The month of June is one of the most important stretches on the Minor League Baseball calendar.
As the first-half of the season comes to a close, organizations begin evaluating which players have earned promotions heading into the second-half.
With that in mind, here are The Baltimore Battery’s O’s Prospects of the Month for June.
Triple-A Norfolk: José Barrero – INF
José Barrero has been a driving force behind Norfolk’s offense all season, and June was no exception.
In 22 games, Barrero slashed .253/.349/.533 while posting a team-best .882 OPS. He collected 19 hits, three doubles, six home runs and tied for the team-lead with 13 RBIs. He also stole four bases in five attempts and drew nine walks.
While his .234 batting average is the fourth-lowest of his full-season minor-league career, his .835 OPS ranks as the third-highest. He has totaled 57 hits, nine doubles, one triple and 17 home runs, leaving him just two shy of matching his career-high of 19.
With the way he is producing, Barrero remains a legitimate candidate to make his Orioles debut later this season.
Double-A Chesapeake: Sebastian Gongora – LHP
In his first season at the Double-A level, Sebastian Gongora has quickly established himself as one of the Baysox’s most reliable starters.
The 24-year-old left-hander went 4-1 with a 2.49 ERA across 25.1 innings in June. He allowed just 14 hits and seven earned runs while striking out 24 batters, tied for fourth on the team. Opponents also hit just .161 against him, the lowest batting average against on the staff.
Gongora’s season ERA sits at 3.19, nearly two runs lower than it was in 2025, despite already surpassing last year’s innings total. He also has 73 strikeouts, putting him just 13 away from matching his career-high of 86.
The Baltimore Battery’s No. 28 prospect is making a compelling case to earn a promotion to Norfolk. The former 11th-round pick has developed into a legitimate starting pitching prospect for Baltimore.
High-A Frederick: Victor Figueroa – 1B
Victor Figueroa continues to look like one of the biggest steals from the Orioles’ 2025 trade deadline sell-off.
The 22-year-old first baseman slashed .253/.309/.644 with a .953 OPS in June, recording 22 hits, four doubles, 10 home runs, 27 RBIs and seven walks. His 10 home runs led the entire South Atlantic League and made him the first Frederick player since Jeff Fiorentino in August of 2005 to hit double-digit home runs in a single month.
Figueroa now has 21 home runs on the season, leaving him just five shy of tying the Frederick franchise record of 26. He is also hitting to the tune of a .901 OPS with 65 hits, 11 doubles and 62 RBIs.
Few hitters in Baltimore’s farm system have been more productive this season, and The Baltimore Battery’s No. 13 prospect has firmly inserted himself into the conversation for the Brooks Robinson Minor League Player of the Year, while building a strong case for South Atlantic League MVP honors.
Low-A Delmarva: Jaiden Lo Re – INF
Choosing a representative from Delmarva was not an easy task, but Jaiden Lo Re separated himself with another outstanding month.
The 19-year-old infielder slashed .333/.471/.435 with a .906 OPS while collecting 23 hits, four doubles, one home run and 12 RBIs. His approach at the plate was especially impressive, as he drew 18 walks while stealing 11 bases in 13 attempts.
Lo Re has been one of the biggest breakout performers in the Orioles’ system this season. Between the Florida Complex League and Delmarva, he has totaled 46 hits, 26 RBIs, 27 walks and 18 stolen bases while striking out just 14 times in 134 at-bats. He also owns an outstanding .896 OPS.
For a player drafted in the fifth round just last year, The Baltimore Battery’s No. 19 prospect is developing quickly and continues to establish himself as one of the organization’s fastest risers.
Top Prospect of the Month: Joseph Dzierwa – LHP
Joseph Dzierwa simply does not take his foot off the gas.
The 22-year-old left-hander logged a team-high 25.2 innings in June while posting a 2.10 ERA. He surrendered just 19 hits and six earned runs, walked only eight batters and struck out a team-best 27.
Dzierwa continues to strengthen his case as the Orioles’ premier pitching prospect. Standing 6-foot-8, The Baltimore Battery’s No. 5 prospect has drawn comparisons to Randy Johnson and Chris Sale thanks to both his frame and his ability to overpower hitters.
Through 76.1 innings this season, Dzierwa owns a 2.48 ERA with just 21 earned runs allowed. He has walked only 19 batters while striking out 96, limiting opponents to a .181 batting average and carrying a 0.92 WHIP.
Honorable Mentions
Like last month, several players put together outstanding performances but narrowly missed earning Prospect of the Month honors.
Frederick outfielder Ike Irish posted a .939 OPS while driving in 20 runs and drawing 18 walks. Delmarva catcher Miguel Rodríguez hit .340 with 17 RBIs.
Chesapeake catcher Ethan Anderson continued his power surge, posting a 1.001 OPS with seven home runs. And Norfolk utility man Christian Encarnacion-Strand stayed hot, collecting 19 hits and six home runs during the month.
What are your thoughts on our O’s Prospects of the Month for June? 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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