Top 50 Baltimore Orioles prospects- 2025 season.

Our initial top 50 list for the 2025 season.

Written by: Nick Stevens

We’ve been discussing these prospects one-by-one with individual episodes, going into much greater detail on each player the last few weeks, but with that fun exercise now complete, we present our first top 50 Orioles prospects list for the 2025 season.

As a reminder, the three of us here at On The Verge submit our own individual top 50 lists and then they are combined to form our final list. We make updates to this list at the beginning of each month and post those updates, with a full bonus episode breaking down why we made any updates, exclusively to Patreon during the first week of each month once the season gets going.

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2025 Top 50 Orioles Prospects

1) Samuel Basallo: C/LHH/20 years old

6’4”/180 pounds

Ok, his listed measurements are obviously wrong. Basallo is a massive human with an even bigger personality and even bigger hunger to be one of the elite players in the game. At 19 years of age, Basallo hit 16 home runs in Double-A, with a 134 wRC+ and sub 20% strikeout rate, earning himself a promotion to Triple-A before his 20th birthday. His approach to each at-bat is methodical and it’s safe to say he’s just beginning to scratch the surface of his potential. Early spring reports have raved about his defensive improvements, but even if he moves to first base (where he’s a plus defender with unexpected athleticism for those who haven’t watched him before), the bat could potentially play anywhere. Basallo projects to hit for average and power at the next level and is coming off a season where he posted a 50% hard-hit rate. He won’t turn 21 until mid-August, when he could be pushing for a big league debut. Regardless if it’s in 2025 or 2026, the Orioles have every intention of Basallo being a staple in the major league lineup at some point and he will surely become a fan favorite if he can continue his development and reach that potential.

2) Coby Mayo: 3B/RHH/23 years old

6’5”/230 pounds

Mayo’s power is undeniable, having launched 35 home runs in 151 career Triple-A games, but what was just as impressive in 2024 was the way in which he attacked both lefties and righties and dominated the strikezone. I’d encourage you to read the complete breakdown over at Baseball America. Unfortunately, his development at the plate and eye-popping numbers, especially given his age and level, were overshadowed by a rough major league debut. The book on prospects is bigger than ever when they reach the big leagues and we’ve seen top prospects reach the big leagues and struggle mightily before hitting the reset button and finding success in their second chance. There’s little reason to believe Mayo can’t follow that path. How and where he cracks a crowded Orioles lineup is TBD, but if he forces the issue, the Orioles will have a very pleasant problem on their hands.

3) Enrique Bradfield Jr: OF/LHH/23 years old

6’1”/170 pounds

The only prospect in baseball with two 80-grade tools according to Baseball America (speed and defense), Bradfield’s first pro season saw him steal 74 bags while showing an improved bat as the season progressed. He’s already shown improvements in the groundball rate as his quality of contact notably improved, ending the season in Double-A where he walked more than he struck out and hit .287 with a 133 wRC+ in 120 plate appearances. The 86.5% contact rate and 5.3% swinging strike rate were impressive. Bradfield could impact a major league game today with truly elite defense and speed, but after what he showed in the second of 2024, it’s hard not to be excited about his overall profile and what the Orioles can help bring out of the bat.

4) Vance Honeycutt: OF/RHH/21 years old

6’3”/205 pounds

The Orioles grabbed Honeycutt with the 22nd overall pick in last year’s draft after the decorated UNC centerfielder fell down the board due to major questions about his hit tool. His speed, defense, and outfield arm all grade out as 60-70 grade tools, and his power is just a tick behind (65 HR in three seasons at UNC). It’s a similar story to that of fellow top prospect, Jud Fabian. Honeycutt saw just 13 games in the pros after being drafted, but the swing and miss and low contact rate concerns showed up. He’s high on this list, and every other Orioles list, due to his immense ceiling, but the hit tool concerns are very real. We’ll see what a full offseason and spring camp of work can lead to in 2025, his first real taste of pro ball.

