The 2024 season is getting closer and closer, which means that it’s time to start talking hot takes.
This is the second edition of hot takes for the Orioles’ top 30 prospects, and the takes are steaming this year.
Last year, we predicted two hot takes correctly, with them being Jackson Holliday making it all the way to Triple-A Norfolk and Gunnar Henderson finishing Top 10 in AL MVP voting.
With that being said, here are our five hot takes for the O’s top 30 prospects this year.
DISCLAIMER: THESE ARE HOT TAKES, MEANING SOME COULD LOOK DRASTIC OR DOWNRIGHT CRAZY… THAT’S THE POINT.
Alex Pham will be the 2024 Jim Palmer Minor League Pitcher of the Year
The Jim Palmer Minor League Pitcher of the Year award is an honor given to the best pitcher in the Orioles’ farm system. Last year, the award went to right-hander Chayce McDermott after he had a breakout season.
While there is no clear favorite this year, our first hot take is that the underdog winner will be right-hander Alex Pham.
Drafted in the 19th round of the 2021 draft out of the University of San Francisco, Pham has been a pleasant surprise in the Orioles’ system, having a career ERA of 3.04 in 156.2 innings pitched and striking out 188 batters. Pham really broke out in 2023, posting a 2.57 ERA in 112 innings pitched between High-A Aberdeen and Double-A Bowie.
Pham is currently the 25th-ranked prospect in the O’s system and is the eighth-ranked pitching prospect in the system. Pham will most likely spend most of the 2024 season with Bowie, but keep an eye out for him to build off his impressive 2023 campaign.
Trace Bright will be a September call-up
Predicting September call-ups this early is very difficult, almost impossible.
Last year, we predicted that Cade Povich would be one, and it wasn’t even close to happening. That doesn’t mean that the future of September call-ups isn’t “Bright.”
Trace Bright is a right-hander who the Orioles drafted out of Auburn in 2022. Bright is a must-watch prospect pitcher for 2024 after he had a solid 2023 season, pitching 99.2 innings, striking out 147 batters and carrying a 3.97 ERA.
The 17th-ranked O’s prospect is still only 23 years old and isn’t predicted to make his debut until 2025, according to MLB Pipeline. However, Bright has the stuff to move quickly through the farm and is our hot take candidate to surprise Birdland with a call-up.
Coby Mayo debuts before June
Coby Mayo is currently entering his fourth year with the Orioles, and it might finally be time for him to wear orange and black.
Mayo has been a premier prospect since being drafted in 2020 and has been one of the most consistent hitters in the Orioles’ system. This season is the year he makes his big league debut, but we might need to wait a month or two before it happens.
The Orioles infield is stacked, with Gunnar Henderson, Jorge Mateo, Ramón Urías, Jordan Westburg and Jackson Holliday all projected to make the Opening Day roster.
However, our hot take is that Mayo rakes with Triple-A Norfolk and forces his way to the bigs before June 1.
Heston Kjerstad will be an AL Rookie of the Year finalist
From 2019-2023, the Orioles have had a player receive an AL Rookie of the Year vote. That streak will continue in 2024, but it’s not who you would think.
Heston Kjerstad was a September call-up in 2023 and really showed out to start his time in the majors with a .748 OPS and seven hits, including two home runs.
What makes this a hot take is that Kjerstad might not even break camp with the big league club. With the starting three outfielders all being locks and Colton Cowser forcing his way onto the club, Kjerstad is the latest victim of the O’s organizational depth.
However, Kjerstad is very versatile in his fielding, even taking some reps at first base last year in the minors. If Kjerstad gets the chance, he will make the most of the opportunity and slug his way to AL ROTY consideration.
Colton Cowser gets an All-Star nod
The hottest take we have is that Colton Cowser gets an All-Star nod in 2024. As stated earlier, the outfield is stacked to the brim, and getting opportunities will be an issue.
Yes, that is true, but Cowser might be the starting right fielder for the Orioles on Opening Day based on his performance this spring.
Cowser struggled in the majors last year as his .115 average and .434 OPS were not great looks. But, remember that he carried a .937 OPS with Norfolk last year. We see this all the time, with players like Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson, who both struggled with big league pitching to start their careers.
Cowser could be a game-changer both in the field and at the plate. His spring has shown what he can do, and it’s time to drop the doubts about Cowser and let his skill do all the talking.
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