Checking in on Orioles’ top minor league prospects

This season hasn’t gone well for the Orioles, and it certainly hasn’t gone well for their minor league affiliates.

Let’s take a look at how each is doing, and check on some of the more notable players.

Triple-A Norfolk

The Tides are 19-31, and in eighth place in the 10-team International League East.

Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser and infielder Jordan Westburg are both with the Tides this week on rehab assignments.

Top prospects

Catcher/first baseman Samuel Basallo, the Orioles’ top minor league prospect, who missed time with a hamstring injury, is hitting .245 with a .909 OPS. Basallo has nine home runs and 19 RBIs.

First baseman/third baseman Coby Mayo, the team’s second-ranked prospect, who played four games with the Orioles, is hitting .224 with a .779 OPS. Mayo has eight home runs and 27 RBIs. He’s struck out 51 times in 43 games.

Outfielder Dylan Beavers, who’s on the 7-day injury list with a shoulder injury, is the Orioles’ sixth-ranked prospect. He’s hitting .303 with three home runs and 18 RBIs.

Outfielder Jud Fabian is the Orioles’ 24^th prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. Fabian is hitting .211 with a .797 OPS with nine home and 20 RBIs.

Right-hander Chayce McDermott, who’s the fourth-ranked prospect, has started twice for the Orioles. At Norfolk, McDermott is 0-1 with a 3.97 ERA in three starts.

Right-hander Cameron Weston, the 17^th-ranked prospect, is 1-2 with a 4.26 ERA.

Double-A Chesapeake Baysox

The Baysox are the Orioles’ only winning affiliate. They’re 23-21 and in third place in the six-team Eastern League Southwest

Top prospects

Outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr., who’s the Orioles’ third-ranked prospect, has played only 11 games because of a hamstring injury. Bradfield is hitting .316 with an .842 OPS. He has two RBIs and has four steals without getting caught.

Right-handed pitcher Nestor German, the 11^th-ranked prospect,  is 1-2 with a 3.79 ERA in eight starts, six at High-Aberdeen and two at Chesapeake. He’s struck out 50 in 35 2/3 innings.

Catcher Creed Willems, who’s ranked 12^th, has a .272 average with an .863 OPS. He’s hit six home runs and driven in 19 runs.

Right-hander Juan Nuñez who’s the 20^th prospect, is 0-1 with an 8.07 ERA in eight games. He was drafted by San Diego in the Rule 5 draft and returned to the Orioles.

Right-hander Trace Bright, who’s ranked 25^th, is 1-4 with a 7.03 ERA.

Braxton Bragg, who’s currently unranked, has been the Baysox standout with a 2-1 record and 1.59 ERA in six games. Bragg has struck out 43 in 28 1/3 innings.

High-A Aberdeen IronBirds

The IronBirds are 19-26 and in fourth place in the South Atlantic League North.

The IronBirds have four high 2024 draft picks on their roster.

Top prospects

Outfielder Vance Honeycutt, who’s the fifth-ranked prospect, is hitting .204 with a .658 OPS. He has two home runs and 11 RBIs. He’s stolen 17 bases in 18 attempts.

Infielder Griff O’Ferrall, the seventh prospect, is hitting .212 with a .612 OPS. O’Ferrall has three home runs and 19 RBIs while stealing 12 bases in 15 attempts.

Right-hander Trey Gibson is 1-2 with a 5.51 ERA in eight games. He’s the 15^th ranked prospect.

Infielder Aron Estrada, a switch-hitter, who’s the 17^th prospect, has been a nice surprise for the IronBirds, hitting .315 with an .817 OPS. He’s stolen 18 bases in 22 attempts.

Ethan Anderson, who along with Bradfield and O’Ferrall were the top three players in the Orioles’ draft class last July, is hitting .246 with a .678 OPS. He has a home run and 17 RBIs. Anderson has stolen 14 bases in 15 attempts. Overall, the IronBirds have stolen 120 bases in 45 games.

Switch-hitting infielder Leandro Arias is hitting .229 with a home run and 19 RBIs. He’s the 21^st prospect.

Outfielder Austin Overn, chosen in the fourth round last year, is hitting .230 with a .691 OPS. He has four home runs and 13 RBIs and has stolen 13 bases in 16 tries.

Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds

With an 18-27 record, the Shorebirds are in last place in the Carolina League.

They have two players among the Top 30 prospects — right-hander Keeler Morfe, ranked ninth, and left-hander Luis De Léon, who’s ranked 14^th.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.