Not long ago, the Baltimore Orioles had the top farm system in MLB. Whether or not you agree with how Mike Elias used that farm system to supplement (or not) the MLB roster, the fact is that he built a beast of a system. It had gotten thinned out though, but the Birds recently restocked through the 2025 Draft and at the deadline during a disappointing season.
With new names and faces, I wanted to update my personal top 20 prospect list.
1. C/1B Samuel Basallo (AAA) 21 yr 0 mo
The Orioles signed international prospect Basallo in 2021 for $1.3 million, an organizational record at the time. Since then, he’s mashed at practically every level of the minor leagues, even posting an OPS over .700 in both the Dominican Summer League and Florida Complex League at less than 19 years old. He firmly put himself on the map in 2023, where he slashed .333/.433/.688 at High-A Aberdeen before earning a late season promotion to Double-A Bowie (now Chesapeake).
He mashed in Double-A in 2024 and is now kicking down the door at Triple-A Norfolk this year, with an OPS just below 1.000. His 23 homers rank 2nd in the International League, while his OPS and SLG rank 1st. As is with most power-tool-first hitters, Basallo does have more swing and miss in his game than average. His K% is 23.4% but he still does walk at a 13.6% clip.
His larger frame likely means a move to first base at the major league level, but no matter where he plays his big bat will follow. He should debut in MLB over the next several days or weeks.
2. OF Dylan Beavers (AAA) 24 yo 0 mo
Beavers’ main question out of college was his bat-to-ball skill, which many evaluators questioned due to his unique stance and swing path. He has answered every last question with a massive breakout in his fourth year of professional baseball. Beavers’ K% is a much improved 17.9% from his 22.6% at Double-A Bowie last year, but where he’s made massive strides is in his swing decisions and plate discipline. Beavers has walked at a 16.4% clip this year and his improved approach has led to him slugging around 50 points higher than he has at any previous level. He also brings plus speed, pairing his 18 homers with 22 stolen bases.
Like Basallo, Beavers should be arriving very soon. He can slide into a corner outfield spot with the major league squad, where he’s desperately needed.
3. C/OF Ike Irish (Draft) 21 yo 9 mo
Irish was the first of the four picks in the top 37 for Mike Elias in the draft, and accordingly the highest ranked on this list. Irish has a hit-first approach, but his power crept up his junior year in which he posted 19 homers and a .710 (!!) SLG. He walked nearly as much as he struck out and can hit the ball hard to any part of the field. The biggest concern with Irish is his lack of pop in the Cape Cod League over the summers of ’23 and ’24. His first exposure to wooden bats out of college cut some of that pop out of his game to the tune of just two homers in 62 games, so it will be interesting to see how he slugs in the minors.
Regardless, Irish was still one of the best pure hitters in the draft with plenty of room for growth.
4. RHP Trey Gibson (AAA) 23 yo 3 mo
Gibson is an arm that is still massively undervalued by MLB Pipeline, where they have him as the Orioles No. 12 prospect. Gibson likely would have been drafted out of high school if not for the COVID-shortened 2020 Draft, but he instead ended up at Liberty where he posted a 6.75 ERA his sophomore year and was suspended his entire junior year. He was signed on August 9, 2023 after a messy stint in the Cape Cod League where he pitched to a 10.24 ERA, but the Orioles saw something in Gibson.
He racked up 118 strikeouts over 92 innings at High-A Aberdeen in 2024, and even after he had a poor start at that same level to begin this season, he was promoted to Double-A Chesapeake. Since his promotion all Gibson has done is dominate, pitching to a 1.55 ERA in 52.1 innings with the Baysox. During this stretch he’s allowed one single homer, and opponents are hitting just .157. He pairs swing and miss stuff with above-average command, carrying a K/9 of 11.69 to a BB/9 of 3.10.
what a start for Trey Gibson in his Triple-A debut 🔥
5.0 IP / 1 H / 0 R / 0 BB / 6 K / 53 P – 40 S pic.twitter.com/noPpxB3lX9
— Norfolk Tides (@NorfolkTides) August 14, 2025
His impressive numbers earned him a recent promotion to Triple-A Norfolk, and naturally he threw five innings of 1-hit ball Wednesday night with his fastball topping out at 97. Gibson is still just 23 years old and could see his major league debut as soon as next year.
