A look at the Baseball America O's top 10 prospects list

A new Baseball America O’s top 10 prospects list dropped this week. Before or even after you get to your Turkey today, take a look at the list and a few thoughts on each player.

1 – Catcher Samuel Basallo: The big man with the big bat ascends to the top spot. Now it’s a matter of time before he makes his MLB debut. A shining star for the O’s international program, he now has plenty of company among the O’s top 30 with numerous other international talents.

He played in the Futures Game in July and Minor League Baseball named him as the Top MLB Prospect in the Double-A-Eastern League. He moved to Triple-A late in the year, where, after a 7-for-44 start, he batted .297 with an .810 OPS his last 11 Triple-A Norfolk games.

2 – Infielder Coby Mayo: Another big man with a big bat. The minor league numbers were pretty special, but he was swinging and missing a ton in his brief time with the Orioles. Patience needed here. Once Mayo hits that first 450-foot shot in the majors, plenty of more are likely to follow. Biggest question for his future – what position will he play?

3 – Outfielder Heston Kjerstad: He has been on the O’s playoff rosters the last two Octobers. Now he could be the replacement in right field if Anthony Santander's signs with another club. The No. 2 pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, the O’s soon need to figure out what they have here. He’s had 814 plate appearances in Double-A and Triple-A over the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

4 – Outfielder Vance Honeycutt: The club’s top pick last July, he was selected No. 22 overall out of the University of North Carolina and signed a $4 million bonus. He hit just .176 in 13 games between Delmarva and Aberdeen. But the tools here are loud, with big power, big speed and elite skills on defense.

5 – Pitcher Chayce McDermott: The right-hander has big stuff, with big strikeout and walk numbers to match. He made his MLB debut in July in Miami, allowing three runs in four innings in a start against the Marlins. For the Tides this year he averaged 5.40 walks per nine but also 12.96 strikeouts. He has a big fastball and solid slider, and his 32.9 K percentage led all O’s minor leaguers with at least 80 innings.

6 – Outfielder Enrigue Bradfield Jr.: At the general manager meetings when the O’s Mike Elias was asked who from the next group on the O’s farm could become an everyday player, Elias cited Bradfield.

In 2024, over 81 games with High-A Aberdeen and 27 for Double-A Bowie, he hit .272/.358/.371/.729 with 18 doubles, five triples, four homers and 35 RBIs. He stole 74-of-87 bases – the second-most in the minors this year. He posted a .708 OPS at Aberdeen and .791 at Bowie, where he is likely to begin next season.

7 – Outfielder Dylan Beavers: A nice combo of speed and power with a solid arm in the outfield, Beavers was steady at Double-A in 2024 and got a late-season move to Triple-A, where he should start next year. For the Baysox he had 19 doubles, 15 homers, 31 steals, 67 runs and a .756 OPS. The O’s felt he made some nice defensive gains this year too.

8 – Pitcher Michael Forret: Forret is a bit of surprise in the top 10. But, according to Baseball America, this 20-year-old right-hander has a “broad and advanced arsenal, and he commands it well.” His fastball sits 93-95 mph, touching 97. He made 10 appearances at Low-A Delmarva and moved to High-A Aberdeen for 16 more, going a combined 6-8 with a 3.88 ERA. Over 99 2/3 innings he had a 3.97 walk rate per nine and 11.20 strikeout rate.  

9 – Outfielder Jud Fabian: The University of Florida product put up similar numbers at Bowie (now Chesapeake) to Beavers. He was the No. 67 pick in the 2022 draft. He moved to Triple-A a bit sooner than Beavers did and hit .159 with 51 strikeouts over 30 games, so some work to do. He gets 60 grades for running and fielding. The defense at Bowie was legit this year.

10 – Infielder Griff O’Ferrall: The righty-hitting infielder was the No. 32 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, the Prospect Promotion Incentive pick the Orioles got when Gunnar Henderson won Rookie of the Year. He hit .250 in 15 games for Delmarva and five with Aberdeen.

Click here to check out the BA list (subscription may be required).

And now my 10 favorites at Thanksgiving

10 – Cranberry Sauce
9 – Sweet Potatoes
8 – Cornbread
7 – Mashed Potatoes
6 – Ham
5 – Green bean casserole
4 – Mac and cheese
3 – Stuffing and gravy
2 – Pumpkin Pie
1 – Turkey (of course!)