Adley Rutschman trade keeps getting better after Orioles' minor league announcements

The season may have taken a turn for the worse in Baltimore, but Orioles fans can take some solace in knowing that Mike Elias did well in the Adley Rutschman trade as they look ahead to 2027 (assuming the three-game deficit in the Wild Card picture remains too much to overcome).

The trade being good for the Orioles isn't necessarily news, though. Everyone saw the prospect rankings when Rutschman got dealt for a five-player package, but it's what happened since then that can give Birdland more joy.

The Orioles announced their minor league player and pitcher of the month on Wednesday, and the winners were two guys they got in return for Rutschman. The player of the month was outfielder Enddy Azocar. The 19-year-old hit .353 for High-A Fredrick in August with 12 extra-base hits and seven steals.

The pitcher of the month was the crown jewel of the trade: Anthony Eyanson. The righty made four starts for Double-A Chesapeake after the trade, posting a 2.14 ERA in 21 innings and holding opponents to an OPS under .600. The former College World Series winner also struck out 32 while walking just eight.

Orioles future looking bright after Adley Rutschman trade

When the Orioles traded Rutschman away, it was like a punch to the gut. It was the front office admitting two things: first, that they weren't going to be able to get him to agree to a long-term extension, and second, that the current core wasn't going to win before Rutschman reached free agency. It all hurt because Orioles fans had hoped this new ownership would spend the money to keep players like Rutschman around after waiting so long through the rebuild.

Hopefully, the return for Rutschman and the way they are performing can change the feel of the second part. While it still hurts to see a face of the franchise-type player be traded in their prime, knowing the players they got back are performing and can be part of the next wave helps.

Eyanson is in his first season of pro ball after being drafted in the third round of the MLB Draft in 2025 and is already a top-50 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. He looks like a future front-line starter and could be pitching in Baltimore by next season. Azocar is a little further behind, but he looks like a future five-tool center fielder. He is only 19, so even if Orioles fans don't see him for two years, he will still be in his early 20s.

Of course, Baltimore got other prospects in the deal, too. Kyson Witherspoon, a first-round pick in 2025, has a 1.26 ERA in his first three starts in the organization. Harold Rivas, while still far away, got one of the highest bonuses in the Red Sox's 2025 international signing class due to his potential.

The way Eyanson and Azocar have started their Orioles careers will hopefully bring better days. It might not be too long before they join the current MLB group that is doing its best to contend with the best in the AL right now.

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