The 2026 Minor League Baseball season is just about over for most teams, which means we are entering the first part of the offseason: the Arizona Fall League.
For those who do not know, the Arizona Fall League is a minor-league development league where players from across baseball are split among six Arizona teams. Each team will play at least 30 games, giving prospects an opportunity to get additional reps and continue developing during the offseason.
This season, the Baltimore Orioles will be represented by the Peoria Javelinas, with eight prospects selected to take their games to the next level this offseason. Let’s take a look at those players.
PITCHERS
Five different pitchers were selected, and the talent and reasons for their selections range from exceptional pitchers returning from injuries to those who need additional work to take the next step in their development.
Leading the pack is The Baltimore Battery’s 18th-ranked prospect, right-hander Braxton Bragg, who missed the entire 2026 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery late in 2025. Bragg was on a roll before the injury, posting a 1.68 ERA across 59 innings last season.
Joining Bragg from the Chesapeake Baysox is right-hander Patrick Reilly, who came over to the Orioles at the 2024 trade deadline from Pittsburgh in exchange for outfielder Billy Cook. After making three starts in 2025, Reilly also underwent Tommy John surgery and returned in June of this season. He made 13 starts and posted a 5.09 ERA across 53 innings.
Right-hander Teddy Sharkey has battled injuries throughout his career. Originally drafted in 2023, Sharkey’s 16 games in 2026 were a career-high, while his 1.21 ERA was a career-low. He will see action in Arizona this fall.
The final pitcher returning from an injury is right-hander Kiefer Lord. Another 2023 draft pick, Lord missed the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. His 14 starts this season were a career-high, as was the 4.92 ERA he posted.
The final pitcher is the sole left-hander, Kailen Hamson. The 2025 draft pick worked as a reliever for the organization this season, posting a 6.82 ERA while allowing opponents to hit .287 against him.
POSITION PLAYERS
Only three position players were sent to the AFL, with the group featuring a pair of outfielders and a versatile utility player.
Highlighting the group is The Battery’s No. 6 prospect, outfielder Ike Irish. The former first-round pick played 76 games this season with the High-A Frederick Keys and slashed .286/.388/.528 with a .916 OPS. He collected 83 hits, 20 doubles and 16 home runs before his season was cut short in July after tearing his meniscus while sliding into second base.
Joining Irish in the outfield is The Battery’s 30th-ranked prospect, Vance Honeycutt. Originally drafted in the first round in 2024, Honeycutt has experienced his share of struggles, but he put together a career-year in 2026.
Honeycutt slashed .208/.309/.423 with a .732 OPS. His power was a significant improvement, as he crushed 15 home runs, while his speed remained one of his biggest strengths, as he stole 38 bases. Honeycutt also battled injuries this season, fitting the trend of several of the players selected for the AFL this year.
The final position player is utility man Brandon Butterworth. The Battery’s 24th-ranked prospect had an injury-filled year but also put together a career-season.
Butterworth slashed .262/.370/.473 with a career-high .843 OPS. He collected 77 hits, 14 home runs and 19 stolen bases while continuing to improve his defensive versatility, seeing time in both the infield and outfield this season at the Double-A and Triple-A levels.
The AFL has featured plenty of former Orioles top prospects throughout the years, including Heston Kjerstad, Creed Willems, Ethan Anderson and Luis De León, to name a few.
Just last year, Detroit Tigers shortstop Kevin McGonigle played in the Arizona Fall League and is now looking like one of the top candidates for the 2026 American League Rookie of the Year Award.
We are excited to see how these eight prospects perform this year in the AFL and, more importantly, how the experience helps them continue developing as they move forward in their careers.
What are your thoughts on the players selected this season? 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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