The years of suffering for fans could end as the Baltimore Orioles farm system has taken over the number one spot in baseball. Two years after finishing 48 games out of first place in the AL East, the Orioles have built a superb farm system with fans excited and eager for what’s next.
Top Prospects in the Baltimore Orioles Farm System
SS Jackson Holliday
The number one pick in the 2022 draft, Holliday has taken over the number one spot in the Orioles farm system and baseball. The son of Matt Holliday, Jackson has been able to move through the minor league quickly.
He has been viewed as a player with an advanced approach at the plate and a short, compact swing that can drive the ball to all field parts. He also possesses good power with his bat as well. This has led to Holliday hitting 42 extra-base hits (10 home runs, nine triples, and 23 doubles). His patience at the plate has also been a strong point of his game. He has drawn 82 walks over 98 games this season in three minor league levels.
Defensively, he has the tools to stick at the shortstop position long-term. With Holliday being able to move up the ranks as quickly as he has, a spot on the Orioles roster in 2024 is not out of the question at all.
OF Colton Cowser
Another top-five pick by the Orioles, fifth overall in the 2021 draft, Cowser was another player who has been able to move up the minor league ranks rather quickly. He has taken over a top spot in the Baltimore Orioles farm system and is number 14 in the top 100 in baseball.
Viewed as an all-around dangerous hitter by many, Cowser possesses a great swing at the plate and has good plate discipline. He has been able to show some pop in his bat as well. He has 12 home runs in Triple-A in 64 games while walking 53 times.
Defensively, his above-average arm should help him move into a corner outfield spot. But he has spent most of his time in center field in the 2023 season.
Cowser earned a call-up to the big leagues in July 2023 before being sent back to Triple-A after hitting .115 in 26 games for Baltimore.
OF Heston Kjerstad
The second overall pick in the 2020 draft by Baltimore, Kjerstad is another top-100 prospect in baseball, sitting at number 25 on the list. He also slots himself in with Cowser as one of the top outfielders in the Baltimore Orioles farm system.
Kjerstad missed the entire 2021 season after being diagnosed with myocarditis but was able to move to High-A ball in 2022. He is mainly known as a power hitter but can also hit for average. In 2023, he has been able to hit .307 and 19 home runs in 106 games so far.
Defensively, he has below-average speed, which will likely lead to him being a corner outfielder in his career.
Kjerstad is another prospect who could jump to the big leagues next season.
3B/1B Coby Mayo
The first prospect on the list that was picked outside of the first round, Mayo was a fourth-round selection by Baltimore in the 2020 draft. He has been able to climb the rankings in both the Baltimore Orioles farm system and in the top 100. He currently sits at number 28 in the top 100.
Mayo’s most significant asset on the offensive side is his above-average bat power. He is more of a pull hitter than a spray hitter. So far, in 2023, he has hit 21 home runs and 40 doubles. His average has also jumped from .247 last season to .282 in 2023.
Defensively, many believe he could have the best arm as a third baseman in the entire minor league system league-wide (MiLB). He is yet another prospect who could be pushing for a spot in 2024 for the Orioles lineup.
C/1B Samuel Basallo
An international signing by Baltimore in 2021, Basallo has taken over the top spot catcher-wise in the Baltimore Orioles farm system, with Adley Rutschmann now in the majors.
Sitting at 6-4, his frame helps him project above-average power at the plate, but he is also viewed as a raw hitter. He needs to shorten his swing up to keep up with higher-level pitching as he works through the minors. He has been able to hit 14 home runs this season between A and High-A ball so far.
Defensively, he is also raw behind the plate at the catcher position but has an above-average arm. His arm could lead him to shift to first base at some point. As a result, he has spent time in the 2023 season at first base.
As a 19-year-old, Basallo has time to develop and will likely not be rushed to the significant league level soon.
Overall, the Orioles have built a farm system that gives fans hope that they will continue their upward swing. With players like Rutschmann and Gunnar Henderson making their way to the MLB, the future is bright for the Orioles.
Main Photo Credits: Lauren Roberts/Salisbury Daily Times / USA TODAY NETWORK
