Two months of the minor-league season are now in the books, and May provided no shortage of standout performances throughout the Baltimore Orioles’ farm system.
In fact, this was arguably the toughest month yet when it came to selecting our Prospects of the Month, as several players made strong cases for recognition.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the Orioles’ top performers from the month of May.
Triple-A Norfolk: Payton Eeles – INF
Few hitters in the O’s system were as consistent in May as Payton Eeles.
Eeles appeared in 22 games for Norfolk and slashed .377/.476/.449 with a .925 OPS, ranking second on the club. He led the Tides with 26 hits while driving in eight runs and drawing 13 walks.
Acquired from the Minnesota Twins in the offseason trade that sent catcher Alex Jackson the other way, Eeles has quickly emerged as one of the organization’s most intriguing depth pieces. Through 31 games, he is hitting .344 with a .470 on-base percentage.
While he is not known for his power, Eeles has collected 32 hits, five extra-base hits, 12 RBIs and an impressive 20-to-20 walk-to-strikeout ratio. If Baltimore needs infield reinforcement at some point this season, Eeles could be a candidate for his major-league debut.
Double-A Chesapeake: Aron Estrada – INF
Aron Estrada continues to be one of the most reliable hitters in the Baysox lineup.
The 21-year-old infielder appeared in 24 games during May, posting a .319 batting average, .500 slugging percentage and .860 OPS. Estrada collected 30 hits, five doubles, four home runs and 12 RBIs this past month.
His 30-hit month marked the first time a Baysox player has reached that total in a single month since Dylan Beavers in August 2023.
While Estrada’s overall numbers trail his breakout 2024 and 2025 campaigns, he remains an important piece of Chesapeake’s offense. He enters June with 47 hits, eight doubles, seven home runs and 23 RBIs while hitting .270 with a .751 OPS.
High-A Frederick: Wehiwa Aloy – INF
Middle infielders dominated this month’s selections, and none were more impressive than Wehiwa Aloy.
In 22 games, Aloy slashed .329/.402/.624 with a team-leading 1.026 OPS. He also led Frederick with 28 hits and six home runs, becoming the first Keys player since Wilson Garcia in July 2018 to lead the club outright in both categories during the same month.
The 2025 Golden Spikes Award winner has enjoyed a remarkable first full professional season. Through 41 games, Aloy leads the Keys with 47 hits and ranks second with 10 home runs.
The 22-year-old is batting .288 with an .878 OPS while pacing the club with 36 RBIs. If he continues producing at this level, a promotion to Double-A Chesapeake may not be far away.
Low-A Delmarva: Caden Hunter – LHP
Dominant is the best way to describe Caden Hunter’s month.
The left-hander made four starts for Delmarva and allowed just two earned runs across 16.2 innings. He surrendered only five hits, walked seven batters and struck out 33.
Hunter became the first Shorebirds starter since Jared Beck in June 2023 to record at least 30 strikeouts in fewer than 20 innings during a single month. He was also the first Delmarva pitcher since Braxton Bragg and Ty Weatherly in August 2024 to make at least four starts while maintaining an ERA below 1.20.
The former USC standout and sixth-round pick has quietly become one of the system’s most effective pitchers. Between Delmarva and Frederick, Hunter owns a 0.99 ERA in 27.1 innings this season. Including his lone Frederick appearance, he struck out 42 batters in 21 innings during May and enters June with 49 strikeouts, 14 walks, just three earned runs allowed and only 11 hits surrendered.
Overall Prospect: Yeiber Cartaya – RHP
The Frederick Keys have been one of the most impressive teams in the Orioles’ farm system, and much of that success can be traced to their pitching staff.
Yeiber Cartaya made five starts in May and, despite receiving five no-decisions, posted a 1.59 ERA — the second-best mark in the South Atlantic League behind Cade Kuehler. Across 22.2 innings, Cartaya allowed just four earned runs while striking out 23 batters.
For the season, Cartaya owns a 1.37 ERA in 39.1 innings, the lowest among qualified starters in the league. He ranks third on Frederick’s staff with 47 strikeouts, trailing only JT Quinn and Joseph Dzierwa, and has surrendered just six earned runs all season.
Last month, Dzierwa earned Frederick’s Prospect of the Month honors. This month, it is Cartaya. More than anything, it highlights just how dominant the Keys’ pitching staff has been throughout the season.
Several prospects narrowly missed the cut after strong performances in May.
Frederick left-hander Boston Bateman posted a 0.89 ERA across 20.1 innings. Norfolk catcher Creed Willems launched seven home runs, matching José Barrero for the organization lead during the month. Chesapeake catcher Ethan Anderson also enjoyed a productive May, while Delmarva catcher Andres Nolaya hit .304 with an .862 OPS.
The competition was exceptionally close this month, and these names only scratch the surface. If May was any indication, the Orioles’ farm system is in excellent shape heading into the summer.
What are your thoughts on our selections? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, X, Bluesky and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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