5) Chayce McDermott: RHP/26 years old

6’3”/197 pounds

McDermott made his MLB debut last season, but then missed two months due to an injury and will start 2025 behind in spring camp due to another injury. But don’t let that dampen any excitement about his potential impact. He had a 33% strikeout rate last season and was one of the pitchers impacted the most by the automated ball-strike system implemented in Triple-A, meaning yes the walk rate is higher than you want to see, but it may not be as dire as the final number suggests. When he’s in the zone, McDermott’s stuff can handle a major league rotation spot. With five offerings, plus extension, and arguably the best stuff in the system, McDermott should make a notable impact in the majors this season.

6) Jud Fabian: OF/RHH/24 years old

6’1”/195 pounds

Fabian’s power had teammates in Triple-A who hadn’t played with him before in awe, his center field defense is future big league CF quality, and the arm is not only strong, but it’s also accurate. And while the stolen bases were down in 2024, Fabian is a constant threat on the basepaths. He has all the makings of a major leaguer. The big red flag is well known- the swing and miss. His 32.4% strikeout rate and 16% swinging-strike rate were both at or near the top of the org leaderboard. It will be the key thing to watch as he returns to Norfolk in 2025.

7) Dylan Beavers: OF/LHH/23 years old

6’4”/206 pounds

The 33rd overall pick in the 2022 draft, Beavers has been through extensive swing adjustments which have led to him Triple-A. His immense raw power started to shine in games to start 2024, but it tapered off as the season went on. He ended up with 15 home runs last season, all against right-handed pitching. Beavers has maintained impressive walk rates throughout his career, along with low swing and miss rates. He was also a stolen base threat in Double-A, going 31-34 in SB attempts. A corner outfielder with a strong arm, refining his routes and arm accuracy, while putting together the pieces at the plate that have started to morph into form, could lead to a big season for Beavers, who is Rule 5 eligible this offseason.

8) Michael Forret: RHP/20 years old

6’3”/190 pounds

A 14th round JUCO pick of the Orioles back in 2023, Forret overhauled his repertoire, adding a kick-change and a deathball, cleaned up his mechanics, and added 4 mph to his fastball (T97 mph). He also added significant weight to his slim frame. He spent most of his first pro season in High-A, striking out 28% of batters faced with one of the more advanced pitch mixes in the organization. Forret turns 21 in April and could begin the year in Double-A. The noise surrounding Forret coming from the organization is loud. Listen to it.

9) Brandon Young: RHP/26 years old

6’6”/210 pounds

An undrafted free agent signing out of UL-Lafeyette back in 2020 (his college pitching coach was former Orioles closer BJ Ryan), Young burst onto the scene in 2021, but would miss most of the 2022 and 2023 recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. He returned in 2024 with more velo and the best control/command he’s shown to date. He’s more than just a beautiful head of hair, possessing a big league quality fastball and at least three average to above-average secondaries which he’s showcased an ability to pound the zone with and produce big swing and miss. Young was added to the 40-man roster ahead of the Rule 5 draft, setting himself up to make his big league debut in 2025. He also kicked off spring training sitting 95 mph in his first outing. That will do.

10) Nestor German: RHP/22 years old

6’3”/225 pounds

With a large handful of above-average or better offerings, German dominated his first full pro season by striking out 31.4% of batters faced, walking just 5.9%, and posting a combined 1.59 ERA (2.17 FIP) across 73 innings between Low-A/High-A. He missed a month due to an injury but saw his velo take a jump forward across the board. According to Baseball America, German had five different pitches all rank in the 85th percentile or better in whiff rate. Jon Meoli of the Baltimore Banner had an interesting note earlier this offseason of a scout telling him that German was a Yankees prospect, he’d be in the conversation for top 100 overall status. If he builds on 2024, he will no doubt at least be in the mix.

