The 2026 Minor League Baseball season is officially over, which means it is time to announce The Baltimore Battery’s 2026 O’s Prospects of the Year.
Nick Dooling and I, Zack Bucklew, have constructed a team featuring nine position players, a five-man rotation and a three-person bullpen made up of prospects who were incredible to watch throughout the season while showing plenty of skill and potential.
From breakout seasons to dominant pitching performances, this group represents some of the best the Orioles’ farm system had to offer in 2026.
Let’s take a look at The Battery’s 2026 O’s Prospects of the Year.
Catcher: Creed Willems
In his sixth year of professional baseball, Creed Willems set multiple career-highs while finally reaching the Triple-A level. The Battery’s No. 15 prospect set career-bests in games played (113), batting average (.260), on-base percentage (.351), OPS (.785), hits (102), home runs (21), walks (51) and RBIs (72).
Willems also recorded his fourth consecutive season with at least 15 home runs and his second straight season with more than 100 games played. He was also called up to the Orioles’ taxi squad multiple times throughout the season.
With another productive year under his belt and Triple-A experience now on his résumé, it is possible we see Willems compete for a spot on the 2027 Orioles roster and make his MLB debut next season.
First Base: Victor Figueroa
Victor Figueroa was not the headline of the Ryan O’Hearn trade at the 2025 deadline, but he has quietly turned into one of the more underrated pieces of that deal.
Figueroa played 115 games between the Frederick Keys and Chesapeake Baysox and posted a .865 OPS. The Battery’s No. 19 prospect finished with 116 hits, 20 doubles, 27 home runs and 93 RBIs while showing plenty of power and versatility throughout the season.
With the Keys, Figueroa was a major power threat, hitting 22 home runs and 15 doubles while recording 40 extra-base hits among his 79 hits. After moving up to Chesapeake, he collected 37 hits with 11 going for extra bases.
Second Base: Aron Estrada
When talking about prospects taking their game to another level, Aron Estrada is the perfect example.
Like Willems, Estrada is an experienced player in the Orioles system who set multiple career-highs this season. In his fifth pro campaign, The Battery’s No. 2 prospect set career-bests in games played (128), hits (137), doubles (21), home runs (25) and RBIs (81).
Estrada also recorded his third consecutive season with more than 100 hits, his second straight season with an OPS above .800 and his third straight season with a batting average above .280.
Third Base: Jaiden Lo Re
Jaiden Lo Re had one of the fastest climbs through the O’s farm system since Jackson Holliday.
Lo Re started the year in rookie ball and climbed all the way to High-A Frederick. In his first 88 games as a professional, The Battery’s No. 7 prospect slashed .324/.425/.441 with a .866 OPS.
The 19-year-old finished the season with 99 hits, 18 doubles, three triples and four home runs while driving in 60 runs and stealing 26 bases in 32 attempts. Perhaps most impressively, Lo Re struck out just 35 times while drawing 54 walks.
Shortstop: Wehiwa Aloy
We have our first 2025 first-round pick, and it is the 2025 Golden Spikes winner and The Battery’s No 1 overall prospect.
Wehiwa Aloy just completed his first full professional season and was arguably the best offensive player in the entire farm system. Aloy slashed .288/.358/.506 with a .864 OPS in 123 games between Frederick and Chesapeake.
Aloy finished with 136 hits, 20 doubles, 25 home runs and 92 RBIs while also stealing 20 bases, making him a 20-20 prospect. He has the potential to be a true five-tool player and could eventually become one of the leaders of the Orioles for years to come.
Outfield: Enrique Bradfield Jr.
After an injury-filled 2025 season, Enrique Bradfield Jr. bounced back in 2026 and showed why he was a first-round pick in 2023.
Bradfield Jr. slashed .262/.352/.363 with a .715 OPS and recorded 93 hits, 13 doubles, four triples and a career-high five home runs. The Battery’s No. 25 prospect also set a career-high with 38 RBIs while continuing to showcase his elite speed with 44 stolen bases, which broke the Norfolk Tides’ single-season stolen base record.
After completing his fourth season in the organization, Bradfield Jr. will look to build on his strong 2026 campaign and make a case for his MLB debut during the 2027 season.
Outfield: Ike Irish
Continuing the first-round pick train, Ike Irish had a fantastic first full season with the Orioles organization.
The Battery’s No. 6 prospect played 76 games with the Frederick Keys and slashed .286/.388/.528 with a .916 OPS. He recorded 83 hits, 20 doubles, 16 home runs and 20 stolen bases.
Unfortunately, Irish’s season was cut short after he tore his meniscus while sliding into second base in July. He will continue his development this offseason after being selected by the Orioles to participate in the Arizona Fall League, an important development opportunity for young players.
Outfield: Enddy Azocar
The final outfielder on this team spent just a short amount of time with the Orioles organization but was an offensive machine during that stretch.
Enddy Azocar came over in the Adley Rutschman trade and played just 25 games with the Keys. In that time, he hit .327 with a .901 OPS and continued what was an impressive 2026 season overall.
