua Liranzo hit 5 HR in the DSL two years ago as a 16-year-old, but an injury delayed his 2024 season, which never got off the ground. He’s fully healthy again and back in Sarasota where the power is the carrying tool. A second year breakout from at least one of these two infielders would be a big win.

On the pitching side, if the pattern continues for RHP Jesus Palacios, 2025 is going to be a huge year. The 6’2” Venezuelan arm had a rough debut in the DSL in 2022, a fantastic DSL All-Star season in 2023 (1.95 ERA, 60 K/13 BB, 50.2 IP), and then a rough 2024 in the FCL. He kicked off his 2025 FCL season on Saturday with a 4 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K Opening Day performance.

The rest of the 2024 draft class

A handful of 2024 draft picks are showing early signs of success at various levels of the organization (RHP Cohen Achen is already pitching very well in Double-A). How many more will join the full-season ranks?

OF Nate George (16th round) homered in his pro debut on Saturday (video below courtesy of his agent, Hudson Belinksy). Word from Sarasota is that George has been a huge standout throughout extended spring training. We’ll also get to learn a bit more about OF Braylon Whitaker (19th round), who we probably know the least about coming into the season.

SS DJ Layton (6th round) introduced himself in the Spring Breakout game during spring training and is looking to make a bigger name for himself in year one. He was a top 30 prospect over at MLB Pipeline before the 2025 international signing class was added, but he’s not on Fangraphs top 50, so opinions are very mixed. Lastly on the hitting side, catcher Andrew Tess (12th round) has real pop in his bat and will look to join an extremely long list of intriguing catching prospects in the organization. Four high school picks in one class was a little shocking to see last year, but I’m not complaining.

RHP Iziah Salinas (20th round), RHP Christian Rodriguez (10th round), and RHP Brandon Downer (13th round) are all starting on the injured list, but RHP Jack Crowder (9th round) is beginning the year healthy. He was a workhorse for Illinois last season, showing a three-pitch mix with a fastball that topped out at 95 mph.

Ideally, a handful of these prospects can get to Delmarva quickly. Not only could that roster use some serious help, but the continued growth and development of international prospects specifically is much needed.