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The Orioles delivered a powerful one-two prospect punch in August, selecting outfielder Dylan Beavers’ contract from Triple-A Norfolk on the 16th and catcher Samuel Basallo’s contract the following day.
How often have two such highly anticipated promotions happened in such a short span?
MLB Pipeline ranked Beavers No. 3 in the organization and 83rd overall. Basallo remains No. 1 in the system and seventh overall. Both players retain their rookie eligibility in 2026 by staying under the 45-day, 130 at-bat thresholds.
The announcements came while the Orioles were in Houston, on the same trip when rookie Brandon Young retired the first 23 batters in his 11th major league start.
What a weekend.
The buzz for Basallo was especially loud given his ranking and the hype surrounding the 21 year old. It was reminiscent of the attention bestowed upon two other catchers, Matt Wieters in 2009 and Adley Rutschman in 2022.
The most traffic I ever generated on the site through 2009 came from a lineup entry for Wieters’ first game. People were that excited about where he’d bat on May 29 against the Tigers at Camden Yards.
The answer was seventh, between Luke Scott and Nolan Reimold. He went 0-for-4.
Fans also were clamoring for infielders Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday and outfielder Colton Cowser before the Orioles promoted them.
Can anyone elicit as much excitement in 2026?
Outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. was the 17th pick in the first round of the 2023 draft from Vanderbilt University, and he’s the No. 4 prospect in the system. He’d come the closest, but fans as a whole aren’t making as much noise about him. Maybe it happens later.
Bradfield, 24, made it to Triple-A Norfolk last year and hit .179/.226/.286 in 15 games. He’s blessed with blazing speed and went 36-for-40 in stolen base attempts at four levels, making him 135-for-154 in three minor league seasons. He also posted a .348 on-base percentage last year, but hit .242 with a .348 slugging percentage.
Elite speed, with an 80 grade, and defense (except for arm strength) are the main attractions. Bradfield has only seven home runs in 891 plate appearances, but he’s registered a .369 OBP. He batted .221/.341/.312 with 17 steals in 18 attempts with Peoria in the Arizona Fall League.
Bradfield’s going to be fun to watch. Kenny Lofton is a popular comp. He just brings a different skill set than past prospects.
No one else in the top 10 can generate a Basallo buzz this year. Catcher/outfielder Ike Irish is the No. 3 prospect and he was the Orioles’ first pick in the 2025 draft.
Much too soon for the Ike Irish Watch.
Shortstop Wehiwa Aloy (No. 5) was the 31st overall pick last year. Also much too soon. And the same goes for pitcher Esteban Mejia (No. 6), outfielder Nate George (No. 7) and pitcher Boston Bateman (No. 8).
Trey Gibson (No. 9) was the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year and a candidate to debut later this summer. He could be in the same Tides rotation as Young and Cade Povich, depending on how the Orioles’ staff is constructed.
