This underrated pitching prospect could give Craig Albernaz another option in the Orioles' bullpen

With a balanced helping of both untimely injuries and underperformers in his pitching staff, Baltimore Orioles manager Craig Albernaz is trying to keep his ball club in the postseason hunt. As closer Ryan Helsley returns from the IL, the bullpen has received a much-needed boost. But more help is needed in the pen if the Orioles truly want to leave their mark come October. While relievers may become available near the trade deadline, the team could look to its farm system for support. Prospect Yaqui Rivera is certainly not a household name among Orioles fans just yet. However, he could become a pitcher that the team may call on down the stretch.

Starting the year in Double-A Chesapeake, Rivera wasn't ranked among the Orioles' top prospects. In fact, he was hardly on the club's radar as potential call-ups in 2026. But as noted by Orioles Hangout, the movement that Rivera gets on his pitches has become his calling card as a prospect. After racking up 35 Ks and a 0.87 WHIP in 24.2 innings, Rivera quickly garnered some well-deserved praise from the organization. He received a promotion to Triple-A Norfolk in May where he has continued his strong 2026 season.

Yaqui Rivera could be an impact arm for the Orioles bullpen down the stretch

While he hasn't quite impressed with the same level of numbers he put up in Chesapeake, Rivera hasn't slowed down in his development. Through six outings, Rivera is pitching to tune of a 0.53 ERA while limiting opposing hitters to a .197 batting average. His K/9 has dropped just a bit, striking out 19 batters in 17 innings. But his ability to get outs has still been noteworthy, as highlighted by his minuscule ERA.

Perhaps the biggest concern with Rivera has been his control. The tall and slender righty has surrendered 10 walks in his limited stint with the Tides. The good news? Rivera is just 22 years old, leaving him with plenty of time to work on his control and develop his secondary pitches more effectively. After all, a touch of wildness is to be expected from a young guy with considerable movement. Although he doesn't quite light up the radar gun with elite velocity, his mid-90s fastball has more than enough juice to get past hitters. At just 150 pounds, the 6'2" RHP could even add a MPH or two to his heater once he fills out his frame.

Another bonus to Rivera's game is his versatility. He has shown no issue with pitching multiple innings, notching 4 IP in a May 16 outing with Chesapeake. Rivera began his career as a starter in the minors before transitioning to a reliever, aiding in his versatility. In Norfolk, he has even worked as an opener in three separate games, paving the way for his potential return as a starter down the road. Regardless of his long-term role, his ability to become a super-utility pitcher could come in handy for Albernaz and the Orioles as they look to fight their way back to the .500 mark.

If baseball were just about how many runs your team scores, Baltimore would be one of the best teams in the league. Unfortunately for the Orioles, preventing your opponent from scoring is just as important. And with a team ERA of 4.57, the O's rank among the worst in MLB. That includes the team's bullpen, which currently sports a slightly more palatable 4.51 ERA. While he remains unproven against MLB-level hitters, Rivera could eventually slide in as the team's long man at some point this season.

Whether or not Rivera actually gets the call-up, Orioles fans should definitely add him to their list of names to remember.

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