1 month into Minor League season, these O's prospects are thriving

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 -- The Orioles’ farm system is currently filled with a lot of exciting players who have significant upside and a ton of potential. That’s been evident from the first month-plus of the Minor League season.

Let’s look at some of the recent noteworthy developments from down on Baltimore’s farm.

Another right-hander nearing an MLB debut?
The most notable big league debut for the O’s so far this season was that of right-hander Trey Gibson (the club’s No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline), who is back at Triple-A Norfolk after recording a 5.40 ERA in two games (one start) earlier this month. Another righty could be next.

Nestor German (Baltimore’s No. 10) has a 4.53 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings over 10 Triple-A starts this year. But the 24-year-old has been particularly solid of late, posting a 3.60 ERA over his past five outings. That included his most recent showing at Jacksonville on Friday, when he allowed three runs in a season-high six innings.

An 11th-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, German is putting himself in the conversation for his first big league callup in the near future.

Power surge for this catcher
Ethan Anderson (O’s No. 23) began last week with the first multihomer performance of his professional career, swatting a pair of home runs for Double-A Chesapeake against Somerset last Tuesday. Then, the 22-year-old went deep again on Wednesday.

In 109 Minor League games over the previous two seasons, Anderson hit five homers, only one of which came during his 20-game stint at Chesapeake to end last year. The 2024 second-round Draft pick already has eight in 37 games for the Baysox this season.

“It was a small sample size last year, only a month, and I hit some road bumps in that month,” said Anderson, who is hitting .263 with an .861 OPS. “But being able to see the competition and plan for it in the offseason was helpful.”

Quite a Double-A debut
On Friday, left-hander Joseph Dzierwa (O’s No. 12) made his Double-A debut after a terrific eight-start stint with High-A Frederick to begin his pro career. The 22-year-old kept it going upon joining Chesapeake, striking out 10 while allowing four runs (three earned) over 5 1/3 innings against Somerset.

Dzierwa cruised through the first five frames, not allowing any runs until the sixth. The 6-foot-8 southpaw’s sinker-changeup combo continues to lead him to success, but another one of his pitches is also improving as he gets more comfortable.

“My fastball and changeup are always there,” said Dzierwa, a 2025 second-round Draft pick. “My slider has been coming along here, too, so that’s good to see.”

More 2025 Draftees
• RHP JT Quinn (O’s No. 19) continues to pitch well at High-A. The 2025 Competitive Balance Round B pick has a 2.97 ERA over the first eight starts of his professional career, all of which have come for Frederick this year. The 22-year-old had six strikeouts over four innings of one-run ball against Greenville last Tuesday.

• LHP Caden Hunter (a 2025 sixth-round Draft pick) is getting promoted to High-A this week after a stellar start to his pro career with Single-A Delmarva. The 22-year-old southpaw had a 1.17 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 23 innings over six games (five starts) for the Shorebirds.

• INF Wehiwa Aloy (O’s No. 5) is raking at High-A, where he has a .313/.363/.583 slash line with five doubles, two triples, 10 home runs and 35 RBIs over 36 games. Aloy was the No. 31 overall pick in last year’s Draft.

• 1B/OF Ike Irish (O’s No. 2, MLB Pipeline’s No. 92 overall) missed five games for Frederick last week due to a right wrist contusion. The 2025 first-round Draft pick returned to action for Sunday’s doubleheader vs. Greenville, going 1-for-5 with an RBI and a walk across both games. He is hitting .262 with seven doubles, six homers, 21 RBIs and an .839 OPS in 35 games at High-A.