11) Keeler Morfe: RHP/18 years old

5’8”/161 pounds

Morfe was put on the radar after watching one of his early outings in the Dominican Summer League last year. He was touching 100 mph and pounding the strikezone as he dominated the opposing lineup. Soon after, the Orioles promoted the 18-year-old arm straight to Delmarva, believing the FCL wasn’t going to be a challenge for him. It was an unprecedented type of promotion in this system. His first Low-A outing: 3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K. He has three plus offerings, is adding a fourth pitch for 2025, is extremely athletic, and has one of the more refined and poised deliveries in the lower minors of the system. Despite his size, the Orioles think he can handle a starter’s workload, making him a must-watch arm this season.

12) Patrick Reilly: RHP/23 years old

6’3”/208 pounds

Trading minor league IF/OF Billy Cook for Reilly was a 2024 trade deadline move that didn’t get nearly as much attention as it should have (understanding that prospect for prospect deals by a contending team don’t move the needle immediately). Reilly brings a plus fastball that touches 100 mph and plethora of above-average offerings. He struck out 30% of batters he faced in his first full pro season and moved to Double-A immediately after joining Baltimore. The Orioles are helping to revamp his repertoire, so a full offseason of working with O’s pitching development could lead to a breakout 2025 campaign. Walks are an issue, but Reilly’s powerful fastball could lead him to a bullpen role if he’s unable to significantly fix this issue.

13) Luis De Leon: LHP/21 years old

6’3”/168 pounds

Signed for just $30,000 out of the Dominican Republic, De Leon didn’t take the step forward in 2024 that many anticipated, but he remains one of the more intriguing arms in the system. He started 2024 back in Low-A and devoured hitters, but was challenged in High-A. De Leon can run it up to 97 mph from the left side and has multiple effective secondary offerings, but control was a major issue throughout the year. He will continue to work as a starter, but De Leon could find a home in the bullpen eventually with his elite groundball numbers and big league stuff.

14) Griff O’Ferrall: SS/RHH/22 years old

6’1”/195 pounds

One of the more prolific hitters to come out of Virginia, O’Ferrall brings a high floor to the organization and one of the better hit tools in the system. There’s very little power in his game, but his bat-to-ball skills and swing decisions are top notch. What he lacks in speed and in elite defensive tools, he makes up for with off the charts baseball IQ and being fundamentally sound across the board. It’s hard to see a high ceiling, but O’Ferrall could end 2025 in Triple-A and be in the majors in 2026 as a utility player if all goes right.

15) Trey Gibson: RHP/22 years old

6’5”/240 pounds

The Orioles signed Gibson in 2023 as an undrafted free agent after he didn’t pitch in 2023 at Liberty (non-injury related) and posted an ERA over 10 in the Cape Cod League, with massive walk numbers. Stuff matters. Gibson’s pro debut featured a 30% strikeout rate across 92 innings with a 2.99 FIP and 59% groundball rate, splitting the year between Low and High-A. The focus in 2024 was about building him up after missing a full year. Check. Gibson now averages 95 mph and touches 99 mph. Both his slider and curve had whiff rates north of 40%. He has also more than 7 feet of extension.

16) Cameron Weston: RHP/24 years old

6’2”/215 pounds

A former 8th round pick out of Michigan, Weston’s first full, healthy year was dominant. In 92 Double-A innings, Weston struck out more than 28% of batters faced, walked 6%, and posted a 3.41 ERA with a .205 average against. He has a deep mix, led by a 92-94 mph fastball, with well above-average control and a bit of funk/deception with his delivery and low slot release. Weston has the stuff to be a back-end starter in the big leagues and the swing and miss/high groundball ability to work effectively out of a big league bullpen. He’s Rule 5 eligible this offseason and should spend a major chunk of 2025 in Triple-A. If it goes well, he could be on the 40-man before the end of the year.

17) Aron Estrada: IF/Switch-hitter/20 years old

5’8”/142 pounds

Estrada may be small in stature, but the Venezuelan infielder showcased serious pop in 2024, belting a total of 9 home runs after hitting just 4 in his first two years in the organization. 8 of those shots came in Delmarva, a brutal hitting environment. After posting a 133 wRC+ in Low-A, Estrada was a league-average bat in High-A as a 19-year old, while he increased the walk rate and lowered the K rate to 13%. Smaller sample size, but his contact-rate in High-A was also a career-high at nearly 80%. Like Leandro Arias two spots behind him, it’s a solid floor with speed, some sneaky pop, and a strong ability to get on base.

