A look at how all four Baltimore Orioles Minor League affilates performed this past week
*Cover Photo Credit: Grant DeVivo
It is All-Star week, and the All-Star festivities have begun! For the Orioles, their festivities occured on Saturday with some prospect action as No. 2 prospect Samuel Basallo represented the Orioles in the 2024 Futures Game. The 19-year-old phenom catcher had the chance to show off his skills on one of the brightest stages of a young prospect's up and rising professional career.
Last night, former 2nd round pick and former No. 1 prospect Gunnar Henderson competed in the 2024 T-Mobile Home Run Derby against some of the game's most established and most popular sluggers including Pete Alonso and Jose Ramirez. His 11 home runs were not enough to advance him to the second round. Tonight, he will help represent the Orioles the next day at the 2024 All-Star Game alongside former top prospects Adley Rutschman and Jordan Westburg, and Bowie Baysox alumni Anthony Santander.
This week, all Minor League teams will enjoy a 4-day All-Star break up until Friday, in which all teams will resume play with a 3-game weekend series. As both Major and Minor League Baseball enter the All-Star break, here is a look at how each Orioles affiliate did leading up to a four-day rest.
AAA Norfolk Tides
The Tides rebounded from dropping a 6-game set with the Durham Bulls with a 4-2 series win at the Memphis Red Birds (Cardinals AAA). Last week was all about the offense, whether it was late-game clutch hitting or an onslaught.

It started on Tuesday when both teams entered the top of the 9th inning at a 4-4 tie. Orioles No. 5 prospect Connor Norby broke that tie with a go-ahead solo home run which was eventually followed by a Niko Goodrum insurance RBI single, and that sealed the deal in a Tides 6-4 win. They were 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position that night. In Thursday's 3-2 win, Norby played hero again by driving in the winning run on a sacrafice fly. Come Friday through Sunday, the Tides went 2-1 and outscored the Red Birds 28-16. In Friday's 11-1 victory, Norby again had himself a night by going 2-for-3 with 2 walks. Daniel Johnson collected 3 RBI while Garrett Cooper collected 2 RBI of his own. In Saturday's 12-7 win, utility man Nick Maton drove in 6 while Goodrum and Coby Mayo collected 3 hits each. In Sunday's series finale, No. 1 prospect Jackson Holliday had a great day, going 3-for-5 with an RBI and 2 stolen bases. The bats swung it well all week. They never slowed down and they helped contribute to a well-played series win.
Amidst the offensive noise, some pitchers had great outings last week as well. No. 19 prospect Justin Armbruester went 6 innings without allowing a run, striking out a career-high 10 batters while walking just one and allowing just 3 hits on 89 pitches (60 strikes). No. 7 prospect Chayce McDermott got the ball on Friday and tossed 6.2 innings with 7 strikeouts. He also did not allow a run, and he was named the International League Pitcher of the Week as a result of his outing.
Norfolk is now 8-9 in the second half, and they are 44-48 overall. They had such a great week, that I decided to pick four outstanding performers instead of the traditional three.
IF Connor Norby: the O's No. 4 prospect went 8-for-23 (.348) in the series and drove in both of the game-winning runs in both Tuesday and Wednesday's victories. He had 3 RBI in the series and walked 6 times.
IF Nick Maton: the 27-year-old went 5-for-18 (.278) in the series but made some loud noise with the bat in the final three games. He went 5-for-11 in those three games with 3 home runs and 9 RBI, and he had a 2-homer 6-RBI effort on Saturday.
RHP Justin Armbruester: the top pitching prospect absolutely dealt on Thursday, as he went 6 scoreless innings while striking out a career-high 10 batters and allowing just 3 hits.
RHP Chayce McDermott: the Orioles' No. 7 prospect won International Leaue Pitcher of the Week after going 6.2 scoreless innings on Friday with 7 punchouts.
Norfolk will enjoy the All-Star break up until Friday, when they will take the field again and face the Nashville Sounds (Brewers AAA) for a brief 3-game weekend stint.
AA Bowie Baysox
The Baysox just cannot figure out the Altoona Curve (Pirates AA) right now. They dropped the 6-game set to them last week 5-1, and they are just 2-10 in their last two series against them.

Each game was a close contest with the biggest run differential being 4 runs, a 4-0 shutout loss on Tuesday. They Baysox did not have an offensive answer against Altoona pitching last week, which is what the series loss came down to. They were 6-for-38 with runners in scoring position the entire series, scored just 8 runs, struckout 53 times, and stranded 37 runners on base. Those types of numbers will not get the job done, and it is a shame because some starters had some great outings in which they could have used some offensive support but instead ended up with the loss. No. 15 prospect Trace Bright fell to 0-9 on the season even after going 4 innings and allowing just a single run on 3 hits. No. 9 prospect Seth Johnson got charged with the loss on Wednesday for throwing 5 innings of one run ball, and he only needed 69 pitches (45 strikes) to do so. No. 23 prospect Alex Pham, who got Eastern League Pitcher of the Week, went 6 shutout innings on a 1-hit effort on Thursday and came out with just a no decision. To Bowie's defense (somewhat), they were up against some tough pitching in three Pirates pitching prospect including Thomas Harrington, Po-Yu Chen, and their No. 1 prospect Bubba Chandler. Nonetheless, an offensive performance like this is not the answer towards winning ballgames, especially with the offensive talent that Bowie has.
The Baysox fall to 40-46 overall and 8-10 in the second half, good for 4th place in the Estern League Southwest. Here are three standout performers from last week's series at Altoona.
RHP Alex Pham: the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week went 6 shutout innings on Thursday, allowing just one hit while striking out 5 batters. He needed just 79 pitches, 53 of them being strikes.
RHP Peter Van Loon: the right-hander has looked excellent since coming off the Injured List in June. He still has not allowed a run this season, and he allowed just 3 hits in a 4-inning start on Friday that included 6 strikeouts .
RHP Seth Johnson: the Orioles' top pitching prospect may have been charged with the loss on Wednesday, but he still gave the Baysox a chance and looked sharp. He went 5 innings, allowing just 1 run on 4 hits with 4 strikeouts and no walks.
Bowie has off until Friday, when they will come home for a brief 3-game set against the Hartford Yard Goats (Rockies AA) and the Rockies' No. 1 prospect Adael Amador. They are 2-4 against Hartford this season, but will look to use the All-Star break to their advantage and reboot for what should be an exciting series full of some of the game's brightest prospects. If you find me there on either Saturday or Sunday, come by and say hi!
A+ Aberdeen Ironbirds
The Ironbirds did battle in Asheville Tourists (Astros A+) territory, and they made it clear that they were not on a tourist trip, but a business trip. The 'Birds took care of business with a 4-2 series win against the Tourists.

