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MINNEAPOLIS -- A new name has emerged atop the Orioles’ Top 30 Prospects list.
MLB Pipeline released its updated rankings on Thursday night, with outfielder Eric Booth Jr. named the No. 1 prospect in Baltimore’s system. The 18-year-old, who was selected by the O’s with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, is also the No. 40 prospect in baseball.
COMPLETE ORIOLES PROSPECT COVERAGE
Though the Orioles don’t typically send high school players to an affiliate the same year they are drafted, that wasn’t the case with Booth, who made his professional debut for Single-A Delmarva on Tuesday. He collected a hit in each of his first two games, including an RBI single in his first appearance for the Shorebirds.
“We like a lot about Booth," Baltimore vice president of domestic scouting Will Robertson said after the Draft. "He has a huge engine, as we call it. He's super powerful, both running the bases and moving the bat. That leads to impact outcomes, both defensively in center field and offensively with the power-speed combination. Super young for his class, and has always hit everywhere he's gone.”
Booth is one of four O’s prospects on the updated Top 100 Prospects list, as he’s joined by right-hander Anthony Eyanson (No. 49) and lefties Joseph Dzierwa (No. 90) and Caden Hunter (No. 98). Eyanson was acquired from the Red Sox in the Adley Rutschman trade on Aug. 3, while Dzierwa and Hunter were both 2025 Draft picks (taken in the second and sixth rounds, respectively).
Here’s a breakdown of the Orioles’ farm system following MLB Pipeline’s update.
Here’s a look at the Orioles’ top prospects:
1. Eric Booth Jr., OF (MLB No. 40)
2. Anthony Eyanson, RHP (MLB No. 49)
3. Joseph Dzierwa, LHP (MLB No. 90)
4. Caden Hunter, LHP (MLB No. 98)
5. Ike Irish, OF/1B
Complete Top 30 list »
Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the preseason list:
Jump: Caden Hunter, LHP (Preseason: NR | Midseason: No. 4)
A sixth-round pick in the 2025 Draft out of the University of Southern California, Hunter has climbed from Single-A Delmarva to High-A Frederick to Double-A Chesapeake this season, recording a 2.04 ERA over 19 combined outings (17 starts). The southpaw had an impressive run in High-A, where he posted a 1.60 ERA in 10 games (nine starts).
Hunter also has 128 strikeouts and a 1.02 WHIP over 84 total innings in his first pro season.
Fall: Esteban Mejia, RHP (Preseason: No. 8 | Midseason: No. 26)
It’s been a tough 2026 season for Mejia, who has a 9.74 ERA through 18 starts for Single-A Delmarva. The 19-year-old Dominican right-hander has struggled with his command -- issuing 64 walks and recording a 2.39 WHIP over 44 1/3 innings -- despite his high-octane fastball.
New to the list
Here are the players added to the Top 30 from outside the organization:
No. 1: Eric Booth Jr., OF (Draft, first round)
No. 2: Anthony Eyanson, RHP (Trade with Red Sox on Aug. 3)
No. 9: Enddy Azocar, OF (Trade with Red Sox on Aug. 3)
No. 10: Michael Forret, RHP (Trade with Rays on Aug. 3)
No. 12: Kyson Witherspoon, RHP (Trade with Red Sox on Aug. 3)
No. 15: Ty Head, OF (Draft, second round)
No. 24: Jhomnardo Reyes, OF (Trade with Twins on July 31)
No. 25: Harold Rivas, OF (Trade with Red Sox on Aug. 3)
No. 29: Kevin Roberts Jr., OF (Draft, fourth round)
Best tools
Players are graded on a traditional 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.
Hit: 55 -- Ike Irish (Eric Booth Jr, Nate George)
Power: 55 -- Ike Irish (Wehiwa Aloy, Enddy Azocar)
Run: 80 -- Enrique Bradfield Jr.
Arm: 65 -- Creed Willems
Defense: 70 -- Enrique Bradfield Jr.
Fastball: 70 -- Esteban Mejia
Curveball: 55 -- Kyson Witherspoon (Anthony Eyanson, Trey Gibson, Nester German)
Slider: 65 -- Anthony Eyanson
Changeup: 60 -- Joseph Dzierwa
Control: 60 -- Joseph Dzierwa