BALTIMORE -- The Triple-A season runs longer than any other in Minor League baseball. The final week of the 2026 campaign occurred from Sept. 15-20 -- and because of that, the Orioles used it as an opportunity to get a few prospects a small taste of it before ‘27.
Among that group was catcher/first baseman Ethan Anderson, who played five games with Triple-A Norfolk to end the season. And for Baltimore’s No. 16 prospect per MLB Pipeline, suiting up for the Tides meant much more than just reaching the highest level of the Minors. It was also a homecoming.
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“Growing up in Virginia Beach, going to those Tides games, it was exciting,” said Anderson, who also attended the University of Virginia. “Just being able to go home, having my parents right there and all my friends and family that I grew up with, they were able to come to every single game.”
Anderson, the Orioles’ 2024 second-round MLB Draft pick, could have felt some pressure to perform well in such a situation. Instead, his impressive ‘26 season featured quite the finish.
In five games with Norfolk, Anderson went 7-for-18 (.389) with two doubles, two home runs, three RBIs and three walks over 21 plate appearances. The 23-year-old made two starts at catcher, two at first base and one at designated hitter.
It was a continuation of Anderson’s performance with Double-A Chesapeake, where he hit .271 with 12 doubles, 21 home runs, 47 RBIs and an .881 OPS in 82 games. His 24 total homers ranked fifth among Minor League catchers, and his .919 OPS was the best among Baltimore hitters, earning him MLB Pipeline’s Orioles Prospect of the Year honors.
Anderson took a big step forward from the 2025 campaign, which was his first full year in professional baseball. He hit only .248 with a .677 OPS in 90 games across High-A Aberdeen and Chesapeake that season.
But Anderson said his play “seemed like it clicked” during his time in the Arizona Fall League in 2025. He hit .300 with an .841 OPS in 19 games there, then carried that positive momentum into Spring Training, where he was a first-time non-roster invitee at big league camp.
Anderson made a positive impression on Orioles manager Craig Albernaz and the big league coaching staff, then put together his standout 2026 season.
“Just being consistent every single day in Double-A,” Anderson said. “Then, getting that week in Triple-A, just being able to go out there and barrel the ball, swing at good pitches and do my job behind the plate.”
Of all the catchers in Baltimore’s farm system, Anderson might have the most defensive upside. He also made tremendous strides in game-planning and working with pitchers this year.
It likely helped that Chesapeake might have had the best rotation in the Minors in August and early September. The staff was led by right-hander Anthony Eyanson (the Orioles’ No. 2 prospect and No. 45 overall) and left-handers Joseph Dzierwa (O’s No. 3 and No. 69 overall) and Caden Hunter (O’s No. 4 and No. 92 overall).
“If you’re an opposing team, that’s a scary week to face,” Anderson said. “All those guys are great, just how they handle the zone. It was fun to catch them. It’s quick games, quick innings catching them. But also, continuing to develop me, just catching nasty pitching, being able to go through scouting reports with them, advanced meetings, and kind of develop together.”
Anderson could get his first opportunity in the big leagues as soon as 2027. Samuel Basallo is the Orioles’ starting catcher, with Carlos Narváez and Yohel Pozo being the other backstops on the 40-man roster.
It is highly likely that Anderson will begin next season at Triple-A, considering he hasn’t had an extended run at the level. But if he continues on this trajectory, it might not be long before he’s making a positive impact in Baltimore.
“You’re always confident in yourself, and I feel like I could go out there and perform. But I’ll continue to try to develop being around these guys,” Anderson said. “Continue to learn, be a sponge and sit in on meetings and continue to learn. I don’t know a timeline. I’m still learning everything for myself for the first time, just trying to sit in on meetings and talk to the guys and learn as much as I can.”