Aberdeen IronBirds Season Recap

The Aberdeen IronBirds, though not as successful as some other affiliates in the Orioles farm system, had a solid season in 2023.

No playoffs but a winning record for the Aberdeen IronBirds

Aberdeen, who plays in the South Atlantic League North Division, finished their campaign with a 66-63 record. This thanks to a second-half surge following a mediocre first-half of the season. After going 32-32 through the opening 64 games, the IronBirds ended on a 34-31 run in the last 65 contests. They missed out on the playoffs particularly because of their record against good teams.

The High-A ballclub went a disappointing 34-49 when facing squads that had a winning percentage above .500. A bit of bad luck coupled with some poor late-game performances led Aberdeen to an expected win/loss record of 70-59. Additionally, the IronBirds outscored their opponents by 52 runs, nine better than North Division winners Jersey Shore BlueClaws, of the Phillies.

With a few more wins, Aberdeen could have been in the playoffs. That does not detract from the fact they won more than they lost and outscored their opposition. Several key players had major contributions and the IronBirds had multiple potential future stars start their season with them before earning promotions to higher affiliates.

Luis Valdez

Right fielder Luis Valdez might not be a name that O's fans should expect to hear in the majors. Valdez, however, is a name that no pitcher in the South Atlantic League (SAL) wanted to get on base. The speedster stole a league-leading 43 bases. This he accomplished in only 83 games. If it were not for his .197 batting average, Valdez would have avoided being assigned to the Delmarva ShoreBirds.

Dylan Beavers

Aberdeen had, in one way or another, strong outputs from their right fielders. Dylan Beavers finished third in the SAL with 26 doubles. He did this after playing 15-30 fewer games than the two players who tallied 28 two-baggers. Beavers secured a call-up to the AA Bowie Baysox and rose to the 9th-ranked Orioles' prospect in the Minor Leagues.

Trace Bright

Despite his 2-6 record and 4.35 ERA, Trace Bright put in an impressive performance on the mound with the IronBirds. 127 strikeouts saw the young player finish fourth in the SAL for total K's. He did not pitch enough to qualify for the batting average rankings, but had he his opponents' batting average was a mere .203. Walks and home runs were a key weakness, but there is some potential.

Jackson Holiday

The Minor League Player of the Year took to the field 57 times for Aberdeen this season. He was promoted from Delmarva after batting .396. Holiday smacked 21 extra-base hits with the IronBirds; good for a .314 average and another promotion. He would make it all the way up to the AAA champions in the Norfolk Tides and is destined to make a momentous debut with the Orioles next year.

Continuing to develop the future stars

Several other players put their names on the map with the IronBirds. The O's have the best pipeline in the major leagues. Only a short 40-45 minute trip from Baltimore, Aberdeen is arguably the easiest Minor League team to visit. Fans interested in seeing the next Birdland star before their OPACY debut should stop by Ripken Stadium in 2024 as the High-A squad looks to impress once again.