4 Orioles prospects that Baltimore definitely need to break out in 2026

The Baltimore Orioles have been building a team over the past few years that should be consistently competitive, not a team that pops for one season and then fades back into “wait until next year” mode. The purpose of a prospect pipeline is to continually stock your major league roster with affordable, high-impact players so that when you do decide to make a move by spending money or trading it will be done with intent and not in a state of panic.

However, prospect development is not a linear process and being a good prospect does not mean that the player will also be a good major leaguer. For the Orioles, 2026 may be the year in which the margins are critical. Therefore, the four names below are less of a "nice-to-have" breakout prospect and more of a "we really could use this."

The Orioles’ 2026 outlook could hinge on these four breakouts

C/1B - Samuel Basallo

There are many reasons why Basallo will be the one of the more prominent players for the Orioles. He’s the organization’s top prospect, he’s already touched the majors, and the profile is loud.

While there were definitely some of the normal struggles you would expect from someone making his MLB debut as a rookie — a little hit-and-miss and some swing decisions that big-league pitching punishes immediately.

The question is if Basallo is able to consistently translate his elite raw power into actual production on the field, then Baltimore may have a player who could be considered a middle-of-the-order presence. Regardless of where he lines up in the Orioles lineup, whether it’s behind the plate, at first base, or taking advantage of DH opportunities, the Orioles need Basallo to make an impact in the lineup for them in 2026 and not just a "one day" dream.

OF - Enrique Bradfield Jr. 

Trading Cedric Mullins in 2025 didn’t just remove a familiar name — it removed a defensive identity. For years, center field was locked down by a guy who could really go get it, and that’s a hard thing to replace with a committee.

Bradfield is the cleanest answer Baltimore has. “80-grade” speed. “70-grade” defense. If he debuts in 2026 and looks like himself right away, it stabilizes the defensive spine of the roster and gives the Orioles a real baserunning weapon again. If he doesn’t, Baltimore’s outfield alignment gets a little messy fast — and in what looks to be an extremely competitive AL East, messy will get expensive.

OF - Dylan Beavers

Beavers is in that crucial stage where you’re no longer judged on “tools” — you’re judged on whether the manager can write your name in the lineup without squinting.

After debuting alongside Basallo in 2025, Beavers is projected to open 2026 with a sizable major league role. The Orioles’ outfield depth can be a strength if it stays functional, and Beavers becoming a consistent corner outfielder matters when you’re trying to balance reps around Colton Cowser and see if you still have anything in Heston Kjerstad.

The best version of 2026 for Baltimore includes Beavers making the corner spot boring — solid at-bats, dependable defense, and no daily matchup gymnastics required. 

RHP - Trey Gibson

Pitching development is where good seasons either become great seasons… or become “we ran out of arms in August.”

Gibson’s 2025 rise was the kind of thing that makes an org feel very good about its pitching development — he was flat-out dominant at Double-A Chesapeake (1.55 ERA) before the Triple-A Norfolk jump humbled him a bit. Even with the late wobble, he still finished with 166 strikeouts across three levels, and the broader profile remains enticing: a deep five-pitch mix, real feel for sequencing, and the look of a future middle-of-the-rotation stabilizer if the command holds against better hitters.

Now comes the hard part: turning that into big-league innings that matter.

The Orioles don’t necessarily need Gibson to be an ace in 2026. They need him to be an answer. If he becomes that guy, it could change the entire shape of Baltimore’s season.

It’s not that the Orioles can’t be good without all four of these players breaking out — but the version of Baltimore that looks like a true, sustained contender in 2026 probably has at least two of these guys hitting hard, with another one contributing meaningfully by midseason.

In an AL East division that’s not going to let you breathe, it’s not enough to have talent in the system. You need the next wave to show up on time. There are many reasons why Basallo will be the one of the more prominent players for the Orioles. He’s the organization’s top prospect, he’s already touched the majors, and the profile is loud.

While there were definitely some of the normal struggles you would expect from someone making his MLB debut as a rookie — a little hit-and-miss and some swing decisions that big-league pitching punishes immediately.

The question is if Basallo is able to consistently translate his elite raw power into actual production on the field, then Baltimore may have a player who could be considered a middle-of-the-order presence. Regardless of where he lines up in the Orioles lineup, whether it’s behind the plate, at first base, or taking advantage of DH opportunities, the Orioles need Basallo to be an actual line-up anchor for them in 2026 and not just a "one day" dream.