The Battery’s No. 5 prospect finished the year with career highs in hits (139), doubles (35) and home runs (21). His brief stint with Frederick may have been one of the most productive stretches of his season, earning him a spot on the 2026 South Atlantic League All-Star Team.
Designated Hitter: Ethan Anderson
The final position player on the team is someone who looks to be nearing the big leagues.
In his third pro season, Ethan Anderson made significant improvements across the board. The Battery’s No. 17 set new career-highs in on-base percentage (.375), slugging percentage (.544), OPS (.919), hits (99), doubles (16), home runs (24) and RBIs (55).
At 23 years old, Anderson could be an option behind the plate alongside Samuel Basallo as the Orioles continue to build their catching depth. Anderson was also named to the Eastern League All-Star Team.
Starting Pitcher: Joesph Dzierwa
In his first professional season, Joseph Dzierwa may have put himself into the conversation as a potential future ace for the Orioles.
Dzierwa made 26 appearances, including 24 starts, and went 9-2 with a 2.27 ERA. He pitched 131 innings, allowing 88 hits and 33 earned runs while walking just 30 and striking out 149.
Dzierwa was named the 2026 recipient of the Jim Palmer MiLB Pitcher of the Year Award and was selected to the 2026 Eastern League All-Star Team. The Battery’s No. 4 prospect is also nominated for the MiLB Pitching Prospect of the Year Award, which will be announced on September 28.
Starting Pitcher: Anthony Eyanson
Another prospect acquired in the Adley Rutschman trade, Anthony Eyanson, like Dzierwa, is someone who could also be in the conversation for a spot near the top of the Orioles’ rotation in the near future.
Despite a 2.03 ERA being his highest ERA with any team this season, Eyanson was still one of the best pitchers in the Orioles system. The Battery’s No. 3 prospect pitched 31 innings across six starts, allowing seven earned runs while walking just nine and striking out 47.
Eyanson was named the Eastern League Pitcher of the Year and is nominated for MiLB Debut of the Year and Pitching Prospect of the Year. He was also selected to the Eastern League All-Star Team.
Starting Pitcher: Caden Hunter
The final part of the three-headed Baysox monster in this rotation is left-hander Caden Hunter.
The sixth-round pick made his professional debut this season and looked like another one of Mike Elias’ diamonds in the rough from the 2025 draft. Hunter made 25 appearances, including 23 starts, and posted a 2.01 ERA over 103 innings.
The Battery’s No. 10 prospect allowed 23 earned runs, walked 47 batters and struck out 151 and also held opposing hitters to a .171 batting average while posting a 1.06 WHIP.
Starting Pitcher: Boston Bateman
Earlier, we talked about the trade that brought Victor Figueroa to Baltimore. Now it is time to discuss the headliner of that return.
Boston Bateman improved during his second professional season after making five roller-coaster starts for the Orioles organization in 2025. Bateman spent the entire 2026 season with the Keys and posted a 3.65 ERA over 86.1 innings.
The Battery’s No. 16 prospect allowed 35 earned runs, walked 48 batters, held opponents to a .228 batting average and struck out 117.
Starting Pitcher: JT Quinn
In his first professional season, JT Quinn showed just why the Orioles selected him in last year’s draft, pitching 116.2 innings across 26 games, including 25 starts, and posting a 3.39 ERA.
The Battery’s No. 26 prospect allowed 44 earned runs and 97 hits while walking just 40 batters and striking out 129.
Quinn might not have the profile of an ace, but he looks like a solid arm who could eventually slot into the middle of the Orioles’ rotation.
Relief Pitcher: Micah Ashman
Micah Ashman looked extremely reliable in his 37 appearances this season, pitching 51.1 innings, allowing just 10 earned runs, walking 15 and striking out a career-high 82 batters.
Ashman also recorded seven holds and converted five of seven save opportunities while posting a 1.75 ERA.
Acquired in the Charlie Morton trade with the Detroit Tigers last season, Ashman could have a path to the 2027 Orioles as another potential bullpen weapon. He was also selected to the Eastern League All-Star Team.
Relief Pitcher: Braeden Sloan
Once again, we have another Mike Elias diamond in the rough from the 2025 MLB Draft in Braeden Sloan, who pitched in 36 games and posted a 1.43 ERA over 50.1 innings this season.
Sloan allowed just eight earned runs, walked 20 and struck out 70. He also recorded two holds and converted four of six save opportunities while being named to the South Atlantic League All-Star Team.
The Orioles’ bullpen struggled throughout 2026, but the organization is beginning to build some intriguing options for the near future.
Relief Pitcher: Andrew Magno
At 28 years old, Andrew Magno just completed his seventh minor-league season and had a very productive year.
Magno posted a 1.70 ERA over 53 innings, allowing a career-low 10 earned runs while walking 32 and striking out 55. He also recorded a career-high six holds and converted 11 of 13 save opportunities.
Magno is a left-hander who has continued to produce despite his age and lack of big-league experience. After another strong season, he could be in line for an opportunity to make his MLB debut in 2027.
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