The Baltimore Orioles are looking for any offensive firepower they can get out of their young prospects. Top shortstop hopeful Wehiwa Aloy‘s prospect status is growing, thanks to a blazing start to the 2026 season. That comes as most of their big-name prospects, from Jackson Holliday to Samuel Basallo, struggle to live up to their hype.
Baltimore selected Aloy in the competitive balance round of the 2025 MLB draft, looking to beef up their infielder depth as their farm system dwindled. The 22-year-old made a strong statement in 2025, going .288/.356/.856 with two home runs and nine doubles with six stolen bases. In 2026, he’s making strides in his play after making the jump to High-A.
Wehiwa Aloy’s Prospect Status Jumps on Back of Improved Hitting
Aloy grades out at a 50 overall prospect, suggesting an average MLB-caliber player. Scouts have noted his above-average power grade for a shortstop, along with a slightly advanced arm and fielding range, which earned him a Golden Spikes award. In 2025, the Arkansas product swatted 21 home runs and slugged 1.107, one of the best stat lines in the college season.
“Aloy offers uncommon power for a middle infielder,” the Baseball Savant scouting report notes. “He generates plus raw pop with a combination of bat speed and strength that produced 35 homers in two seasons at Arkansas and eight in only 21 games in the Cape Cod League in between his sophomore and junior seasons. The power plays to all fields and against quality pitching, though it’s especially potent to his pull side.”
WEHIWA ALOY THREE-HOMER GAME!@FrederickKeys | @Orioles | @RazorbackBSB pic.twitter.com/Au0lloGzp0
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) May 10, 2026
In just the first 27 games this season, Aloy already has 10 home runs and 28 RBI, along with three doubles and a triple. That made him the 21st player to hit 10 home runs in the season so far, the fourth player at high-A to do that as well. He also leads the team’s farm system in home runs.
The strikeout rate remains a little high at just over 25%, but Aloy holds a healthy 8.5% walk rate through the same timespan. The discrepancy between walks and strikeouts is something seen at Arkansas, where he would usually strikeout more than walk, which was taken into account in his scouting report.
Wehiwa Aloy clubbed 3 HR yesterday, giving him 10 on the season and raising his OPS to .985 over 121 PA. He’s showing a very balanced batted ball profile to start the year and is 1 of 18 players with 10 HR and an OPS over .950. pic.twitter.com/K0VI4BDKci
— Running From The OPS (@OPS_BASEBALL) May 11, 2026
“His right-handed swing can get overly uphill and become susceptible to swing-and-miss, particularly against breaking balls outside the zone,” the 2026 report reads. “But improved pitch selection could unlock more of his overall offensive profile.”
Aloy’s Prospect Status a Great Boost for Depleting O’s Farm System
Not too long ago, the Orioles had the best farm system in the major leagues, boasting talents like the aforementioned Holliday, Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, and others. As they’ve graduated, the team has struggled to find repeated success both in their hitting and pitching departments. Bleacher Report currently ranks the team’s farm system as 24th in baseball, with little talent to show for it.
There have been serious questions about the actual ceiling of the Orioles’ infield, especially with Jordan Westburg not on the roster. Jackson Holliday is injured and isn’t performing at the first-overall pick level, while Gunner Henderson struggles to reclaim his 2024 season magic. Coby Mayo, another one of the team’s infield prospects, has a .192 career batting average so far.
Wehiwa Aloy’s prospect status is growing, which could help alleviate some of those concerns at the shortstop and third-base position. If Aloy were to take shortstop, that could bump Holliday to second and Henderson to third, which could suit them well. Fielding-wise, it would make sense if he were to develop his range and arm above the 60 grade.
Batting-wise, it would boost the team’s offensive output immediately. Aloy’s pop, unusual for a shortstop, could slide right in with Pete Alonso or Tyler O’Neill‘s bat in any lineup. In the worst-case scenario, if the team is desperate for impact players or in a win-now mentality, Aloy could net a player for the trade deadline. For now, expect him to remain an Orioles prospect for the foreseeable future.
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