5. OF Enrique Bradfield (AA) 23 yr 7 mo
Bradfield is one of the few prospects you’ll find with a tool graded 80 by MLB Pipeline, and that speed is truly game-changing. He stole 130 bases in 191 games at Vanderbilt and has carried that elite stolen base ability into the minors. Bradfield is your typical undersized centerfielder. His previously mentioned speed and his glove are both elite, and he controls the strike zone extraordinarily well. He’s faced some injuries this year, and he’s only played 36 games thus far at Double-A Chesapeake, but in those games, he walked 24 times with only 22 strikeouts.
Enrique Bradfield: back
Baysox: up pic.twitter.com/W4F2YBnaBB
— Chesapeake Baysox (@BaysoxOfficial) August 12, 2025
He’s a hard ground ball and line drive hitter and while there isn’t much juice in the bat, Bradfield makes his money by getting on base and making magic happen.
6. OF Nate George (A) 19 yr 2 mo
Nate George began as a name that few knew; a 16th round pick out of high school was only assumed to do so much. Just over a year removed from the 2024 Draft, George is now a Baseball America top 100 prospect. He mashed to start the year in the Florida Complex League and has done more of the same at Low-A Delmarva. Though early, George has shown five true tools. He’s slashing .337/.410/.491, and though power is graded as his worst tool by MLB pipeline, George has shown gap to gap ability with eight doubles, seven triples and a homer at Delmarva to go along with his 38 stolen bases in 66 games. It adds an extra wow factor when I consider that George is just 19 years and two months old (a month older than I am), and he’s doing this.
George earned a well-deserved promotion to High-A Aberdeen, and it will be interesting to see how he handles the next step up in his young career.
7. SS Wehiwa Aloy (Draft) 21 yr 6 mo
The Hawaii native was drafted to the Orioles fresh off winning the SEC Player of the Year and the Golden Spikes Award, considered the highest prestige award in amateur baseball. Aloy has a ton of raw power in his 6’2” frame, showing in his 21 homers in 65 games at Arkansas his junior year. He has the typical swing and miss trait for a prospect with raw pop, but he still carries a solid hit tool. Aloy hit for a .350 average this past year and his bat yielded an astonishing 1.107 OPS.
Wehiwa Aloy drives home his first run as a pro with an RBI double!#FlyTogether | #Birdland pic.twitter.com/ulqjgbEOAE
— Delmarva Shorebirds (@shorebirds) August 13, 2025
He also has a solid glove and could realistically play any infield position in the major leagues.
8. RHP Michael Forret (AA) 21 yr 4 mo
Credit where credit is due: Mike Elias has done a great job finding diamonds in the rough on the mound, with Forret proving to be another example. He was a 14th round pick in 2023, and after a solid first season in pro ball last year, Forret has torn up High-A Aberdeen. Forret’s fastball sits in the mid-90s and he has plenty of secondary offerings to choose from, his best being his sweeper. Forret is not even halfway to 22 years old yet though 59.2 innings at Aberdeen this year, he has posted an ERA of 1.51 and an opponent average of .152. His command is extremely impressive, and his 76 strikeouts and 17 walks create a very impressive 4.47:1 ratio. He’s allowed only 31 hits, and his WHIP is an insanely low 0.80.
He’s been another one of the Orioles’ highest risers this season, and after his recent promotion he’ll get a chance to pitch at Double-A to end the season.
