Baltimore Orioles Minor League Recap: August 15-20

The best farm system in MLB still rakes! Let's recap another week down on the farm.

Baltimore Orioles Minor League Recap: August 15-20

Norfolk Tides (AAA)

Series at Memphis Redbirds (tied 3-3)
Second half record: 24-21

Game 1: NOR 0-5 MEM
Game 2: NOR 0-10 MEM
Game 3: NOR 2-6 MEM
Game 4: NOR 9-6 MEM
Game 5: NOR 9-2 MEM
Game 6: NOR 6-5 MEM (F/10)

If the plan was for Colton Cowser rediscover his groove, well... It worked (7-20, 5 XBH, 5 RBI, 4 R, 1.280 OPS). For Coby Mayo it's the same (6-19, HR, 6 RBI, 3 R, 1.006 OPS). The entire offense was more powerful than average, by the way. They faced former teammate Drew Rom who debuted Monday in the majors. Congratulations, Drew. You deserve. Enjoy his MLB career.

For the pitchers in Norfolk, Chayce McDermott will be a problem: two games, 11.0 IP, 14 strikeouts. He could be on the Orioles roster in the near future if he keeps this up. Whether it's a September call up or on the 2024 Opening Day roster, doesn't matter. His MLB debut is on the verge. DL Hall threw two innings in two games with no baserunners allowed (4 strikeouts). A replacement for Vespi is coming?

Next series: vs Durham Bulls

Bowie Baysox (AA)

Series vs Altoona Curve (Baysox wins 4-2)
Second half record: 25-20

Game 1: ALT 8-4 BOW
Game 2: ALT 1-5 BOW
Game 3: ALT 6-3 BOW
Game 4: ALT 1-3 BOW
Game 5: ALT 5-6 BOW (F/10)
Game 6: ALT 6-7 BOW (F/13)

Back-to-back walk off wins. We take that! Did Jackson Holliday play well? No, but only by his standards. Meanwhile, John Rhodes had a big week with 3 home runs while Silas Ardoin, Max Wagner and Dylan Beavers were machines at the plate (24 hits, 7 XBH, 12 runs overall).

For pitching, the veterans took off. First, John Means played two games with an increasing pitch count. He continues his rehab and an early September timeline for his return to majors seems plausible. Tyler Wells continued his 2023 with efficiency (a hit allowed in two innings) mixed with bombs (another HR allowed). For the prospects, Dan Hammer threw 4.0 relief innings with seven strikeouts.

Next series: at Erie SeaWolves

Aberdeen IronBirds (High-A)

Series vs Wilmington BlueRocks (Birds wins 4-2)
Second half record: 23-24

Game 1: WIL 6-8 ABD
Game 2: WIL 4-5 ABD
Game 3: WIL 7-6 ABD
Game 4: WIL 6-7 ABD
Game 5: WIL 3-4 ABD (F/10)
Game 6: WIL 4-3 ABD

Trace Bright's farewell (8.1 IP, 5 H, ER, 5 BB, 11 K). After he showed his strikeout ability all year in Aberdeen, he earned a well-deserved promotion to Bowie. Without him, this team will be represented by Daniel Lloyd (5.0 IP, 4 H, ER, BB, 6 K), Kyle Virbitsky (5.0 IP, 5 H, ER, 6 K), Logan Rinehart (3.1 IP, 4 H, BB, 5 K) and Yaqui Rivera (3.1 IP, 2 BB, 5 K). Rinehart made his debut in Aberdeen this week.

The bats went off with stellar performances by Jacob Teter (2 HR, 1.417 OPS), Samuel Basallo (8-19, 4 XBH, 5 RBI, 7 R, 2 SB, 1.311 OPS), Elio Prado (10-24, 5 XBH, 3 RBI, 6 R, 2 SB, 1.167 OPS) and Isaac De Leon (5-16, 4 BB, 3 K, 1.013 OPS). Enrique Bradfield Jr could also join this team in the near future.

Next series: at Hudson Valley Renegades

Delmarva Shorebirds (Low-A)

Series vs Salem Red Sox (tied 3-3)
Second half record: 20-27

Game 1: SAL 6-2 DEL
Game 2: SAL 3-7 DEL
Game 3: SAL 4-2 DEL
Game 4: SAL 1-7 DEL
Game 5: SAL 2-10 DEL
Game 6: SAL 8-6 DEL

How long will Enrique Bradfield Jr stay in Delmarva? For now, he's doing great (8-18, 4 BB, 5 K, 5 SB) in Low-A. Believe me: he'll go to Aberdeen next month. His fellow draftee, Mac Horvath, hit a bomb for his lone homer of the week (1.042 OPS). Alongside him, the backstop Randy Florentino had a good week (2 HR, 6 RBI, 1.357 OPS). Noelberth Romero finished with 6 hits (3 extra-base hits, included a Home Run).

For the pitching staff, Edgar Portes was a strikeout machine with 15 K's in seven innings (two games). Another good surprise was Randy Beriguete. A 2019 international signee, he finished with 6 punchouts in four innings. Zach Peek continued his rehab with a scoreless outing (1.1 IP) and another 2023 draftee, Blake Money, threw two innings without allowed a run with three strikeouts.

Next series: at Lynchburg Hillcats