18) Creed Willems: Catcher/LHH/21 years old

5’11”/225 pounds

After addressing his vision and conditioning, Willems had a bit of a breakout in 2024, reaching Double-A for the final few weeks of the year. He slashed his strikeout rate from 27% to 20% and maintained solid walk numbers while flexing 17 home runs for the second-straight season. Understanding that the Arizona Fall League is a hitter’s paradise, Willems posted impressive batted ball data in the AFL as he made up for some missed time in 2024. He’s made significant strides in his development year over year and now faces his biggest test yet as he gets his first full taste of Double-A while being Rule 5 eligible after the season.

19) Leandro Arias: IF/Switch-hitter/20 years old

6’1”/155 pounds

Arias was not only one of the youngest players in Low-A last season, he missed a big chunk of time due to an injury. Yet he was still promoted to High-A to close out the year where he flashed the above-average hit tool as a 19-year old in 20 games. He hits the ball hard with solid contact rates and low swing and miss rates. Defensively he can stick at SS or move over and be an above-average second baseman. The ceiling may not be as high as many of his peers in recent international signing classes, but he does possess one of the higher floors.

20) Trace Bright: RHP/24 years old

6’4”/199 pounds

Bright started living in the zone more to begin the 2024 season in Double-A and while it resulted in fewer strikeouts and more base hits allowed, the walks also started ticking down. Unfortunately, the walk issue crept back up in the second half of the season. Overall, the stuff ticked up again and Bright remains an intriguing prospect with back-end starter upside and even more intriguing as a potential bullpen weapon. He sits 94-95 mph with plus extension and significant swing and miss at the top of the zone, along with a 3,000 rpm curveball as his primary weapons. It’s quality stuff, but to remain on a starter’s track, there will need to be improvements in the walk department.

21) Ethan Anderson: C/OF/Switch-hitter/21 years old

6’2”/215 pounds

A second round pick of the Orioles in the 2024 just after his teammate Griff O’Ferrall, Anderson showcased some of the better swing-decisions and contact numbers among his peers immediately after beginning his pro career last year. He will tap into his fair share of home runs, but it’s his impressive swing-decisions and on-base ability that really stand out. The biggest question is his defense. Kyle Teel blocked him from being the feature backstop at UVA for a lot of his career there, but with so many high quality backstops in the organization, and the fact that Anderson will play all year as a 21-year-old, he should get a significant runway to work on his defensive abilities behind the plate in High-A this season.

22) Edgar Portes: RHP/22 years old

6’2”/165 pounds

Portes spent some time last offseason training with Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez and then proceeded to have a career year in High-A (trained with him again this winter). The 21-year-old struck out 29% of batters he faced with a 3.34 ERA across 94 IP. The fastball sits 92-93 mph but gets a lot of swing and miss up in the zone. His slider is what stands out above all else, easily one of the more dominant secondary offerings in the system. He also has one of the more aesthetically pleasing deliveries in the system that’s controlled and repeatable without much effort. He has starter traits, but walk issues continue to haunt him and every additional tick you can get out of his fastball would certainly help. He was also Rule 5 eligible back in December so 2025 could be a very interesting year for Portes.

23) Jordan Sanchez: OF/LHH/19 years old

6’1”/176 pounds

Signed late in 2023 out of Cuba, the Orioles were able to sign Sanchez at a big discount, continuing their recent trend of being aggressive on Cuban prospects who become available late in the signing process. Sanchez posted a 166 wRC+ in his first DSL season, posting a max EV of 108 mph. The 15% BB rate and 20% K rate were also very impressive. He should spend a big chunk of the year in Delmarva where we’ll see how much the power and hit tools have developed. Both figure to be above-average tools at the next level.

