The Baltimore Orioles have had one of the best farm systems in baseball over the past few years. In fact, as of mid-2022, MLB Pipeline has ranked them as the best in the league. However, they have produced so much young talent over the past few years. While the system is still considered great, it is not what it once was and has fallen out of first place.
However, they didn’t fall too far, only slipping two spots to third place in baseball. They have the best young player in baseball in Jackson Holliday, as well as numbers 10 and 11 in Coby Mayo and Samuel Basallo.
Unlike in past seasons, these are the only three on the top 100 list. For example, Baltimore had six players in the top 100 at the end of 2023, and all but Holliday have graduated.
Although there are only three Orioles players in the top 100, those three are highly touted, which helps keep them ranked so highly. In his second major league stint, Holliday has more of the chops since returning on July 31, with a .909 OPS.
Mayo, on the other hand, was just sent back to the minor leagues after struggling in his debut in Baltimore. However, both he and Basallo had their breakthrough seasons in 2024.
“There’s obviously still a lot to like about this system,” MLB Pipeline said.
Vance Honeycutt, the Orioles’ 2024 first-round pick, didn’t make the top 100, but was promoted to No. 4 in their system. While Honeycutt is exciting, he needs to get his swing and miss-hitting issues under control. If he can prove he can do that in professional baseball, he will strengthen the system even further.
Aside from Honeycutt, the system is still very strong. It’s full of players like Enrique Bradfield Jr., an excellent runner and defender. There are also pitchers with high potential like Cade Povich and Chayce McDermott.
Rising stars like 17-year-old Stiven Martinez and outfielder Jud Fabian are in the 10-20 range, but are still exciting.
Although Baltimore’s system has suffered a setback and is out of the number one ranking for the first time in a few years, the system has not crashed. This is a testament to the player development program the Orioles have put together, which has been evident in their quick turnaround since 2019.
