Checking in on some O's lower-level pitching prospects this season

This story was excerpted from Jake Rill’s Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

BALTIMORE -- For much of the Mike Elias era in Baltimore -- which began in November 2018 -- the Orioles’ farm system has been loaded on the position-player side. The O’s roster is now filled with infielders, outfielders and catchers who were early Draft picks and top prospects.

More recently, the organization has started to develop more impressive pitching prospects.

“I think the position-player group in this organization gets a lot of credit and a lot of acknowledgement, and rightfully so,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “But the pitching side of things has been really impressive, just because it’s just not talked about.”

Albernaz said he saw “a bunch of dudes” when right-handers Trey Gibson (Orioles’ No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline), Nestor German (No. 10), Levi Wells (No. 13) and left-hander Luis De León (No. 2) were in big league camp this spring. But there are intriguing arms lower in the organization as well.

“The last three to four years, we’ve been loaded with talent on the mound -- guys that are at the lower levels, at the higher levels, guys that debuted already,” Florida Complex League manager Christian Frias said. “Pretty impressive what we’re doing pitching-wise.”

With the Minor League season underway at all of the full-season affiliates, here’s a look at several lower-level pitching prospects who got off to strong starts in Baltimore’s system.

High-A Frederick LHP Joseph Dzierwa (O’s No. 12)
After becoming the highest-drafted pitcher in the Elias era as a 2025 second-round pick, Dzierwa had a strong first Spring Training as a professional pitcher. The 21-year-old southpaw worked a 1-2-3 inning in a Grapefruit League game vs. the Blue Jays on March 8, then stole the show during the O’s Spring Breakout exhibition on March 20, racking up eight strikeouts in three scoreless frames vs. Red Sox prospects.

Dzierwa made his pro debut for Frederick this past Friday night and impressed again, as the former Michigan State hurler struck out nine over six scoreless innings of one-hit and one-walk ball at Hub City in a 78-pitch outing that featured 17 whiffs. It was a carryover from what Dzierwa felt was a productive offseason.

“Just getting stronger. Breaking ball, get that down in a little bit,” Dzierwa said of his winter goals. “And that was really the two things that we really focused on this offseason.”

Not only does the 6-foot-8 Dzierwa have good secondary stuff (changeup, cutter, slider), but his fastball sits around 94-95 mph and can get up to 96. Don’t be surprised if he quickly moves up to Double-A Chesapeake, and maybe he’ll even get to Triple-A Norfolk this year.

High-A Frederick RHP JT Quinn (O’s No. 19)
Like Dzierwa, Quinn is a 2025 Draft pick who made his pro debut at High-A over the weekend. A Competitive Balance Round B selection out of the University of Georgia, the 21-year-old right-hander started Saturday’s game at Hub City.

Quinn tossed 4 1/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits and two walks with six strikeouts. However, the lone run scored against him came after his exit, as he issued a one-out walk to Antonis Macias in the fifth and then departed after a 74-pitch showing.

The 6-foot-6 righty’s best pitch is arguably his fastball, a mid-90s offering that has the potential to touch 98. His slider is his primary putaway pitch, but he also throws a curveball.

Quinn is another college pitcher who could climb the system quickly if he produces results.

Single-A Delmarva RHP Esteban Mejia (O’s No. 6)
Mejia burst onto the scene last year, when the Dominican right-hander came stateside for the first time and had a 2.94 ERA in 14 starts between the FCL and Single-A. Now, the 19-year-old is off to a strong start in 2026, as the flamethrower allowed three runs (one earned) on one hit and three walks with six strikeouts for Delmarva at Salem on Saturday.

Not only did Mejia rack up 15 whiffs in a 77-pitch outing, but he hit 100 mph on the radar gun multiple times. That fastball is the headliner in a four-pitch arsenal also featuring a changeup and slider.

Because Mejia is still young and quite inexperienced (only four Single-A starts), he’s still a ways off from being ready for the big leagues. But the potential ceiling is quite high for this righty, and it should be fun to watch him pitch in the lower levels of the Minors throughout this season.