The final full month of Minor League Baseball is underway, and there has already been plenty of change throughout the Baltimore Orioles organization.
This week, we saw five prospects make their organizational debuts after joining the organization at the 2026 trade deadline.
With that said, let’s take a look at this week’s O’s Prospects of the Week.
Triple-A Norfolk: Creed Willems – C/1B / Chris Bassitt – RHP (Rehab)
While some in Birdland have pined for Creed Willems to replace Adley Rutschman since he was traded to Boston, Willems is doing his best to give Orioles fans a reason to look toward the future for more production from the catcher position.
Willems collected eight hits in 21 at-bats (.381), including a home run, while driving in four runs and scoring three times. Willems, who is slashing .333/.385/.458 in August, has improved his season totals to 17 home runs, four doubles, 54 RBIs and 41 runs scored across 85 games.
For the season, Willems is slashing .271/.359/.455 with a .305 BABIP. The Baltimore Battery’s No. 11-ranked prospect has also been hit by a pitch seven times to go along with 37 walks.
The former eighth-round pick has split time between catcher and first base this season, throwing out just under 20% of would-be base stealers while committing only one error at first base across 23 games.
An important piece for the Orioles down the stretch, this rehab start may have been exactly what Baltimore needed to see as the team continues its pursuit of a postseason berth.
Chris Bassitt finished with a no-decision but pitched six innings of three-hit ball, allowing no runs while striking out five and walking just two. It was his third rehab start and his most effective of the three. It was also one of only two games the Tides won in the series.
Bassitt improved to 0-1 across his three rehab starts with a 1.98 ERA and 0.88 WHIP across 13.2 innings. He struck out 12 batters while walking just four. Opponents hit .178 against him and posted a .219 BABIP during his rehab stint.
It is more than likely that Bassitt will return to the Orioles rotation in his next outing, although Baltimore could elect to give him one more rehab start before making that move. Either way, Bassitt has proven that he is still capable of controlling a game, and that experience could prove valuable for the Orioles down the stretch.
Double-A Chesapeake: Tavian Josenberger – OF / Joseph Dzierwa – LHP
Offensively, we have a new face this week in Tavian Josenberger.
The 24-year-old left-handed outfielder totaled seven hits across six games, recording a hit in five straight contests. Josenberger also put together a three-hit game during the week, and his seven total hits included a double and a home run.
In what has been a difficult season, it was encouraging to see Josenberger put together a strong week during a challenging stretch.
In a week filled with new faces in Chesapeake, a familiar one takes home the Pitcher of the Week honors.
Once again, Joseph Dzierwa shined. In his start on Thursday, Dzierwa tossed six scoreless innings, allowing four hits while striking out nine.
The 22-year-old left-hander has now allowed just four runs over his last 29.2 innings dating back to his last six outings. It would not surprise us if The Baltimore Battery’s No. 4-ranked prospect made another jump and ended the season at Triple-A Norfolk.
High-A Frederick: Enddy Azocar – OF / JT Quinn – RHP
In his first week with the Orioles organization, Enddy Azocar wasted no time making an impact and helped the Keys sweep its series.
Azocar played in five games this week and slashed .417/.444/.792 with a 1.236 OPS. He collected 10 hits, which tied for the league lead, including four doubles, one triple and one home run. The Venezuelan native also drove in eight runs and scored seven times.
Azocar has been putting together an incredible career year. Through 90 games, he is slashing .294/.347/.555 with a career-high .902 OPS. He has already established career-highs in hits (115), doubles (31), triples (7), home runs (19) and RBIs (71).
At just 19 years old, Azocar is already beginning to look like a potential star in the making. The Baltimore Battery’s No. 12-ranked prospect has shown tremendous potential in his first week with Frederick after being acquired as part of the trade that sent three-time All-Star and former No. 1 overall pick Adley Rutschman to the Boston Red Sox.
As for the mound, JT Quinn is showing his Bulldog pride.
In his lone start this week, Quinn pitched 5.2 innings of shutout baseball, allowing just three hits, walking one and striking out seven. It was the third time this season that Quinn has recorded seven strikeouts, with all three outings ranking among his second-highest strikeout totals of the season.
Quinn has pitched in 21 games, including 20 starts, and owns a 3.75 ERA across a team-high 93.2 innings. The 22-year-old right-hander has allowed just 29 earned runs, walked 28 batters and recorded 106 strikeouts, which is tied for the league lead.
The Battery’s No. 23-ranked prospect and former Georgia Bulldog was promoted after his outing to pitch at Prince George’s Stadium for the Double-A Chesapeake Baysox.
Low-A Delmarva: Jordan Sanchez – OF / KK Clark – RHP
Jordan Sanchez decided to look like one of the best hitters in the Orioles system this week.
Sanchez played in all six of the Shorebirds’ games and slashed .429/.452/.679 with a 1.131 OPS. He led the Carolina League with 12 hits, including a double and two home runs while also driving in 10 runs, tying for the league lead.
The 2025 FCL MVP currently owns a career-low .704 OPS, but he is hitting .247 with a career-high 63 hits and a career-high eight home runs. He has also driven in 47 runs with 11 doubles and one triple.
At just 20 years old, Sanchez has now finished his chapter with the Shorebirds, as he was promoted to the High-A Frederick Keys, where he will begin playing this week.
On the pitching side, KK Clark was the best starter on the mound for Delmarva this past week.
Clark pitched four innings, allowing two hits and one earned run while walking two and striking out two. It was just the second start of his professional career.
In his first pro season, Clark has looked solid on the mound. Across seven games, including four starts, he owns a 2-1 record with a 3.38 ERA. The 21-year-old righty has tossed 18.2 innings, allowing 14 hits and seven earned runs while walking 14 and striking out 19.
The 2025 15th-round pick is showing plenty of potential early in his professional career and will be an intriguing arm to follow as he continues to develop down on the farm.
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