9. RHP Esteban Mejia (A) 18 yr 5 mo
Mejia may be one of the most electric arms in the entire minor leagues. At just 18 years old, his fastball has touched 102, and his slider can run up to 90. After an impressive start in the Florida Complex League, he earned a promotion to Low-A where he’s made two starts so far. Between both levels, he’s tossed 48.2 innings to a 2.59 ERA. Mejia is striking out 11.47 per 9 innings, and if you aren’t going down swinging chances are you’re hitting the ball on the ground; Mejia is getting ground balls at a 54.1% clip this season. When you’re throwing 102 there are bound to be some questions about command, and Mejia does struggle. His BB/9 is 5.49 which does raise red flags.
The hope is that the only 18-year-old Mejia will have plenty of time to learn how to command his arsenal.
10. OF Slater de Brun (Draft) 18 yr 2 mo
The Orioles selected Slater de Brun with the pick acquired when they sent Bryan Baker to the Rays, where he has since posted an ERA of 7.59. Many, including myself, were worried about de Brun passing up on the Orioles to play at Vanderbilt, but the Orioles eventually got him signed by going almost $1.4 million over slot value. Jim Callis referred to de Brun as the “best prep OF in the draft” yet the Orioles snagged him at pick No. 37. He first made his statement at the World Wood Bat Association Showcase in 2023, where he hit .474 with two homers and 10 walks. He continued to tear up the showcase circuit in the summer of 2024 before leading Summit High School to a state title in spring 2025. “Lil Slay” has a plus glove and good wheels, which he uses both in the outfield and on the basepaths.
He’s drawn many comparisons to another undersized prep OF, Corbin Carroll, and if de Brun plays well in 2026 to open his professional career, look for him to become a top 100 candidate very quickly.
11. LHP Boston Bateman (A) 19 yr 11 mo
Bateman has the two main physical features everyone looks for in a pitcher: tall and left-handed. Bateman stands at a towering 6’8” and he’s still yet to turn 20. A piece from the Ryan O’Hearn trade, Bateman seems to have the most upside of the package. His fastball sits in the low to mid-90s and he’s touched 97, but his main question is his lack of an arsenal, as his main mix is just fastball and slider. He’s working to develop his change-up, a pitch he didn’t need to put away high school hitters, but it is still in the development stages. He’s gotten touched up a bit this season in Low-A, with opponents hitting .255 off him, but Bateman still has plenty of time to learn and grow.
It will be interesting to see how he progresses next year coming off his first professional offseason.
12. RHP Nestor German (AA) 23 yr 6 mo
German was yet another late round draft pick that has become an intriguing pitching prospect in the Orioles farm system. His fastball averages around 93 and while he features a slider and splitter, his best secondary offering is his curveball. German’s calling card is his command, which makes him a slightly more intriguing prospect than Juaron Watts-Brown who I ranked a few slots below, but these two guys are very similar, down to their age; German is just three days older. His ERA is slightly inflated at 4.21, but it doesn’t tell the full story. His plus command has led to just 3.29 walks per 9, and opponents are hitting just .217 of German.
Better results are likely ahead for the 23 year old.
13. C Caden Bodine (Draft) 21 yr 8 mo
Bodine was by far one of the most disciplined hitters to come out of the 2025 Draft. He is a switch-hitting, hit-first backstop who walked at an insane 2:1 ratio during his junior year, while sporting only a 7.7% K%. Bodine has gap power, but not much beyond that, hitting only five homers his junior year. He also saw a decrease in both average and power after each year in college, which poses an interesting question of whether he can handle the daily tasks of catching as he goes through the minors.
14. SS Wilfri De La Cruz (DSL)17 yr 11 mo
Wilfri De La Cruz was the return in the 1-for-1 Andrew Kitteridge deal, and I think the Orioles did well with this one. De La Cruz is obviously a lottery ticket; he’s only 17 years old and is playing in the Dominican Summer League. What I do see is that De La Cruz has a very advanced approach for someone of that age, and because of it he’s been able to generate hard contact while also controlling the strike zone. In 36 DSL games, he’s walked 39 times and 14 of his 28 hits have gone for extra bases.
