Five years ago, the Orioles had finished another disappointing season with 110 losses, and Major League Baseball was about to institute a lockout. That freeze lasted just over three months and while spring training was delayed about a month, a full 162-game season was able to be played.

The 2022 Orioles, who would surprise baseball with a 31-game improvement, were full of promising players.

Of the Orioles’ top 30 MLB Pipeline prospects, 19 ended up playing at least a game for the Orioles. Most had more substantial roles.

The top 10 — Adley Rutschman, Grayson Rodriguez, Gunnar Henderson, Colton Cowser, DL Hall, Jordan Westburg, Coby Mayo, Kyle Stowers, Heston Kjerstad and Kyle Bradish — have all been impact big leaguers, whether with the Orioles or elsewhere.

Connor Norby, Mike Baumann, Terrin Vavra, Joey Ortiz, Samuel Basallo, Jahmai Jones, Yusniel Diaz, Zac Lowther and Félix Bautista, who was the 30^th-ranked prospect, also played.

Diaz had only one at-bat and played in the Mexican League in 2026. Lowther, who last pitched in the majors in 2022, also played in Mexico this season.  Vavra is now a minor league coach in the Orioles’ system.

Another player, outfielder Reed Trimble, was the 24^th-ranked player and is on the 40-man roster, though he’s yet to play with the Orioles.

Infielder Leandro Arias, who signed for a $600,000 bonus in early 2022, is still in the system. The 21-year-old played for High-A Frederick in 2026, hitting .252 with a .716 OPS, six home runs and 40 RBIs. He was ranked 25^th.

Outfielder Braylin Tavera, who was the 21^st-ranked prospect, also spent 2026 with the Keys, hitting .243 with 14 homers and 54 RBIs and a .756 OPS. He’s still 21.

Outfielder Hudson Haskin, a second-round choice in the 2020 draft, is no longer playing organized baseball. He was ranked 16^th five years ago. Nor are left-hander Kevin Smith (18^th), shortstop Maikol Hernández (20^th), outfielder John Rhodes (23^rd), infielder Adam Hall (28^th)  or Hernández, who was given a $1.2 million bonus in 2021 was released earlier this year after hitting just .182 in six minor league seasons.

Hall had an excellent season in independent ball, hitting .342 in 85 games with Winnipeg

Norby (Colorado), infielder César Prieto (St. Louis), Baumann (New York Mets organization), Ortiz (Milwaukee), left-hander Drew Rom (Athletics), Jones (Boston) and right-hander Carter Baumler (Texas) all played in 2026.

It would be special if the Orioles’ current top 30 prospects were as successful.

Two of the current top 30 — left-hander Luis De León (8^th) and right-hander Trey Gibson (17^th) — have already played for the Orioles.

Right-handers Michael Forret (10^th), Nestor German (21^st), Braxton Bragg (22^nd) and Levi Wells (23^rd), infielder/outfielder Aron Estrada (13^th) and outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. (18^th) and catcher/first baseman Creed Willems (28^th) all are contenders to be added to the 40-man roster on Tuesday.

Right-hander Patrick Reilly, who was ranked 10^th in 2025 but missed much of the last two seasons after Tommy John surgery, is not currently ranked. Reilly has a good chance to land on the 40-man, too.

Forret was a 14^th-round pick in 2023 and sent to Tampa Bay along with three other prospects for Shane Baz last December. The Orioles received him from the Rays in return for Tyler Wells.

“I tried to get him out of the Baz trade,” president of baseball operations Mike Elias said on Tuesday at the General Managers Meetings in Las Vegas. “They insisted that we keep him in the trade, so we traded him, and then when we did the [Tyler] Wells trade, that was ultimately who we lined up on. Obviously somebody that both teams liked, Tampa and the Orioles. I think the thing I was most happy about is Michael seemed happy to return to the Orioles, so that was good feedback.”

Forret had a 6.35 ERA in five games with Triple-A Norfolk after the August 3^rd trade.

“He’s got a bulldog mentality,” Elias said. “He’s got multiple pitches. He can really pitch, and he’s been moving through the minors at a really quick pace … If you look at his innings totals, he just hasn’t gotten through seasons, mounting big innings totals yet. That’s something that he’s working on, and he really knows how to pitch.”

Reilly has also intrigued Elias.

“The Vanderbilt guys usually are impressive on the field and off the field,” he said. “Really good arm, blew out and has finally completed his rehab and he’s really pitching well in the AFL right now and he’s boosted his stock in a big way.”

Note: Vance Honeycutt won the Arizona Fall League Defensive Player of the Year Award. Honeycutt had three outfield assists playing for the Peoria Javelinas.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: [email protected]