Six Baltimore Orioles prospects are ranked among the Top 100 MLB prospects for 2024. Who made the list and when could they debut in Baltimore?
Over the weekend, MLB released their Top 100 prospects for 2024. Despite being surpassed by the Cubs for the most ranked prospects, the Orioles lead the league in Top 30 prospects. The Baltimore Orioles have six total prospects ranked in the Top 100 with four prospects in the Top 30.
Leading the way is 20-year-old shortstop Jackson Holliday, baseball’s top prospect for two years in a row. Making the Top 30 for a second year is catcher Samuel Basallo (17) and third baseman Coby Mayo (30). Outfielders Colton Cowser (19) and Heston Kjerstad (32) along with infielder Joey Ortiz (63) also make the Top 100 for the second time.
Meet the Top Orioles Prospects
#1 – Jackson Holliday (SS/2B)
Baseball’s top prospect, Jackson Holliday, had a whirlwind season in 2023. Holiday started the season with the Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds before making his way through the Orioles’ four minor league teams. He was promoted to the High-A Aberdeen IronBirds on April 24th and joined the Double-A Bowie Baysox on July 9th. His promotion to Bowie marked his second promotion in the first four months of the season. Holliday made his way to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides on September 4th where he finished the 2023 season. Following the season, Holliday was named Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America for a second consecutive year.
Jackson Holliday was selected by the Orioles with the first overall pick of the 2022 MLB Draft. The hard-hitting shortstop is the son of former major leaguer and seven-time All-Star Matt Holliday. After his promotion to Triple-A Norfolk, many believed Jackson would be called up to Baltimore for the postseason. While that did not happen, Holliday is on track to make his MLB debut with the Baltimore Orioles in 2024. Holliday will once again be in Sarasota for Spring Training and could even make the Orioles’ 2024 Opening Day roster.
#17 – Samuel Basallo (C/1B)
Samuel Basallo (17) is the second Orioles prospect to make the Top 100 for 2024. The 19-year-old backstop was signed out of the Dominican Republic by the O’s in 2021. Like Holliday, Basallo also made his way up the minor league ladder in 2023. He started his season with Single-A Delmarva before his promotion to High-A Aberdeen in August and Double-A Bowie in September.
Part of what makes Samuel Basallo so good is his ability to pound pitches outside of the zone. Even when pitchers get him to chase they can still get beat. Basallo hit nine homers on pitches outside the zone (videos below). pic.twitter.com/PPQCb30nNL
— Aram Leighton (@AramLeighton8) January 25, 2024
There is virtually no offensive ceiling for Samuel Basallo. He is a power hitter and hits the ball with elite exit velocity. He hit .313 with a .953 OPS as an 18-year-old working his way up the minors in 2023. While there is no doubt Basallo is an elite hitting prospect, there is a question mark surrounding his defensive abilities. Basallo made great strides behind the plate last season throwing out 33% of base stealers. He also spent 25% of the season at first base, giving him flexibility with Adley Rutschman, the franchise catcher in Baltimore. Samuel Basallo is currently on track to make his major league debut in 2025. He will continue to develop between Double-A and Triple-A in 2024 and could become the top prospect of 2025.
#19 – Colton Cowser (OF)
Coming in at #19 of the Top 100 prospects for 2024 is outfielder Colton Cowser. Cowser split time between Triple-A Norfolk and the Orioles in 2023. He made his major league debut in July before being optioned back to Norfolk in August and ultimately activated by Baltimore again in October. He hit .300 with a .937 OPS in 87 games with Norfolk in 2023 but had an average of just .115 in 26 games with Baltimore. Despite his struggles in the big leagues, Cowser’s power was on full display at the Triple-A National Championship in September. He went 2-for-4 with a seventh-inning grand slam in the Tides win and was named the National Championship MVP.
Colton Cowser was the fifth overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft and quickly worked his way up the ladder. Cowser plays a solid center field with a strong arm and great instincts. Both of these were on full display in his time with the Orioles. Looking ahead to next season, Cowser wants to build on his experience in the big leagues last year. Whether or not he makes the Opening Day roster, Colton Cowser should be back in Baltimore in 2024.
#30 – Coby Mayo (3B/1B)
Third baseman Coby Mayo rounds out the Top 30 of MLB’s Top 100 prospects in 2024. Mayo had a breakout season in 2023 and earned his spot on the Triple-A roster. He led the entire Orioles organization in many offensive categories, including extra-base hits, all before his 22nd birthday. The hard-hitting righty had 29 home runs and a .973 OPS across Double-A and Triple-A last season.
Coby Mayo was a fourth-round pick in the 2020 MLB Draft and has been nothing short of impressive in his young career. Not only can he crush a baseball, but he has one of the best arms in the minor leagues and makes throwing from the hot corner look easy. Given the talent that the Orioles have on the left side of the field, Mayo would likely shift to first base in Baltimore. He had 28 starts at first base between Bowie and Norfolk in 2023. Combine his ability to play multiple positions with his hot bat, and it’s clear why Mayo is expected to debut in 2024.
#32 – Heston Kjerstad (OF)
Outfielder Heston Kjerstad makes the list at #32 on the Top 100 of 2024. Kjerstad was the second overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft but developed myocarditis shortly after, forcing him to miss the entire 2021 season. He started his professional career in June 2022 with Single-A Delmarva before being promoted to High-A Aberdeen in July. Kjerstad hit .309 with a .851 OPS in his first year back after his myocarditis diagnosis.
Heston was a non-roster invitee to Spring Training in 2023 and was quickly promoted from Double-A Bowie to Triple-A Norfolk. Kjerstad was among the top five in the Eastern League in multiple offensive categories before his Triple-A promotion. He was selected to the 2023 All-Star Futures Game and made his MLB debut as a pinch hitter in September. The right fielder has the power to drive the ball and the athleticism to command the outfield from any position. It is safe to say Heston Kjerstad will be in Baltimore in 2024.
#63 – Joey Ortiz (INF)
The sixth Orioles prospect to make the Top 100 is 25-year-old Joey Ortiz (63). The fourth-round pick was drafted by the Orioles in 2019 but broke out in 2022 after a torn labrum cut his 2021 season short. He batted .284 with a .826 OPS in 2022 and was promoted from Double-A to Triple-A. Ortiz began the 2023 season with Triple-A Norfolk, splitting time between Norfolk and Baltimore after making his debut in April. He finished with a .321 average and a .885 OPS with the Tides before being recalled to Baltimore in October.
Joey Ortiz is arguably one of, if not the best shortstop in the Orioles organization. He also drew starts at second and third base for both Norfolk and Baltimore last season. His ability to play multiple positions in the infield is invaluable for the Orioles and he has the bat of an everyday player. Ortiz ended the 2023 season with the Orioles and will likely return to Baltimore in 2024.
Looking to 2024
The Orioles have one of the best farm systems in the major leagues and six of the Top 100 MLB prospects in 2024. Star prospects Jackson Holliday and Coby Mayo are expected to make their MLB debut in 2024, while Cowser, Kjerstad, and Ortiz are all expected to return to Baltimore. There is a lot of excitement for 2024 and these young Orioles prospects certainly have something to do with it.
Photo Credit: “Jackson Holliday” by BeGreen90 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