De La Cruz is a switch hitter, and while he stands at 6’2” 170 according to MLB Pipeline, he still has plenty of time to fill out his frame.
15. RHP Juaron Watts-Brown (AA) 23 yr 6 mo
Watts-Brown was the main piece in the wacky mid-doubleheader Seranthony Dominguez deal. Watts’ Brown throws a low to mid-90s fastball, but his best pitch is his slider. After struggling in High-A last year, Watts-Brown found his footing this year with a hot start at that same level before earning a promotion to Double-A. He does a good job of missing barrels and even with his average velocity he generates strikeouts at an above average rate.
16. RHP Levi Wells (AA) 23 yr 11 mo
Levi Wells has come out of nowhere to make this list, but his impressive stuff combined with his numbers make him impossible for me to leave off. After a shaky season in his first year of pro ball in High-A, Wells has turned himself around this season. Wells is a flamethrower with a fastball that has touched triple-digits, and a cutter, curveball, and rare change-up off it.
His strikeout rate isn’t off the charts, but he’s allowed only three homers this year and his arsenal allows him to induce weaker contact.
17. IF Aron Estrada (A+) 20 yr 7 mo
Estrada was a very inexpensive signing for the Orioles in their 2022 international class, but he has put himself on the radar after solid performances all throughout the low minor leagues. He mashed in his first season in the Dominican Summer League, with an OPS of 1.049, and has played well ever since. He had a solid season in High-A Aberdeen with a .284/.369/.523 slash line and 30 stolen bases in 81 games, and recently earned a promotion to Double-A Chesapeake. He doesn’t have much pop, but he makes a ton of contact and his speed helps to generate some extra base hits.
18. OF Jordan Sanchez (FCL) 19 yr 10 mo
Though only 19, Sanchez has plenty of juice in his bat that he’s shown off this season. He’s slugging .529 through 54 games in the Florida Complex League and has posted 16 doubles, three triples, and five homers, which is even more impressive when you consider his age. He doesn’t have the best contact skills, but his bat makes plenty of noise to make up for it. Sanchez’s stats are fairly similar to how Samuel Basallo began his career, and they both share a powerful left-handed swing. Not to say Sanchez will become the next Basallo, but he’s certainly a name to watch for when he likely starts the season at Low-A Delmarva next year.
19. RHP Wellington Aracena (A+) 20 yr 8 mo
Aracena is another recently acquired prospect, coming over in the Gregory Soto trade. Aracena throws a high-90s fastball that has touched 101, but his cutter might just be his best pitch. Behind his two best offerings he has a slider and curveball as well as a change-up, though he rarely uses it. Aracena has let it eat this season, and the results are extremely impressive. Through 78 innings this season, he has struck out 101 and opponents are hitting just .150 all coming together for a 2.08 ERA. His walk rate is elevated, but if he can continue to avoid bats and generate strikeouts, it’s a worthy trade off.
20. RHP Braxton Bragg (AA) 24 yo 10 mo
It’s a shame to have Bragg this low on the list after the year he’s had, but Tommy John surgery just ended his season, and he likely won’t see on-field action again until he’s almost 27 years old. Bragg was an 8th round pick in 2023, and after a solid year at Low-A Delmarva in 2024, he pitched 16.1 scoreless innings at High-A Aberdeen to start 2025 before being quickly promoted to Double-A Chesapeake. He continued to tear it up after his promotion to the tune of a 2.32 ERA in 42.2 innings while also striking out 59. Bragg pairs his strikeout stuff with above-average command and was one of the most major league-ready arms in the Orioles system before he went under the knife.
Best case scenario he tears it up in 2027 when he likely returns to the minors, and maybe, just maybe, we could see him in Baltimore in ’28 or ’29.
So that’s my O’s top 20. Tell me what I got right or wrong in the comments.
