Throughout the 2025 season, Camden Chat has been tracking all the action in the Orioles’ minor league system, from the breakout performances to the disappointing developments and everything in between. Now, with the season winding down — the Double-A season ended this week, and Triple-A has just one more to go — we take one last look at the past week’s happenings on the O’s farm.
Triple-A: Norfolk Tides
- Last week: 3-4 at Durham Bulls (Rays)
- Next opponent: vs. Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Marlins)
- Second half record: 31-37, sixth place (13.5 GB) in International League East
- Overall season record: 61-80
It was a rare seven-game series for the Tides and Bulls, who made up a July rainout in addition to their regularly scheduled
six-game set. And it was a productive one for the Norfolk offense, which bashed a league-leading 15 homers this week. In fairness, they had help from some ringers, as rehabbing big leaguers Jordan Westburg, Gary Sánchez, and a since-activated Tyler O’Neill combined for five of the blasts. Minor league journeymen Vimael Machín and Jose Barrero added two apiece.
But how about that Reed Trimble? The forgotten outfield prospect clubbed three dingers this week and a team-leading seven hits, continuing his scorching second half. Since the start of July, Trimble is slashing .304/.386/.565 in 52 games between Double-A and Triple-A. He has four multi-hit games in his last six. Do the O’s have something in Trimble? He was their competitive balance pick in 2021 (#65 overall) but his pro career has been derailed by injuries, including left shoulder surgery, and he hasn’t been considered a notable prospect in years. The 85 games he’s played this year are a career high. Trimble is Rule 5 eligible after this season, but has the 25-year-old shown enough in this small sample size that the Orioles (or another team) will take a chance on him?
Speaking of Rule 5 eligible outfielders, what to do with Jud Fabian? It’s been a disappointing season for the 24-year-old, who began this year at #12 in Camden Chat’s composite prospect rankings and now isn’t even in the top 30 on MLB Pipeline. Fabian was a brutal 1-for-17 with 14 strikeouts this week (but at least the hit was a homer). He’s batting .189 with a .680 OPS in 104 games for Norfolk this season. Doesn’t seem like someone the O’s need to add to their 40-man roster, but I’ve been wrong before. A much better prospect, Enrique Bradfield Jr., was an unimpressive 4-for-22 this week but hit his first Triple-A home run.
On the mound, the Tides cycled through 18 different pitchers this week, none working more than five innings. Trey Gibson worked five frames for the first time since his Norfolk debut outing a month ago. He wasn’t great — three runs, five hits — but it was a step forward from his four straight terrible starts, and his seven strikeouts were a Triple-A best for him. In the bullpen, Chayce McDermott threw another two scoreless innings with four strikeouts. The right-hander, who converted to relief a couple months ago, has a 1.26 ERA in 13 games since the start of August and joined the Orioles’ bullpen yesterday.
Double-A: Chesapeake Baysox
- Last week: 0-6 at New Hampshire Fisher Cats (Blue Jays)
- Final second half record: 28-41, sixth/last place (11.0 GB) in Eastern League Southwest
- Final full-season record: 59-77
The Baysox ended their 2025 season by getting swept in six games. Sounds about right. The offense was missing in action, scoring only 14 runs in the series. Unlike the Norfolk team that clubbed 15 home runs, Chesapeake hit one (1). That was a leadoff dinger by Austin Overn in Thursday’s game. Overn finished the season with a .753 OPS in 30 games for the Baysox after posting an identical .753 mark in 84 games for High-A Aberdeen. He’s nothing if not consistent. Fellow 2024 draftee Ethan Anderson reached base 10 times this week (five hits, five walks) to wrap up an otherwise unremarkable season on a high note. Catching prospect Creed Willems was homerless in the series but ended up as Chesapeake’s season home run leader with 16.
On the pitching side, it was Blake Money who cashed in this week. The 23-year-old righty saved his most dominant outing for last, pitching seven shutout innings and racking up 1o strikeouts, both season bests. Even more impressive, he didn’t walk anyone, giving him his first walkless outing since June 28. The 12th-round pick from 2023 hasn’t broken onto the prospect lists yet but has held his own as he’s climbed the ladder. This season he posted a 3.93 ERA and 11.27 K/9 rate, making nine starts apiece for Aberdeen and Chesapeake.
Reliever Tyson Neighbors, who had started his O’s career with 11 straight scoreless outings after he was acquired in the Ryan O’Hearn/Ramón Laureano trade, finally gave up his first run this week. He’ll have to settle for a 0.59 ERA for the Baysox (and 1.53 for the season if you include his stats from the Padres’ system). Meanwhile, Carter Baumler worked two perfect innings of relief. This year he had a 2.04 ERA and 1.08 WHIP, and batters hit .180 against him. Baumler, the only pitcher the O’s selected in the abbreviated six-round 2020 draft, is another Rule 5 eligible player the Birds will need to make a decision about. In four minor league seasons, the oft-injured 23-year-old has made only 49 appearances, so there’s not a long track record to evaluate.
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Last week, Nate George joined Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers on the list of three-time player of the week winners, earning 66 votes to beat out Juaron Watts-Brown and Wehiwa Aloy (53 each). It was a fitting sendoff to George’s excellent pro debut season. Two-time winners include Braxton Bragg and Trey Gibson, while Enrique Bradfield Jr., Brandon Young, Vance Honeycutt, Alex Pham, Adam Retzbach, Yasmil Bucce, and Reed Trimble each won once.
One more poll awaits, featuring one standout from each of the two affiliates that were in action this week. Who gets your vote?
