Sunday, July 19

Welcome to another edition of the Orioles Beat newsletter. The O’s open a three-game set vs. the Nationals in Washington on Friday, then head to St. Petersburg, Fla., to face the Rays.

BALTIMORE -- At this time last year, Nate George was an unranked prospect putting up big numbers for the Orioles’ Florida Complex League team as a teenager. Now, the 19-year-old outfielder is Baltimore’s No. 1 prospect and the No. 69 prospect in baseball, per MLB Pipeline.

This year, there’s another unranked O’s prospect putting up big numbers in the FCL as a teenager -- one who spent time around George in Minor League camp during Spring Training.

His name is Jaiden Lo Re, he’s 19 years old and he was the Orioles’ fifth-round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. He’s also off to a strong start to his professional career.

Through Lo Re’s first eight Florida Complex League games, he is hitting .357 with six RBIs and an .864 OPS. He began the season on a seven-game hitting streak, and he belted his first pro home run on Monday against the Twins’ FCL team.

Drafted out of Corona del Sol High School in Tempe, Ariz., as a shortstop, Lo Re has played only one game at the position thus far. Instead, he’s been moving around the diamond, making starts at third base (four), center field (two) and second base (one).

Lo Re (listed at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds) is a right-handed contact hitter whose best tool is his bat. His swing mechanics are simple, he doesn’t whiff often and more power could come with age. He had a walk-off hit to lead Corona Del Sol to the Arizona 6A state championship last year, then forewent his commitment to BYU to instead sign with the O’s, who gave him a signing bonus of $562,500 (above the slot value of $452,000).

“I was just kind of focused on high school, trying to win a championship with my team. And then, I kind of just let the rest happen. I knew the Draft was in order, and then, once I got the call from my agent, then I knew that this was an opportunity that I wanted to take in,” Lo Re said earlier this year. “I love the Orioles. They’re just a great organization, great at developing. So I knew coming here was just going to be a special place.”

Not many baseball players go from playing in high school contests in May to appearing in Grapefruit League games the following March. But that was an opportunity that came for Lo Re, whom the O’s brought over as an extra player from Minor League camp multiple times in spring.

Lo Re played in three Grapefruit games for Baltimore and went 2-for-3, including an RBI single on March 7 vs. Atlanta. But the most beneficial part of the experience may have been being included in big league workouts on the mornings of the days he was brought over.

Orioles manager Craig Albernaz stated multiple times this spring how there would be “no second-class citizens” in the club’s camp, and the MLB players made sure to make any youngster who came over from the Minor League side feel welcome.

“All these big leaguers over here have taken great care of me, made me feel like I belonged here,” Lo Re said at the time. “It just helps me learn how to do it the right way and what I need to do to get to the big league level.”

In Minor League camp, Lo Re developed a close relationship with George, the perfect role model for a player new to Baltimore’s system. In 2025, George climbed three levels (FCL to Single-A to High-A) while earning the team’s Brooks Robinson Minor League Player of the Year Award. George started the ‘26 season at High-A Frederick.

Lo Re said George “took me under his wing” in spring and helped him get acclimated to pro life.

“He’s just a phenomenal player, and just how he goes about his business, very quiet, just keeps his head down and grinds,” Lo Re said. “And that’s what I love about him. I kind of try to do that with my game, too. He just lets the game talk. He doesn’t try to do anything too much, and it definitely has paid off. That season that he had is something that not a lot of people can do.”

But maybe Lo Re could have that type of season in 2026. It may not be too long before he’s moved up to Single-A Delmarva, and if he gets there quickly enough, perhaps High-A could be in reach before the end of the year.

Lo Re isn’t looking too far ahead, though. His goals entering the year were simple.

“Just keep developing,” Lo Re said. “No matter where I end up, just trying to help my team win.”

MLB Pipeline updated its Top 100 Prospects list on Wednesday, and George is no longer the only Orioles representative on the rankings.

Ike Irish (Baltimore’s No. 2 prospect) is now the No. 93 prospect in baseball. Entering Thursday, the 2025 first-round Draft pick was hitting .283 with seven doubles, six home runs, 19 RBIs and a .911 OPS through 29 games at High-A Frederick, his first experience at the level.

Although Irish was drafted as a catcher, he’s not playing the position this year, instead focusing on first base and outfield. His left-handed bat is the most exciting part of his game, and it should get him to Double-A Chesapeake later this year.

• The Orioles earned their first shutout win on Wednesday led by Kyle Bradish’s gem against the Yankees. More >>

• Outfielder Dylan Beavers (right oblique strain) became the 19th Baltimore player to hit the injured list this year and is the 13th currently sidelined. More >>

• One O’s reliever is off to a historic start this season. More >>

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