Two more months of prospect-watching baseball are left, and the rosters are changing like crazy moving forward after the trade deadline.
But today, we look back at the top Orioles prospects from the month of July. Keep in mind that with all the trades that went down this past month, you may see a face or two who is no longer a part of the Orioles organization.
With that being said, let’s get into our honors from this past month.
Delmarva Shorebirds: Blake Money – RHP
Why not start off with a pitcher who not only has the last name Money but has been money on the mound.
Money pitched in five games, including two starts, and went 1-1 with a 1.29 ERA in 21 innings pitched for Delmarva this month. He gave up nine hits to hold batters to a .127 batting average and only walked four batters and struck out 26.
After a really bad month of April, Money has really picked up his season. In 19 games with nine starts, Money is 3-5 with a 3.45 ERA in 75.2 innings of work. He has given up 59 hits, walked just 19 batters and has struck out 91, holding batters to a .208 average.
It’s not bad for a pitcher who first got national attention in the Little League World Series for having a brother named Cash Money.
Aberdeen IronBirds: Enrique Bradfield Jr. – OF
EBJ has quickly become a fan favorite when it comes to O’s prospects. And it’s well deserved, especially considering that the month of July was his best month of the year.
In 18 games, Bradfield Jr. slashed .324/.388/.423 with a .811 OPS and collected 23 hits, four doubles, a home run and nine RBIs while also stealing 14 bases in 15 attempts.
Bradfield Jr. has been a beast this season in his 71 games with the IronBirds. Having a .749 OPS, 77 hits and stealing 53 bags in 62 attempts are all stats that prove why he is a top five prospect in the O’s farm system.
EBJ has also brought top-tier defense to the team with a cannon of an arm and his illustrious cat-like reflexes, making phenomenal plays in center field.
Bowie Baysox: Seth Johnson – RHP
Does it hurt talking about a prospect who was just traded? Yes, but when you have a really good month, it’s hard not to talk about the impact he made.
In four starts with Bowie in July, Johnson had a 2.12 ERA in 17 innings of work and gave up just 12 hits, four earned runs, walked two batters and struck out nine. He also held batters to a .203 batting average.
Johnson had a stellar season with the Baysox before the trade occurred with the Philadelphia Phillies. In 18 starts, the 25-year-old righty had a 0-6 record but had a 2.63 ERA in 65 innings of work. He gave up 51 hits, 19 earned runs, walked 35 and struck out 61 while holding batters to a .219 batting average.
Johnson will continue to be great in the Phillies system, and we wish him nothing but the best moving forward.
Norfolk Tides: Connor Norby – INF
Let’s add more insult to injury by talking about another prospect who was dealt this past week. Connor Norby was a complete beast in July for the Norfolk Tides and had a real chance to be the overall best prospect of the month.
In 15 games, Norby slashed .344/.431/.607 with a 1.038 OPS, collecting 21 hits, a double, five home runs and 12 RBIs. He also walked 10 times and stole four bases in four attempts.
Norby, of course, had a stellar season overall with the Tides, posting a .908 OPS in 80 games, with 95 hits, 14 doubles, 16 home runs and 57 RBIs, along with 13 stolen bases.
Norby was also showcasing his potential with the Orioles up until his trade to the Miami Marlins for left-handed starter Trevor Rogers.
Overall Prospect: Aron Estrada – INF
Aron Estrada is on a whole other level when it comes to prospects getting hot in July. The 19-year-old has been hot since the month of May and is becoming the most underrated prospect in the O’s system.
In 21 games, Estrada slashed .346/.413/.469 with a .882 OPS, with 28 hits, five doubles, a triple, a home run and eight RBIs. He also stole six bases in nine attempts.
Estrada will hopefully continue being this dominant and will most likely get a call up soon to Aberdeen, where he will get to showcase his abilities against higher competition.
His glove is gold, as he is a very solid defensive player as well. But his biggest accolade right now is that he currently leads the Carolina League with 102 hits on the season.
Which O’s prospects stood out most to you this past month? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, Twitter (X) and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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