An early outlook on Orioles Baseball

Image courtesy of Cole Simms.

Orioles baseball is underway in 2026 as the Birds look to return to the postseason after an injury-plagued 2025 campaign.

The organization invested both on and off the field; a new scoreboard was unveiled on Opening Day, accompanied by a state-of-the-art sound system to amplify the atmosphere at Camden Yards on gameday.

The investment didn’t stop there, as the O’s brought in five-time All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso to anchor the middle of the lineup. The O’s other big acquisitions included closer Ryan Helsley and outfielder Taylor Ward to further boost their playoff prospects.

Starting pitching was a big question mark going into 2026, and the O’s answered by acquiring Shane Baz from the division-rival Rays. His upside as a front-of-the-rotation ace convinced the Orioles to part with multiple ranked prospects. The O’s also added veteran starters Chris Bassitt and "old friend" Zach Eflin, though the latter has already found himself on the 60-day injured list with elbow trouble and has undergone Tommy John Surgery.

Infielder Jordan Westburg’s struggles to stay healthy have continued, which has opened up playing time for the newly acquired Blaze Alexander. The Orioles had gotten out of the gate a little slow with a losing record through their first eleven games, but they’ve shown some positive signs with star shortstop Gunnar Henderson heating up in April.

Farm System Update: The Next Generation

Another exciting aspect of Orioles baseball is following the next generation of players who fill out the affiliates in the minor leagues.

Triple-A: Norfolk Tides

The Tides play at the highest level of minor league baseball and are stacked with Top 30 Orioles prospects, including standout starter Trey Gibson and speedy outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. Other high-ranking prospects at this level include righty Levi Wells and catcher Creed Willems, who have both started the year hot.

Double-A: Chesapeake Baysox

The Double-A level is overloaded with talent as well, headlined by 22-year-old lefty Luis De Leon (Orioles' #2 ranked prospect) and infielder Aron Estrada (Orioles' #7 ranked prospect).

The Double-A level is considered the largest jump in minor league baseball and can make or break a player's progression. The Baysox also have Tyson Neighbors in the bullpen, who is ranked in the team's top 30 prospects despite being used exclusively in relief. Jumping MiLB levels is never easy, but Neighbors is confident in his abilities.

“I really made no major adjustments. I’ve learned to just trust my stuff and refine what I’ve already got and it will play well. I’ve just got to keep attacking hitters and competing,” he reflected

Neighbors could find himself fast-tracked to the major leagues with continued success, considering the MLB bullpen is unproven, albeit underrated.

High-A: Frederick Keys

The Frederick Keys returned to affiliated ball in 2026, replacing the Aberdeen Ironbirds at High-A. Orioles' #1 prospect Nate George headlines their roster among other standouts.

Victor Figueroa joined the team at last year's trade deadline in a package that sent All-Star-caliber talent Ryan O’Hearn and Ramon Laureano to San Diego. He’s started his Orioles career in a big way.

“Since joining the Orioles organization, a big adjustment has been focusing on consistently getting the ball in the air,” he said. “I’ve been working on my launch angle, trying to optimize my swing to generate more lift, which helps play to my power.”

The adjustments are paying off early, as Figueroa has launched four home runs in seven games for High-A Frederick. When discussing his goals for the season, Figueroa emphasizes building on the basics.

“I want to build a solid foundation. That means improving my plate discipline, cutting down on strikeouts, and consistently hitting for power,” he said. “The goal is to keep developing and move up through the system.”

Single-A: Delmarva Shorebirds

Finally, we take a trip to Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, Maryland, where the youngest prospects get a chance to hone their skills. Esteban Mejia leads a young Shorebirds rotation after a stellar showing between the Florida Complex League and Delmarva last season. He put up a 2.94 ERA between the two levels while striking out 53 batters over 40.1 innings. He started his 2026 season on a high note, tossing just over four innings and striking out six while allowing just a single earned run.

Salisbury University students are just a stone’s throw away from the action, where the Shorebirds offer the opportunity to see the game's future stars up close.

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By COLE SIMMS

Sports Editor