3 surprises in MLB Pipeline's top 30 Orioles prospects list for 2025

MLB Pipeline dropped their 2025 Orioles top prospects list recently and there are few surprises at the top. Samuel Basallo and Coby Mayo are still highly regarded prospects and it's no surprise that they occupy the top two spots. Enrique Bradfield Jr, Chayce McDermott, and Vance Honeycutt round out the top 5, and for good reason. Honeycutt has some swing and miss issues but overall, those three are expected to be regular contributors in Baltimore in the coming years.

But further down the list, there are a few things that stand out. For one, it's a bit interesting to see catcher Creed Willems all the way up at number 12. Though he got off to a slow start in 2024, things picked up for him as the year went on. Willems hit .238/.332/.456 at High-A Aberdeen, but the big thing was his improved plate discipline. He cut over five percentage points off his strikeout rate and was able to access the power more frequently in games, hitting 13 homers in 82 outings.

Willems hit well enough to gain a promotion to Double-A Bowie and he was able to keep some of the momentum in the transition. While his walk rate cratered, the power stuck around and he actually cut his strikeout rate further during his limited stint with the Baysox. It doesn't hurt that Willems is coming off a strong performance in the Arizona Fall League, as he posted an .891 OPS in 19 games. Still, Willems was outside the top-20 on the 2024 list, so seeing him just outside the top-10 is an encouraging sign.

These 3 Orioles prospects are poised to make big jumps in 2025

A relatively unknown name coming into 2024, RHP Trey Gibson turned some heads with his performance last year. He was particularly good in his first stint with Delmarva, pitching to a 3.40 ERA with an impressive 2.75 FIP thanks to a huge 34.5% strikeout rate. Gibson was sitting mid-90's all year but was ramping up and touching 97-98 mph into the fall.

If Gibson is able to stay healthy, he could be a real hidden gem for the Orioles. MLB Pipeline has him ranked as the O's number 15 prospect coming into the year, and the 7th best pitcher in the organization. It's a lot of projection at the moment but Gibson has plenty of talent and he's definitely a name to watch as we head into 2025.

For someone who had a stellar 2023 season and followed that up with a similarly strong performance at Double-A Bowie in 2024, it's interesting to see Alex Pham drop in MLB Pipeline's rankings. Pham now sits as the O's 28th best prospect, a touch lower than he was in 2024. He got a bit unlucky last year but still posted a 3.87 FIP with an above average 27.9% strikeout rate.

The big knock against Pham is his size. A bit like Marcus Stroman, Pham is about 5'11" and is more of a control guy than a power pitcher. However, he's had tremendous success since transitioning to a starting role a few years back and given his level of experience, he could probably step into a role with the Orioles today if they needed it. More likely, Pham will open the year at Triple-A but keep an eye on him as someone who could get the call and be a contributor if the Orioles have any injury trouble.