Fast-rising George joins Basallo, Beavers on Top 100 Prospects list

BALTIMORE -- Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers both had an eventful 2025 season. Each made his MLB debut for the Orioles -- on back-to-back days (Aug. 16 and 17), no less -- recorded his first big league hit and slugged his first Major League home run.

Basallo remained one of the top prospects in baseball, while Beavers pushed his way onto MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list for the first time.

Now heading into their full rookie seasons in 2026, Basallo and Beavers are still Top 100 prospects -- but they’re not Baltimore’s only representatives on MLB Pipeline’s new rankings.

In addition to Basallo (No. 8) and Beavers (No. 69), outfielder Nate George (No. 93) appears on MLB Pipeline’s 2026 preseason update, which was released Friday. It marks the continued ascension of the 19-year-old George, who had a breakout ‘25 campaign.

A 16th-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Minooka (Ill.) Community High School, George didn’t make his professional debut until the start of the ‘25 season, which he began in the Rookie-level Florida Complex League. The toolsy outfielder quickly outgrew the FCL, slashing .383/.451/.556 over 23 games.

George earned a promotion to Single-A Delmarva, where he slashed .337/.410/.491 in 43 games. He then moved up to High-A Aberdeen and posted a .291/.380/.392 slash line during a short 21-game stint.

Across the three levels, George racked up 14 doubles, nine triples, five homers, 42 RBIs and 50 stolen bases, a performance that earned him the Orioles’ 2025 Brooks Robinson Minor League Player of the Year Award and skyrocketed him up prospect rankings.

“For me, ever since I’ve been young, I’ve always been real hard on myself, I always set high expectations for myself. But I’m extremely grateful with how this year’s played out, and I’m looking forward to the next seasons coming up,” George said at the end of last season.

“It’s just the beginning for me. I know that I still have so much more development, so much more work to do, so I’m looking forward to it.”

George should begin the 2026 season at either High-A Frederick or Double-A Chesapeake, and it’s unlikely he’ll reach the big leagues until ‘27 at the earliest. As for Basallo and Beavers, they’re expected to make their first Opening Day roster and should be integral players for the Orioles in ‘26.

Basallo, who remains the top catching prospect in baseball, hit .165 with six doubles, four home runs, 15 RBIs and a .559 OPS in his first 31-game taste of the Majors last year. Six days into his MLB career, the 21-year-old inked a long-term deal with Baltimore, signing an eight-year extension worth $67 million.

A native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Basallo became the first major international signee of the Mike Elias era to reach the big leagues. The Orioles have heavily increased their spending on the international market since Elias took over the club’s baseball operations department in November 2018, and they’re now seeing that pay dividends in the big leagues.

Basallo is expected to be the No. 2 catcher behind Adley Rutschman this season while also getting starts at designated hitter and potentially sporadic starts at first base. His offensive numbers should improve as he continues to get big league reps.

“My dream came true this year, so I think that’s obviously a great thing,” Basallo said via team interpreter Brandon Quinones last September. “But I wouldn’t say that I’m satisfied with the overall results of the season. I think there are a lot of things that I need to work on and get better at, so I’m looking to do those things.”

Beavers hit only .227 over his first 35 MLB games, but the 24-year-old had a .375 on-base percentage and a .775 OPS as he drew 26 walks in 137 plate appearances. The University of California-Berkeley product recorded five doubles, one triple, four homers and 14 RBIs.

Baltimore’s corner-outfield landscape could be a bit crowded, with Taylor Ward, Tyler O’Neill and Beavers all in the mix, as well as potentially Heston Kjerstad, Jeremiah Jackson and others. But Beavers showed spurts of how valuable he can be late in 2025, which should set him up well to be a contributor in ‘26.

“It’s hard up here. You’re never going to have an at-bat that’s comfortable, especially when it’s not going good. That’s when it really gets challenging,” Beavers said late last September. “Just remaining confident and trusting my process and preparation, I think that’ll ultimately lead to success here.”