Etzel's promotion to Bowie headlines recent line of prospect promotions
The Orioles' farm system has made some notable moves recently. Several players were recently sent to the "principle's office," that is their manager's office, to receive the good news that they were moving up a level in the Minor Leagues. Let's take a look at who got promotions as well as some other transactions in the system.
Promotion
The following players were promoted to their new respective teams within the last week.
OF Matthew Eztel: promoted from A+ Aberdeen to AA Bowie
RHP Michael Forret: promoted from A- Delmarava to A+ Aberdeen
RHP Carlos Tavara: promoted from AA Bowie to AAA Norfolk
C Connor Pavolony: promoted from AA Bowie to AAA Norfolk
OF Donta' Williams: promoted from AA Bowie to AAA Norfolk
Eztel has been Aberdeen's best hitter this season, as he wraps up his time in A+ ball with a .307 batting average, a .479 SLG, and an .857 OSPS. An alumnus of Southern Miss, he collected 37 RBI, 89 total bases, and a ridiculous 31 stolen bases in 51 games for Aberdeen. He went 7-for-21 (.333) in the Ironbirds' recent series split with Brooykln, and he now looks to carry his success over into the next level with the Baysox. He joins an already star-studded outfield with prospects Dylan Beavers, Jud Fabian, and John Rhodes.
Forret, who is currently in his first full professional season, had been seeing great results with Delmarva. He posted a 3.18 ERA and a 1.134 WHIP 10 appearances (8 starts), striking out 49 batters which currently sits at third best on the Shorebirds. Forret's main strength is keeping the ball in the park and limitting the opposing offense's power. He has yet to allow a home run this season. Delmarva felt that there was no need to keep the 20-year-old Forret around anymore, and he will continue his development for Felipe Alou Jr.'s Ironbirds squad.
Tavara, 25, is a former 2021 fifth rounder out of the University of Texas (Arlington). After a down year in 2023 with Bowie in which he posted a 1.607 WHIP and surrendered 15 home runs in 79.2 Double-A innings, the righty enjoyed a nice rebound stint with the Baysox for the start of the 2024 season. Before being promoted to Norfolk, he posted a 1.067 WHIP and a 3.30 ERA in 30 innings. He collected 36 punchouts along the way and surrendered just one single long ball. Tavara has enjoyed a very nice bounce back season so far, and he looks to bring light into what is a hit-or-miss Norfolk Tides bullpen right now.
With starting catcher Maverick Handley landing on the 7-day IL, the Tides are calling upon Pavolony to provide some depth behind the dish where David Banuelos and Blake Hunt are currently working right now. The Tennessee alumnus was batting just .198 with Bowie, but his defense behind the dish is amongst some of the strongest and most reliable in the entire organization. Pitchers should definitely enjoy throwing to Pavolony, a catcher who can step in and anchor a pitching staff while performing to expectations defensively as a catcher. He will now get his shot at Norfolk where he will look to work in with Banuelos and Hunt while helping get the pitching staff ready for battle.
Williams, a 2021 fourth rounder from the University of Arizona, might be getting a change of scenery. In 138 Double- A games, he is just a .192 hitter and was batting just .179 for Bowie prior to being assigned to the Tides. However, he still proves highly valuable thanks to his electric speed (57 career stolen bases) and his ability to cover extreme ground in centerfield. Some of the plays that he has made in center field in recent years are Cedric Mullins quality plays, and it is hard to not put a guy out there who can run around in the outfield like Williams does. The 25-year-old outfielder departs the Baysox after 2 seasons and will look to take advantage of a fresh start and find his groove with the Norfolk Tides.
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