Welcome to another edition of the Orioles Beat newsletter. The O’s opened a six-game homestand at Camden Yards on Monday. They’ll play two more vs. the Cardinals before welcoming the White Sox to Baltimore for a three-game weekend set. BALTIMORE -- Five players have made their MLB debut for the Orioles so far this season -- right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano (March 30), righty Brandon Young (April 19), left-hander Grant Wolfram (April 26), catcher Maverick Handley (April 29) and righty Kade Strowd (May 18). More could be coming throughout the year, especially if Baltimore (19-34) ends up selling at the July 31 Trade Deadline. If the O’s move veteran players on expiring contracts, they’ll need to fill holes via their farm system. Here are five Orioles prospects who could debut before the end of 2025. |
C/1B Samuel Basallo (O’s No. 1, MLB’s No. 16 overall) This is the next big debut that Baltimore fans are most eagerly awaiting. The 20-year-old from Santo Domingo, D.R., will become the first international prospect to reach the Majors since Mike Elias became general manager in November 2018. (Basallo signed for $1.3 million in January 2021.) Basallo was on the injured list from April 5-25 due to a left hamstring strain, and he didn’t catch before May 13 while recovering from right elbow inflammation. But the Orioles’ top prospect is now healthy and raking, as he’s batting .254 with five doubles, six home runs, 14 RBIs and a .964 OPS in 18 games for Triple-A Norfolk this month. However, Basallo has only caught 125 innings over 15 games at the Triple-A level. He likely needs more reps before becoming an option for Baltimore in the second half. |
OF Dylan Beavers (O’s No. 6) It’s possible the Orioles would have called up Beavers on Saturday -- when they placed outfielder Ramón Laureano on the 10-day injured list -- had the 24-year-old not been on the IL himself with a right shoulder AC sprain he sustained when running into the outfield wall during batting practice last Thursday. The 23-year-old Beavers (selected No. 33 overall in the 2022 MLB Draft) has excelled in his first extended run at Triple-A this year, slashing .303/.397/.421 with eight doubles, three homers and 18 RBIs over 39 games and putting himself in a prime position for a later callup. |
RHP Cameron Weston (O’s No. 17) Weston is an intriguing right-hander who pitched well at Double-A Chesapeake last season (a 3.41 ERA in 92 1/3 innings over 23 games, including 14 starts). This year, the 24-year-old has a 4.26 ERA over his first 10 Triple-A starts, racking up 48 strikeouts in 44 1/3 innings.
An eighth-round Draft pick in 2022, Weston could be an option for either starts or relief appearances for the Orioles down the stretch if they’re evaluating young arms at that time. But he’s likely behind right-handers Chayce McDermott (O’s No. 4 prospect) and Brandon Young (O’s No. 19 prospect, who is on the IL with right shoulder discomfort) in the pecking order.
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RHP Juan Nuñez (O’s No. 20) Nuñez nearly had an opportunity to open the season in the big leagues, as the 24-year-old Dominican right-hander was selected by the Padres in the Rule 5 Draft last December. However, he didn’t break camp with San Diego and was returned to Baltimore at the end of Spring Training. It’s a bit of a long shot for Nuñez to reach the Majors with the Orioles in 2025, considering he has a 7.07 ERA in eight games (three starts) for Double-A Chesapeake. But if the O’s want to get a closer look to see what they have in him, perhaps he could be a late-season bullpen addition. |
OF Jud Fabian (O’s No. 24) Fabian’s best tools are his power, speed and defense, and the 24-year-old outfielder has been showing off all of them this year. The 2021 second-round Draft pick has nine homers in 42 games at Triple-A while playing center field for Norfolk on most nights. For much of Fabian’s Minor League career, he has been paired with Beavers. If the Orioles deal multiple outfield pieces in Trade Deadline moves, maybe the two will again share the same field in Baltimore later this year. |
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MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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The Mid-Atlantic Sports Network announced last week it will be airing select games featuring Orioles Minor League affiliates throughout the remainder of the 2025 season. The following games will be aired live: Thursday, May 29: Triple-A Norfolk vs. Lehigh Valley, noon ET, MASN/MASN+ Thursday, June 26: Triple-A Norfolk vs. Gwinnett, noon ET, MASN/MASN+ Friday, July 4: Single-A Delmarva at Fredericksburg, 5 p.m. ET, MASN2/MASN+ Sunday, July 6: Single-A Delmarva at Fredericksburg, 6 p.m. ET, MASN/MASN+ Wednesday, July 30: Triple-A Norfolk vs. Memphis, 6:30 p.m. ET, MASN/MASN+ Thursday, Aug. 21: Triple-A Norfolk vs. Charlotte, noon ET, MASN2/MASN+ Thursday, Sept. 4: Triple-A Norfolk vs. Nashville, noon ET, MASN/MASN+ Thursday, Sept. 4: High-A Aberdeen at Wilmington, 6:30 p.m. ET, MASN/MASN+ “We are excited to announce the addition of these Minor League games, which will allow both Nationals and Orioles fans to see the franchises’ stars of tomorrow on MASN today and further connect them to their teams,” MASN executive vice president and general manager Greg Bader said in a statement. |
The Orioles are holding a moment of silence prior to Tuesday’s 6:35 p.m. ET game vs. the Cardinals to honor longtime Baltimore sports writer and former official scorer Jim Henneman, who died last Thursday at the age of 89. Last year, the Camden Yards press box was named after Henneman, a staple around the O’s organization for more than eight decades. |
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