24) Austin Overn: OF/LHH/21 years old

6’0”/175 pounds

An electric outfielder and hitter at Southern California, Overn was a draft-eligible sophomore, over-slot 3rd round pick of the Orioles in 2024 and immediately started showcasing his speed, athleticism, and ability to crank out extra-base hits. Overn brings 70 grade fielding and 70 grade defense. It’s Enrique Bradfield tier speed and defense with an above-average hit tool and what may emerge as average to slightly above-average power. With so much big name outfield depth in the system, Overn may be one of the more overlooked prospects in the organization.

25) Thomas Sosa: OF/LHH/20 years old

6’3”/220 pounds

First things first, he’s listed at 160 on his player page, but Sosa is up to 220 pounds now. Signing for $400,000 as part of the 2022 IFA class, Sosa reached High-A at the age of 19 last season, putting up pedestrian baseball card stats, but massive batted ball data while flashing some of his elite tools. Sosa possesses both speed and power from the left side, swiping 30 bags last season and hitting just 4 home runs, but putting up a 90th percentile exit velo of 107 mph and had multiple base hits north of 110 mph. It’s plus power with a plus outfield arm and above-average speed. He was still incredibly raw last year when you watch him play. 2025 could be a breakout year for Sosa if things start to click. Many of the individual pieces are some of the more explosive pieces in the system.

26) Alex Pham: RHP/25 years old

5’11”/165 pounds

A 19th round pick out of San Francisco who signed for $25,000 and made just seven starts in his college career, Pham has found himself firmly among the top 30 prospects in the Orioles system and is now just one step away from the majors. Pham’s rough start in 2024 might have been due to some tinkering, because it’s hard to find an arm in the system who had a better second half of the season: 59 IP, 2.59 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 61 K. It’s a kitchen sink approach that relies on changing speeds/eye levels/pitch mix and throwing strikes that leads to Pham’s success, but the fastball can get up to 95 mph with good swing and miss. Rule 5 eligible back in December, Pham will be fighting for a roster spot this season, or could end up being moved in a deal.

27) Stiven Martinez: OF/RHH/17 years old

6’4”/198 pounds

This may be the lowest you see Martinez on a list, but that’s our conservative nature to keep international prospects lower until we have more concrete data and/or have been able to watch these players with our own eyes. I recently predicted that Martinez ends the year as a top 10 prospect, others have recently predicted Martinez possibly becoming the top overall prospect in the system. He was the youngest player signed in the 2024 international class, boasts double-plus raw power from a massive 6’4” frame, and he quickly started tapping into that raw power as a 16 year old in the DSL, popping 4 home runs with a 137 wRC+ in 41 games. Strikeouts will always be there and he’s going to be limited in the corners, but he has a big arm and projects to be a middle-of-the-order thumper if all goes as planned.

28) Zach Fruit: RHP/24 years old

6’4”/212 pounds

Fruit was a 9th round senior sign in 2023 who received a small signing bonus of $40,000, but he put up big numbers in his first pro season in High-A. Posting a 25% strikeout rate, Fruit topped 100 mph last season, revamped the repertoire a bit, including a new changeup the Orioles worked with him to create, and showcased some of the best Stuff+ numbers in the minors. He’s an older prospect with fringy command, but he has the stuff to keep his floor fairly sturdy as a possible bullpen weapon down the road. The ceiling is back-end starter. His 2025 Double-A performance will tell us more.

29) Frederick Bencosme: SS/LHH/22 years old

6’0”/160 pounds

Reaching Double-A at 21 and playing the entire 2024 season there, Bencosme showed notable improvements defensively at SS (a handful of errors credited to him were not errors. Source: my eyes). He hit a career-high 8 home runs but the exit velos weren’t very impressive on many of them and the increased power led to fewer walks and more strikeouts. Overall, it was a below-average year offensively with a wRC+ of 94 (.240 average). His hit tool, athleticism, and defensive versatility could still lead him to a big league utility role. He will spend the entire season as a 22 year old and is Rule 5 eligible this offseason.

