Orioles absolutely need to give top pitching prospect Michael Forret a chance in 2027 

While the Baltimore Orioles’ starting rotation wasn’t awful this season, a handful of pitchers failed to really live up to their potential. But with Chris Bassitt likely on his way out and Trevor Rogers’ future with the club in doubt, there will be a few openings for pitchers to take advantage of. This means that the team could see a revamped rotation next season. One of the pitchers who deserves a chance to state their case is Michael Forret, one of the Orioles’ top prospects. 

If you looked up Forret’s stats in Triple-A this season and then glanced back at this headline, you might have some serious doubts. But it's important to remember that stats don't always tell the whole story of a player, especially in the minor leagues. With an impressive arsenal of plus pitches and a knack for getting his fair share of swings and misses, Forret should get a legitimate shot to pitch for the Orioles in 2027.

With a 5.43 ERA and 1.582 WHIP in 14 games in Triple-A this season, Forret struggled a bit to keep runs off of the board. But for a 22-year-old getting his first taste of the top minor league level, that is probably to be expected. Despite this small hiccup, it was his 69 strikeouts in 61.1 innings pitched that offered a clearer picture of his potential success in the future. 

Forret will never light up the radar gun with elite velocity, but that hasn’t slowed him down to this point. He’s able to hit the mid-90s with both his two-seam and four-seam fastballs, which is played up even more by his impressive changeup. Scouts have raved about Forret’s talent at deception throughout his development in the minors, offering him an advantage over hitters at times.

Although he’s not projected to be a top-end starting pitcher, Forret is already viewed as one of the Oriole’s most Major League-ready pitchers in their system. With the potential to be a very solid fourth or fifth starter, the team would be wise to give him a shot in 2027. After all, the Orioles have liked Forret for some time. 

Michael Forret has already had an interesting journey with the Orioles  

After being drafted out of high school by the Orioles in the 13th round back in 2023, Forret wasn’t exactly regarded as a can’t-miss prospect. However, he made quite a splash in his first full season in the minor leagues when he struck out 124 batters in 99.2 innings. While his four walks per nine rate was a bit higher than you’d like, he showed tremendous upside as a pitcher moving forward.  

That’s exactly why he quickly shot up the Orioles top prospects list, becoming the organization's second-highest rated pitching prospect in 2025. He proved that the praise was merited by posting a minuscule 1.51 ERA in High-A Aberdeen in 15 starts before being promoted to Double-A Chesapeake. With a combined 0.824 WHIP across 19 appearances last season, it was clear that Forret had the potential to be something special for the Orioles. 

But when the organization had the chance to acquire Shane Baz from the Tampa Bay Rays last December, they included Forret in a four-prospect package to make it happen. Baz was mainly okay this season with the Orioles, which made losing Forret to a division rival sting a bit. Seeing Forret excel in Double-A Montgomery in 2026 likely increased that sting a little more. Forret’s 1.049 WHIP for the Biscuits showed that last season was certainly not a fluke.  

So when the Rays looked to add Tyler Wells at the trade deadline to bolster their pitching staff, the Orioles leapt at the opportunity to reacquire Forret. Down the stretch, the Orioles could have used Wells in key situations, but it was probably a better decision to make the move for the future and sell high on the reliever. 

What kind of future Forret will have with the Orioles remains to be seen. He has the ability and the stuff to stick around for the long haul. With the starting rotation a major question mark heading into 2027, the Orioles should give Forret a legitimate shot at earning a spot and seeing what he’s capable of in the big leagues.  

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