Aloy, Dzierwa take home Orioles’ top minor league awards

BALTIMORE—While the Orioles’ major league team has disappointed, the team trotted out some of its best minor league performers on Monday night to hand out awards.

Double-A Chesapeake teammates shortstop Wehiwa Aloy and left-handed pitcher Joseph Dzierwa won the awards for best position player and best pitcher in the organization.

“I feel like this is not just my award, it’s everyone else’s in this organization,” Dzierwa said.

He marveled at some of the plays that Aloy, the No. 8 prospect, made in the field.

“There were some plays, where I was just like, ‘that’s going to be a hit,’ and  you turn around, and the guy has the ball, and it’s going into the first baseman’s glove. It’s pretty cool to see, and then even on offense, I’ve never seen a ball hit almost over the scoreboard in Chesapeake before, but I guess it can be done.”

Dzierwa was also named to the Eastern League’s All-Star team along with reliever Micah Ashman, starting pitcher Anthony Eyanson and catcher Ethan Anderson.

Eyanson, who was obtained from the Boston Red Sox in the trade for Adley Rutschman, was also named the league’s pitcher of the year.

Aloy, who was the 31^st overall pick in the 2025 draft, and Dzierwa, a second-round draft pick last year, both began the year at High-A Frederick.

“It made my job easy,” Aloy said of playing behind Dzierwa. “Didn’t really have that much action out on the field.”

Their manager with the Keys, Collin Woody, was named the winner of the organization’s player development award. He led Frederick to an 83-46 record.

“When the break camp roster came out, it was like, ‘holy cow,’ this roster’s incredible,” Woody said.

He estimated that the roster, which also included No. 5 prospect Ike Irish, the first baseman/outfielder whose season ended early due to a knee injury, had been awarded $23 million in bonuses.

“It’s going to be a fun year, all year,” he said. “When those guys got called up, we got reinforcements from lower levels. Those guys were incredible, too. The entire year, we were wowed with how talented our roster was.”

Aloy, who hit .288 with an .865 OPS with 25 home runs and 92 RBIs in 84 games with the Keys and 39 with the Baysox, also stole 20 bases in 23 attempts.

“I’m trying to do whatever it takes to win, and the results will take care of itself later,” Aloy said. “I’m focusing on what level I’m with at that moment.”

Dzierwa was 9-2 with a 2.27 ERA in 26 games, eight at Frederick, 18 at Chesapeake. He struck out just under five times as many hitters as he walked (149/30) in 131 innings while allowing only eight home runs.

“My goal going into this season was just be consistent with my work, day-in and day-out,” he said. “I feel like it you’re putting in the work each day and stay consistent to that, kind of see the results. That’s my main focus in the season, now in the offseason and next season, too.”

If Dzierwa progresses as much next year as he did this season, perhaps he can be with the Orioles.

“I feel like if I’m consistent day-in and day-out, it’s going to take me where I want to be,” Dzierwa said. “That’s what I’m really focusing on, not tomorrow, not the past, kind of today.”

MLB Pipeline rates Dzierwa as the Orioles’ No. 3 prospect, and he got to pitch with Eyanson, the No. 2 prospect, and Caden Hunter, the left-hander who’s No. 4.

“We had a bunch of guys that had 10-plus strikeouts every start,” Aloy said. “It made it easier for us out on the field.”

Hunter began the season at Single-A Delmarva and finished at Chesapeake after a stop at Frederick.

“He broke with Delmarva, and the work that he was doing there, the numbers that he was putting up in Delmarva, we were obviously keeping our eye on it,” Woody said.

“Hopefully, going to get this guy soon. When he came to us, it was more of the same, continued to dominate at that level, and I think there’s a good reason why he didn’t stay at High-A very long and he made his way to Double-A very quickly.’

Dzierwa also pitched with No. 14 prospect JT Quinn with the Keys and Baysox.

“It was a pretty fun staff to be a part of,” Dzierwa said. “Every day, I picked their brains, played catch with them and just learned from them even during the games, what they do well and what they see.”

Trent Friedrich, who signed Dzierwa, was named the organization’s scout of the year.

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