The last few years have been filled with stories about Baltimore’s young talent. The Orioles have made three youngsters the best prospects in baseball. Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday all made their major league debuts. Jordan Westburg, Colton Cowser, Samuel Basallo and Coby Mayo also did it.
Henderson immediately set the bar pretty high, so it’s hard to view him as a breakout candidate in 2026. Rutschman is shaping up to be more of a rebound candidate at this point, and Westburg already has an All Star appearance on his resume.
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Holliday fits the mold at just 22 years old, but the infielder will begin the season on the IL with a broken hamate bone. Holliday underwent successful surgery, but the injury could result in a reduction in power for an extended period of time.
Early hits to Westburg and Holliday brought Coby Mayo back into the mix. Once considered a likely trade candidate, Mayo could easily win the “breakout” award if he hits and finds a way to play a serviceable third baseman. Mayo hit 11 home runs in 263 at-bats last season and slashed .301/.393/.548 in September.
Cowser will begin the year as an everyday center fielder. The “Milk Man” was named the 2024 American League Outstanding Rookie at the 2024 Player Choice Awards, but he struggled to stay healthy last season. Cowser has legitimate power and a strong throwing arm, but he still has plenty of room to grow at the plate and in the field.
Basallo is the $67 million man with just 109 at-bats to his name. Basallo and Dylan Beavers appear to be strong contenders for AL Rookie of the Year. The Beavers skyrocketed up the prospects list after posting a .375 OBP in 35 games last season.
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Blaze Alexander appears to be the day-to-day favorite among the bats, with Westburg and Holliday sidelined. Alexander and Jeremiah Jackson will look to establish themselves as legitimate big players early in the season.
Baltimore’s bullpen is full of guys who could earn the nod. There’s some hype surrounding Anthony Nunez, and there are a few names lurking in Norfolk’s starting rotation. The current rotation features mostly established branches, even as the front office continues to boast about Shane Baz’s ceiling.
Can I get you interested in someone else? Heston Kjerstad? Cade Povitch? There are a lot of talented players on this roster, capable of taking another step forward. Who do you think will emerge above the rest?