30) Elvin Garcia: SS/Switch-hitter/18 years old

6’2”/165 pounds

Garcia had a fantastic DSL debut last year after signing for $500,000 in the 2024 international class. Through 36 games, he posted a 154 wRC+, walked more than he struck out, collected 16 extra-base hits, and added 12 stolen bags while being caught just once. Ranked as the 13th best prospect in the DSL in 2024 by Baseball America, reports love the bat speed and plus arm strength. We could get a first-hand look at Garcia with Delmarva at some point in 2025.

31) Emilio Sanchez: SS/LHH/17 years old

6’1”/180 pounds

Signed last year at the age of 16 for $1.3 million, Sanchez hit just .212 in his first DSL season, but walked more than he struck out (23.6% BB rate) and was 29-31 in stolen base attempts. It’s a potential plus-hit tool with above-average power potential. An incredibly young prospect with a long ways to go developmentally, and a lot of physical growing to go, we’ll see if he can start showing more with the bat in year two, possibly back in the DSL to begin the year.

32) Joshua Liranzo: 3B/RHH/18 years old

6’3”/180 pounds

One of the youngest players in the entire 2023 international signing class (not just among the Orioles’ class), Liranzo struggled in his DSL debut, until the final month of the season where he popped three home runs and OPS’d over 1.000 (5 HR total in his first season at 16). An injury delayed his FCL season which was never able to get going. He will play nearly the entire 2025 season as an 18-year-old and boasts some of the biggest EVs and raw power among his class. Hopefully, his promise starts to shine through in 2025.

33) Tavian Josenberger: 2B/CF/Switch-hitter/23 years old

5’11”/185 pounds

A switch-hitting speedster with budding power, Josenberger hit 9 HR and stole 45 bags in 79 games at the High-A level before being promoted to Double-A to close out the year (an injury limited his AA playing time). He can play on the dirt and in centerfield, walks at a very high clip, and has very little swing and miss in his game.

34) Reed Trimble: OF/Switch-hitter/24 years old

6’0”/180 pounds

Referred to at one point as a “tooly stick of dynamite”, Trimble has been prominently featured on Orioles top prospects lists in the past, but multiple major injuries have held him to just 136 games since being drafted 65th overall in the 2021 draft. Finally cracking 200 plate appearances in a single season, Trimble posted a 133 wRC+ in 49 High-A games last season, flashing the power, speed, and plate awareness that once made him a promising prospect. Unfortunately, the injury bug bit again right after he was promoted to Double-A. Fun fact, he’s a perfect 40-40 in stolen bases in his pro career. A full and healthy 2025 is a must.

35) Chase Allsup: RHP/21 years old

6’2”/235 pounds

A 4th round pick out Auburn last year, Allsup will make his pro debut in 2025. The fastball averages 95 mph and touches 100 with plus induced vertical break and his upper-80s slider earns high praise. With a full toolbelt featuring a plethora of pitch shapes, Allsup is a healthy ball of clay ready to be molded by this Orioles pitching development program. It’s rotation upside with the FB/SL combo to potentially find a home in a major league bullpen.

36) Elis Cuevas: OF/LHH/20 years old

5’11”/150 pounds

Despite his short stature, Cuevas can pack a big punch with the bat, breaking out 8 home runs in 2024 between the FCL and Delmarva after seeing his flyball rate skyrocket. With a good eye at the plate, Cuevas saw much less swing and miss, specifically in the strikezone, showing a laundry list of improvements across the board. Defensively he’s moved primarily to the outfield where he should see significant run as a key piece of Delmarva’s lineup to start the year.

37) Luis Almeyda: SS/RHH/18 years old

6’2”/180 pounds

First it was an ankle injury, then shoulder surgery that limited him to 19 games in his first season, then shoulder issues (the other one) again in 2024, so health has been the major hinderance up to this point. The New Jersey native who signed for a franchise-record $2.7 million with the 2023 international signing class, Almeyda 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 18, health and a strong start in 2025 could see him reach High-A at the age of 19, finding himself right on track with many of his peers who have successfully advanced through the system.

