It is the second edition of O’s Prospects of the Week, and while it was a difficult stretch across all four affiliates in the Orioles’ system, several individuals continued to stand out.
Even in a challenging week organization-wide, there was no shortage of notable performances. Let’s dive in.
Triple-A Norfolk: José Barrero – INF / Brandon Young – RHP
Although not considered a prospect any longer, José Barrero delivered a standout performance in Norfolk’s series against the Durham Bulls, providing a major boost to the Tides’ lineup.
The 28-year-old infielder hit .400 (8-for-20) across five games, raising his season batting average from .256 to .305. Barrero did significant damage, collecting five extra-base hits — including a double, a triple and three home runs — while driving in six and scoring eight times.
On the young season, Barrero is now slashing .305/.406/.576 with four home runs, nine RBIs and 14 runs scored over 19 games. He has recorded hits in 11 of 15 games this month, highlighted by four multi-hit performances and six games being multiple times on base.
Brandon Young continues to build on his early-season momentum, translating a breakout spot start in Baltimore into sustained success at the Triple-A level.
In his lone start of the week, Young was dominant, tossing 5.2 innings of one-hit ball while allowing just one earned run. He issued two walks but overpowered hitters with 10 strikeouts, throwing 88 pitches (59 strikes) to earn his first win of the season.
Through three starts with Norfolk, Young owns a 1.08 ERA across 16.2 innings, allowing just six hits while striking out 19. Opponents have struggled to generate any consistent offense against the 27-year-old, slashing just .111/.155/.148, backed by a .167 BABIP.
Double-A Chesapeake: Frederick Bencosme – INF / Sebastian Gongora – LHP
It was a tough series in Chesapeake, and identifying an offensive standout required some nuance. While Brandon Butterworth put together multiple three-hit games, Frederick Benscome’s production ultimately stood out.
Benscome recorded just four hits across four games but made them count, finishing the week with a double, home run and eight RBIs. Half of those RBIs came in the Baysox’s lone win of the series on Saturday.
On the mound, consistency has been hard to find, but Sebastian Gongora continued to provide some stability for Chesapeake.
The 24-year-old left-hander turned in another solid outing on Saturday, allowing two runs over four innings while striking out four. Through three starts, Gongora now leads the Baysox with 17 strikeouts and owns a 2.70 ERA.
High-A Frederick: Vance Honeycutt – OF / JT Quinn – RHP
A former first-round pick is beginning to find his stride. Vance Honeycutt delivered an encouraging week, slashing .250/.286/.600 with an .886 OPS. He collected five hits, including two home runs, and drove in four runs.
Honeycutt, 22, is starting to resemble the dynamic hitter he was at North Carolina. On the season, the O’s No. 29 prospect owns a .769 OPS with three home runs, 10 RBIs and four stolen bases. If his approach continues to stabilize, his upside remains significant.
JT Quinn, meanwhile, impressed in his first home appearance since being drafted in 2025. The 21-year-old right-hander tossed five shutout innings, allowing just three hits while walking one and striking out seven.
Through three starts, Quinn has emerged as one of the most dominant arms in the O’s farm. He holds a 0.64 ERA over 14 innings, with 23 strikeouts against just three walks, while limiting opponents to a .167 batting average. The former Georgia standout is quickly building momentum early in his professional career.
Low-A Delmarva: DJ Layton – INF / Kiefer Lord – RHP
Few prospects in the system have been as productive as DJ Layton to start the 2026 season.
The 19-year-old continued his strong run this week, slashing .333/.478/.556 with a 1.034 OPS over five games. He totaled six hits, including a double and his first professional home run, while drawing five walks and stealing two bases.
Layton’s early-season numbers are equally impressive: a .357 average, 1.062 OPS, 15 hits and nine RBIs — all team-leading marks. The 2024 sixth-round pick is quickly establishing himself as a player to watch this season.
On the mound, Kiefer Lord followed up a standout performance with another strong outing. The 23-year-old right-hander went five innings, allowing just two hits and one earned run while striking out eight.
Aside from a rough season debut, Lord has been pretty dominant on the mound. Over his last two starts, he has struck out 18 batters and allowed just two earned runs in 8.2 innings. While he issued three walks in his most recent outing, his overall command has been solid, with just five walks on the year thus far.
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