Bowie, MD (September 21, 2026) – Major League Baseball announced awards for the Double-A Eastern League for the 2026 season on Monday. Four members of the 2026 Chesapeake Baysox were named to the Eastern League All-Star team, including starting pitchers Anthony Eyanson and Joseph Dzierwa, relief pitcher Micah Ashman, and catcher Ethan Anderson. Additionally, Eyanson was named the league’s Pitcher of the Year.
Eyanson split his time in the league as a member of the Red Sox organization with the Portland Sea Dogs and the Baysox. Overall, the right-hander made 17 appearances (16 starts), going 6-1 with a 1.82 ERA in 79 innings, with 107 strikeouts to 32 walks. His ERA was league-best among pitchers with at least 79 innings, and his 12.19 strikeouts per nine innings was fourth best. After joining the Baysox, following his acquisition by the Orioles in the Adley Rutschman trade, Eyanson went 2-1 in six starts with a 2.03 ERA, striking out 47 and walking just nine. His 47 strikeouts were most in the league and second in all full-season Minor League Baseball from his Baysox debut on August 8, until the end of the Double-A regular season. Eyanson logged his lone two quality starts in his last four outings of the season with Chesapeake, including a career-high seven innings, with just one run allowed, on August 20 against Richmond. He did not allow more than one run and struck out at least seven in each of his final four outings.
Eyanson is the fifth Baysox pitcher in franchise history to be named the Eastern League’s Pitcher of the Year, and the first since Grayson Rodriguez in 2021. He also joins Keegan Akin (2018), Brad Bergesen (2008), and John Stephens (2001) as Baysox arms to win the honor.
Dzierwa was also one of Minor League Baseball’s most dominant arms in his debut professional season. Promoted to Double-A Chesapeake on May 19, Dzierwa set a career-high with 10 strikeouts in his Baysox debut on May 22 against Somerset. He made 18 appearances (16 starts) for the Baysox, going 4-1 with a 2.29 ERA. He struck out 99 batters in 90 and one-third innings with Chesapeake, compared to just 20 walks. Dzierwa logged four quality starts and five scoreless starts at the level, including back-to-back six-inning scoreless starts on August 4 against Harrisburg and August 11 in Reading. He allowed zero earned runs over a 22-inning span between July 31 and August 19. The six-foot-eight southpaw posted the best league ERA, among pitchers with at least 90 league innings, while his 4.95 strikeout/walk ratio was third-best among league pitchers with at least as many innings.
Anderson enjoyed a breakout campaign with Chesapeake in his second full professional campaign. The switch-hitter hit .271 in 82 Double-A games. He clubbed 21 homers with the Baysox and drove in 47. Aderson’s 21 homers led all league catchers and were tied for eighth-most overall. His .881 OPS with Chesapeake was sixth best among all league hitters with at least 300 plate appearances. Anderson earned promotion to Triple-A Norfolk on September 15.
Ashman spent his first full season in the Orioles organization as one of the Eastern League and Minor League Baseball’s top relievers. Out of the bullpen, Ashman made 35 appearances with the Baysox. He posted a 2-2 record and a 1.68 ERA, allowing nine earned runs and striking out 77 while walking just 13 in 48 and one-third innings. The southpaw also recorded five saves for the Baysox. Ashman’s 1.68 ERA as a reliever was second-best in the Eastern League and fifth-best in full-season MiLB among arms with at least 45 innings out of the bullpen. Ashman was acquired by the Orioles at the 2025 trade deadline from the Tigers in exchange for right-handed pitcher Charlie Morton.
The Baysox tie a franchise record with four Eastern League All-Stars in 2026. The 2014 Baysox are the only other side to have four league all-stars (Christian Walker – 1B, Niuman Romero – 3B, Dariel Alvarez – OF, Oliver Drake – RHP) in franchise history.
Information on 2027 Baysox tickets will be announced soon. For more information on the Baysox, fans can call 301.805.6000, visit Baysox.com, or follow the team on Facebook, X, and Instagram.