Like Norfolk, Aberdeen had a good week with the bats. Tuesday was perhaps their best offensive performance. In a 12-2 win, the team took advantage of scoring opportunities and went 5-for-10 with runners in scoring position, stranding only 4 baserunners. No. 4 prospect Enrique Bradfield Jr. had himself a day by going 3-for-4 with 2 RBI and 3 stolen bases, raising his season total to an absurd 44 stolen bases. Yeah, speed kills. Mac Horvath also clobbered a 3-run home run that same game. Towards the end of the series, the Ironbirds began to utilize the long ball. They hit 6 of them in the final three games. Three of them came on Sunday courtesy of Tavian Josenberger (7), Jalen Vazquez (2), and Randy Florentino (1). The slim speed-demon Bradfield even flexed some pop on Saturday and was one of two home runs for the Ironbirds that evening. It was his third of the season.
Several other Ironbirds hitters had impressive individual games as well. On Sunday, aside from his first home run of the season, Florentino ended up going 3-for-4 with 4 RBI and 2 runs scored. Reed Trimble was 2-for-5 on Friday night with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Carter Young hit his fourth home run of the season on Wednesday and went 3-for-4.
Aberdeen stays above .500 in the second half with a 12-9 record, and they are just 4 games behind first place in the Eastern League North. They are 46-41 overall. Here are three standout performers from last week for Aberdeen.
OF Enrique Bradfield Jr.: the former first round pick and speed demon was an potent threat at the top of the lineup for Aberdeen last week. He was 6-for-17 (.353) with a home run and 4 RBI, and he also swiped 4 bags as well.
RHP Trey Gibson: the right-hander had an excellent High-A debut on Saturday, as he went 5.1 scoreless innings with 2 strikeouts and just 65 pitches (47 strikes).
RHP Houston Roth: the right-hander spent last week rehabbing with Aberdeen, and he threw very well. After two outings with 3.2 total innings, no runs, no hits, 7 strikeouts, and just one walk, he looks good to b e activated off the Injured List for Bowie before the weekend.
Aberdeen will resume play on Friday when they host the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals A+) for a 3-game High-A Battle of the Beltways.
A- Delmarva Shorebirds
The Shorebirds had a better week than the previous when they were swept clean by the FredNats (Nationals A-). They split last week's series with the Lynchburg Hillcats (Guardians A-) 3-3.

The Shorebirds came out hot in the first two games with wins of 5-1 on Tuesday and 7-4 on Wednesday. On Tuesday, relievers Cooper McKeehan, Blake Money, and Jiorgeny Casimiri combined for 6 scorless innings out of the bullpen. Outfielder Jake Cunningham contributed by swatting his third home run of the season. On Wednesday, as Lynchburg entered the 6th innings down just 4-3 and having just scored 3 runs in the previous two innings, Delmarva answered back with 2 runs in the 6th thanks to a Maikol Hernandez sacrafice fly and a Brayan Hernandez RBI single, all enough for the victory. After dropping a doubleheader on Saturday, the 'Birds rebounded nicely on Sunday for a 9-0 win, ensuring that they would not drop the series. Nestor German got the start and he went 3.2 scoreless innings without walking a batter. No. 12 prospect Braylin Tavara went 2-for-5 with a triple, while Aron Estrada, Kevin Guerrero, and Maikol Hernandez collected 2 RBI each. The Sunday win was a very nice way to end the series and head into the All-Star break feeling good about things.
Delmarva now sits at 34-54 this season and 9-12 in the second half, good for fifth place in the Carolina League North. Here are three standout performers from last week for Delmarva.
RHP Nestor German: the Seattle-born pitcher got 2 starts last week and threw the ball very well. He yielded just one run and collected 4 strikeouts without walking a batter.
RHP Randy Beriguete: the 21-year-old reliever made two relief appearances last week, and he shut down Lynchburg in both appearances. He collected the save on Wednesday after entering with a first and second jam, and he quickly collected three outs to secure the Shorebirds' victory.
RHP Blake Money: Money was Money in relief on Tuesday, as his 4 scoreless relief innings on Tuesday (6 K, 2 BB, 3 H) helped propel the Shorbirds to victory.
Delmarva will do battle with the Down East Wood Ducks at home on Friday after they enjoy the All-Star break.
Komentarze