38) Edwin Amparo: SS/Switch-hitter/20 years old

6’0”/165 pounds

Despite being signed for $650,000 as part of the 2022 international signing class, Amparo has flown completely under the radar since then. The numbers from his first two seasons weren’t impressive, but saved his best month of baseball in the final month of each season to give a little hope going into the next season each time. In 2024, he was hot from the jump and didn’t slow down. Playing in 79 games between the FCL/Low-A, Amparo hit a combined .259 with a .399 OBP, 6 home runs, 54 walks to 59 strikeouts, and 38 stolen bases. In Delmarva alone, he posted a 139 wRC+ and hit .284. It’s good bat speed with growing power from the left side and impressive speed on the basepaths.

39) Yeiber Cartaya: RHP/21 years old

6’5”/165 pounds

Cartaya’s first two seasons in the organization were highlighted by high walk totals and sky-high ERA’s, but something clicked in 2024. While in the FCL, he lowered his BB rate to a still very high 15%, but his strikeout rate jumped from 23% to nearly 32% and he earned a promotion to Low-A where we saw a very raw arm with a lot of moving parts to his delivery that he’s yet to fully lock down and repeat effectively, but a ton of potential with a deep arsenal. The walks continued to decline in Delmarva. If that trend continues in 2025, he could end the year in Aberdeen’s rotation and establish himself as one of the better pitching prospects in the system, but it’s hard not to dream about him demoralizing hitters in a relief role.

40) Ryan Stafford: Catcher/RHH/22 years old

5’10”/180 pounds

The Orioles loaded up with catchers in the 2024 draft, but not the typical defense-first/light-hitting backstops they have piled up in the past. Stafford played in the outfield and at second base and first base in High-A Aberdeen last season and will continue to play all around the field as he moves up through the system. Stafford brings solid contact rates and the ability to hit the ball to all fields, with a strong arm and impressive athleticism that allow him to play all over. Most public reports on Stafford aren’t believers in his power potential, but it could be a sneaky addition in 2025.

41) Levi Wells: RHP/23 years old

6’2”/217 pounds

Among all 23 year olds in the minors last season, Wells’ 116 Stuff+ was the third-highest mark and one of the best among all pitchers in the minors. The stuff is truly elite. The former Texas State standout missed more than a month with a shoulder injury in 2024 and was limited when he returned to the mound, but Wells still showcased swing and miss stuff with improved walk numbers after his injury, all while posting a near 50% groundball rate. His 6.71 ERA came with a 4.09 FIP and 3.78 xFIP. The fastball can run into the upper-90s and Wells can own the strikezone with the pitch. As long as the shoulder issue is behind him, Wells is poised for rebound season in 2025.

42) Esteban Mejia: RHP/17 years old

6’3”/175 pounds

Signed for $175,000 out of the Dominican Republic as part of the 2024 international signing class, Mejia struck out 44 hitters in 27 innings in the DSL, limiting opponents to a .182 average against. He can run the fastball well into the upper-90s, hitting 100 mph on occasion, with a slider, changeup, and sinker, with his fastball and slider projecting to become plus offerings. A 17-year-old with feel for multiple breaking balls, the ability to pound the strikezone, and an uber-projectible frame, Mejia could emerge as the Keeler Morfe of 2025 if things go well in his transition to the FCL this season. That may be pretty optimistic, but it’s not wild to think Mejia has one of the higher ceilings in the organization.

43) Braxton Bragg: RHP/24 years old

6’2”/207 pounds

An 8th round pick out of Dallas Baptist in 2023, Bragg has the ceiling of a back-end major league starter if everything clicks and plenty of intrigue has a bullpen piece with his low, more side-arm delivery. It’s a mid-90s fastball with a slider, changeup, and cutter. His changeup in particular can certainly dance. He spent his entire first full season in Low-A where he posted a 3.36 ERA across 96 innings with a 30% strikeout rate and a 5% walk rate. Yes, you read that walk rate right. There’s no reason to take him off his starter tract after just one year of pro ball (and a dominant one at that), but I do wonder how quickly he could rise through the system in a relief role.

