Orioles minor league recap 8/21: Bradish’s final tune-up?

Kyle Bradish #49 of the Chesapeake Baysox pitches during the game between the New Hampshire Fisher Cats and the Chesapeake Baysox at Prince George’s Stadium

Triple-A: Norfolk Tides 4, Charlotte Knights (White Sox) 3 – Game 1

In what seems like it will be Kyle Bradish’s final rehab outing, the former Cy Young contender was…eh, OK. He threw 89 pitches, which is probably the most important number. That got him through 4.2 innings, in which he allowed three runs on six hits, two walks, and three strikeouts. Scouting the box score of a minor league game is never smart, and that is truer than ever with a rehabbing big leaguer who is just trying to check boxes and come out of it feeling ready to compete.

The two pitchers that

followed Bradish were more effective on paper. Cameron Foster worked 1.1 hitless innings, and Chayce McDermott followed with a shutout seventh inning to earn the win. Both of these righties are expected to be in the mix for the Orioles bullpen in 2026, so their performances down the stretch are worth monitoring.

The Norfolk lineup had to grind out their four runs. They managed just one extra base hit (an Emmanuel Rivera double), but had seven singles and three walks to give them plenty of traffic on the bases. Over the course of the game, they went 4-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Maverick Handley was the only hitter with multiple hits (two singles). Livan Soto singled, walked, stole a base, scored a run, and drove in a run. Daniel Johnson went 1-for-3 with a walk and two RBI, both of which came on the final swing of the game, a walk-off single.

Triple-A: Charlotte Knights (White Sox) 6, Norfolk Tides 1 – Game 2

Trey Gibson’s second Triple-A start did not go as well as his first. He lasted just 3.2 innings and gave up six runs, but only three of them were earned due to a pair of errors in the second inning. Gibson also allowed a pair of home runs. The three relievers that came after Gibson were terrific. Keagan Gillies, Vinny Nittoli, and José Espada combined for 3.1 scoreless innings to give their bats a chance at a comeback.

Alas, that comeback never materialized. The Tides managed just one run on five hits, two walks, and eight strikeouts in the seven-inning affair. Jud Fabian and Silas Ardoin both doubled, but were left stranded. Ryan Noda’s fourth-inning solo homer was their only run of the day. As a team, the Tides went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.

Double-A: Chesapeake Baysox 6, Richmond Flying Squirrels (Giants) 0

Where to start!? Both the Baysox pitching staff and the lineup put together impressive performances to earn the win on Wednesday night in Bowie.

Let’s go with the arms. Four different pitchers stepped on the mound for Chesapeake, and every one of them did some good things. Zach Fruit started and went 4.1 scoreless innings while striking out four. Daniel Lloyd snagged the win with 1.2 shutout innings. Ryan Long worked a clean seventh inning. And then Carter Rustad made quick work of final two frames for what seemed like an easy win for the good guys.

Not to be outdone, the Baysox lineup had a constant stream of base runners. They compiled 10 hits and 10 walks (!!) to go along with two Fly Squirrels errors. Enrique Bradfield Jr. had a big day. The leadoff hitter went 2-for-3 with two walks, a run, an RBI, and two stolen bases. Now healthy, it will be interesting to see if the Orioles give him a taste of Triple-A to end the season. Creed Willems, Douglas Hodo, and Reed Trimble had one double apiece. Willems and Hodo also drove in a pair of runs each. One negative of this game was an injury to Aron Estrada. The pop-up prospect left the game with right quad discomfort. He was replaced by Carter Young, who went 2-for-2 with a walk, a stolen base, and a run scored.

High-A: Aberdeen IronBirds 7, Brooklyn Cyclones (Mets) 6

It was a tough High-A debut for Boston Bateman. The lefty had his first major struggle as an Orioles prospect. Over 3.2 innings he allowed five runs on six hits, two walks, and five strikeouts. Most of the damage came in the fourth inning, which included a solo homer, three hits, and a walk for four of the runs charged to Bateman. But the bullpen was great behind him. Four Aberdeen relievers combined to allow one run over the final 5.1 innings. Christian Herberholz earned the win while Zane Barnhart notched his fourth save.

Colin Tuft led the Aberdeen offense with three hits. But it was Thomas Sosa that came through with the big hit, a bases-clearing triple in the seventh inning that put the IronBirds up for good. Griff O’Ferrall singled, stole a base, walked twice, scored twice, and drove in two runs. Nate George walked and scored a run. Vance Honeycutt went 1-for-4 with a run scored and three strikeouts.

Low-A: Delmarva Shorebirds 6, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (White Sox) 1

The 2025 draft picks kept showing off their impressive bats in this win. Ike Irish smacked his first professional homer, a two-run bomb in the second inning. Wehiwa Aloy singled, walked twice, stole a base, and scored twice. Caden Bodine went 1-for-3 with two walks, and a run scored.

Four Delmarva pitchers shared the workload in this one. Kiefer Lord, a 2023 draft pick who was making his first ever appearance for a full-season affiliate, allowed just one unearned run on one hit, three walks, and three strikeouts over 2.1 innings. Jacob Stretch earned the win with his 2.2 scoreless innings. And then Kenny Leiner and Joe Glassey tossed two shutout innings apiece to close out the victory.

Box Scores