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Entering the 2023 season, the Orioles’ farm system was at the peak of its powers.
Baltimore had eight top-100 prospects, according to Baseball America. That included the No. 1 overall prospect, Gunnar Henderson, another top-10 prospect, Grayson Rodriguez, a rising star in Jackson Holliday, a soon-to-be Rookie of the Year candidate in Colton Cowser, and the underrated Jordan Westburg, checking in at No. 76.
By the time 2024 rolled around, however, that list had taken quite a hit due to graduations. Then it included just three players, with Coby Mayo and Samuel Basallo joining Heston Kjerstad.
With Mayo’s graduation this season, there was some question as to who, if anyone, would join Basallo in the top 100. Baseball America’s most recent rankings gave us an answer, highlighting three Orioles prospects on the rise.
Nate George
If you didn’t know the name, you aren’t alone.
Baseball America notes that George has been one of the “breakout stars” of the lower minors this season, and it has been quite the rise.
George, now the 81st-best prospect in baseball, according to Baseball America, was a 16th-round pick out of a prep high school in Illinois last season. The outfielder’s speed was a known commodity, but he’s progressed with the bat at an incredibly impressive rate.
Between rookie ball and Single-A Delmarva, George has hit .352 with a .423 on-base percentage, good for a .936 OPS. Though he doesn’t profile as a 30-plus home run guy at the next level, with just four on the year currently, his speed has been on full display, nabbing 38 stolen bases and hitting as many triples as doubles.
MLB Pipeline notes that George “oozes athleticism,” and that he plays a solid center field defensively.
He’s already earned a promotion to High-A Aberdeen, where the 19-year-old could continue to flash his five-tool potential.
Dylan Beavers
This name you almost certainly know.
Beavers, the 33rd-overall selection in the 2022 draft, has steadily progressed throughout his minor league career.
An outfielder with a funky left-handed swing, Beavers spent 153 games at Double-A, and didn’t put up outstanding numbers in 119 games there in 2024. But once the Cal product earned a promotion to Triple-A Norfolk, he took off.
In 90 games with the Tides this season, Beavers has put up the best numbers of his career, boasting a batting average over .300 and an OPS close to .950. Pair that with 18 home runs and 14 doubles, plus 22 stolen bags, and you’ve got an outfielder that seems primed to make an impact at the big league level.
In Baseball America’s latest rankings, Beavers checks in at No. 83 on the top 100, significant both for his future prospects and for the O’s potentially earning a draft pick if he were to win Rookie of the Year next season. Beavers will need to be on one more top 100 board to be eligible.
Esteban Mejia
Projectability is the name of the game, and Mejia has a lot of it.
An international signing in 2024, Mejia only recently made it to Single-A Delmarva. But he’s been impressive enough in the lower levels of the minor leagues to earn the No. 95 ranking in Baseball America’s top 100.
The right-hander’s calling card is his fastball, which is graded at a 70 on the 20-80 scale by MLB Pipeline. With a fastball that touches 102 mph and a slider that can reach 90, that’s an arm to get excited about.
Mejia’s game will need to be honed and refined over the years. In 13 starts this season, the flamethrower has a 2.59 ERA, but has walked over five batters per nine innings. But an arm with that kind of talent is hard to ignore.
The Orioles' farm system may not be what it was a few seasons ago, as Baltimore has seen many of their top prospects graduate. But George, a 16th-round pick, and Mejia, an international signing, are great examples of how the O’s player development can continue to push Baltimore forward.