44) Juan Rojas: LHP/20 years old

6’0”/165 pounds

The Jorge Lopez trade has also brought the organization a promising first season in the big leagues by Cade Povich and an All-Star reliever in Yennier Cano. Juan Nunez was emerging as one of the more promising pitching prospects in the system but was sniped by the Padres in the Rule 5 draft. There’s still Rojas. Health and walks have been a major issue in the two and half years he’s been in the system. Armed with three pitches, Rojas won’t overpower anyone but can pile up the whiffs. A full, healthy year will finally give us more answers about his future in the organization.

45) Max Wager: IF/RHH/23 years old

5’11”/215 pounds

Wagner started to flash his power and on-base ability in 2023 while in High-A, ultimately finishing the season with a promotion to Double-A. Since that promotion, Wagner suffered a concussion, offseason hamate bone surgery, and a major back injury that ended his 2024 season after just 25 games. The Orioles have yet to find much luck with the early-round, super young college draft pick (Reed Trimble/John Rhodes as well), but maybe Wagner can turn things around if he’s finally fully healthy. The power is really going to have to shine.

46) DJ Layton: SS/Switch-hitter/18 years old

6’1”/185 pounds

The Southern Miss commit was taken in the 6th round of the 2024 draft and should begin 2025 in the FCL. Like all four of the high schoolers the Orioles selected in last year’s draft, there are a lot of questions about the bat, but it appears that the Orioles are betting on an under-the-radar talent with the floor of a speedy, defensive infielder. Per Joe Doyle’s pre-draft report, Layton shows “more loft from the left side and more bat speed from the right.” And also notes his 94 mph fastball on the mound. Could the strong arm also lead to some time in the OF?

47) Peter Van Loon: RHP/25 years old

6’5”/210 pounds

After a rocky 2023 season in Double-A (6.04 ERA/1.49 WHIP), Van Loon missed the first half of the 2024 season, but returned to Bowie and made a statement. He pitched to a 2.66 ERA across 47 innings with 61 strikeouts. His four-pitch mix features a fastball in the 92-94 mph range that can be an above-average offering with good whiff rates, slider, curve, and changeup. His overall repertoire had a 100 Stuff+ rating in the Arizona Fall League in 2023. We’ll see how that’s improved after showing clear improvements at the end of last season.

48) Blake Money: RHP/23 years old

6’7”/240 pounds

A 12th-round pick out of LSU, Money completed his first full year of pro ball with a 3.15 ERA, 28% strikeout rate, and a 5.9% walk rate across 103 innings with Low-A Delmarva. His second half line- 53 IP, 1.69 ERA, 60 K, 10 BB. With a fastball that can get up to 96 mph and an array of secondary offerings that routinely find the strikezone, it’s going to be very interesting to see if he can continue to miss bats as he climbs up the ladder.

49) Keagan Gillies: RHP/26 years old

6’8”/225 pounds

A former 15th round pick who received a $50,000 signing bonus, Gillies should begin 2025 in Triple-A, one step away from the majors. He can now run his fastball into the upper-90s with a Felix Bautista-esque splitter when it’s on and he’s locating it. He may be 26 now but he has very limited miles on his arm and could still potentially find a home in a big league bullpen.

50) Miguel Rodriguez: Catcher/RHH/19 years old

5’11”/160 pounds

Rodriguez reached Delmarva at just 18 in 2024 after posting an .840 OPS and 135 wRC+ in the FCL. The hit tool has stood out for Rodriguez up to this point, while he started flashing a bit more power last season with four total home runs in 68 games played across two levels. If he shows another uptick in power, Rodriguez becomes an even more intriguing catching prospect in a system with a plethora of catching prospects. The most eye-popping part of Rodriguez’s game- 54 walks to 40 strikeouts in his career. He should open 2025 as Delmarva’s primary backstop.