The Orioles’ top prospect list looks a bit different. 

Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers have graduated from prospect status, meaning Nate George leads Baltimore’s farm ranking, according to MLB Pipeline. Luis de León and Trey Gibson follow him, while a pair of recent draft picks, Ike Irish and Wehiwa Aloy, round out the top-five. Two more arms, Boston Bateman and Nestor German, now reside in the top 10. 

As a whole, the Orioles boast more pitching talent in the minors than in years past, with five arms in the top 10 and 14 in the top 30 overall. A pair of those arms are highlighted here, a spotlight on some standout performances at each level of the minors to begin the season. 

Esteban Mejia (Single-A RHP, O’s No. 6 prospect on MLB Pipeline)

The 19-year-old has stuff, and it was on full display in his first start of the season. After striking out 67 batters in 52.0 innings of work in 2025, the Delmarva Shorebird picked up right where he left off, striking out six in his first 4 ⅓ innings to open up the new campaign. 

According to The Verge – An Orioles MiLB Podcast, Mejia hit 100 mph on the gun multiple times and generated 15 whiffs, the second-most in Low-A on the day. He surrendered just one earned run on one hit. 

Limiting walks will continue to be a point of emphasis for the right-hander, who handed out 5 ½ free passes per nine innings last season. Still, he carries a minor league ERA of 3.00, and opponents have yet to hit over .200 in a season against him. There’s electricity to dream on. 

Joseph Dzierwa (High-A LHP, O’s No. 12 prospect on MLB Pipeline)

Dzierwa sees Mejia’s impressive season debut and raises it. 

The No. 58 pick in last year’s draft, the highest selection Mike Elias has ever used on a pitcher in Baltimore, surrendered just one hit in six shutout innings for the Frederick Keys, striking out nine with just one walk in the process. Standing at 6-foot-8 with a low arm slot, the Michigan State product generated 17 whiffs, thanks to an arsenal that Pipeline notes he can target “wherever he wants.” 

The big lefty’s calling card has been limiting walks, with just 2.6 per nine innings in his three years as a Spartan. That particular bugaboo is one that holds up more than a few minor league arms. If Dzierwa continues to put up whiff and strikeout numbers like this while limiting the free passes, it won’t be long before we see him in Double-A. 

Thomas Sosa (Double-A OF, O’s No. 18 prospect on MLB Pipeline)

The O’s 2022 international class was highlighted by names like César Prieto, Braylin Tavera, and Leandro Arias. The fifth-most signing bonus money in the class was given to Sosa, an outfielder out of the Dominican Republic. 

Sosa flashed the hit tool with a .290 batting average and .385 on-base percentage in the Florida Complex League in 2023, and has steadily worked his way up to Chesapeake over the last two seasons. There, he’s off to a hot start with six hits in his first 13 plate appearances. Five of those knocks have been for extra bases. 

According to MLB Pipeline, the 6 ‘4 Sosa exhibits some of the best exit velocities in the organization, and has more power to tap into at just 21 years old. Perhaps this early success is a sign that things are starting to come together. 

Creed Willems (Triple-A C/1B, No. 17 prospect on MLB Pipeline)

In preparing for this article, Willems hit another home run Sunday afternoon, his second of Norfolk’s young season. That’s no surprise given the start he’s been off to with the Tides. 

Through seven games, Willems boasts an OPS over 1.000 thanks to that pair of blasts, two doubles and a few more hits. That’s where the catcher’s value comes: as a left-handed power hitter. His time behind the dish has diminished over the years, but his bat has kept him advancing through the system. 

In 2025, Willems saw an improvement in his batting average and strikeout rate to complement the power numbers, too. The former high-school draft pick is one of the most heralded hitting prospects at Triple-A, and an extended hot start could put him in a big league conversation.