The Orioles have already used 46 players this season, and even though they could get infielder Jordan Westburg back from the injured list on Tuesday, and catcher Gary Sánchez and outfielders Cedric Mullins and Tyler O’Neill in the coming days, they’re likely to use many more players this season.
Let’s look at some players who could play prominent roles on the Orioles in the final 98 games of the 2025 season:
Coby Mayo
With Ryan Mountcastle on the injured list for at least two months and perhaps longer, Mayo should get a real opportunity to show that he can be an effective major league player.
On Sunday, Mayo pointed out that interim manager Tony Mansolino continues to work with him on his first base play, and special advisor John Mabry, a longtime major league first baseman, is helping, too.
As long as Westburg and Ramón Urías are healthy, Mayo’s reps will be at first base, not third.
His hitting has picked up, and in last weekend’s series with the Athletics, he had his first major league extra-base hit, a double and his first steal.
Trevor Rogers
Rogers had such an awful 2024, with a 7.11 ERA in four starts that fans were quickly labeling the trade of Connor Norby and Kyle Stowers for him as one-sided.
He missed spring training with a dislocated left knee, and didn’t get a start with the Orioles until they needed a starter for the second game of a doubleheader on May 25th in Boston.
Rogers delivered an excellent performance, 6 1/3 scoreless innings, two hits, five strikeouts without a walk as the 27th man.
It’s been a surprise to some that Rogers hasn’t been summoned for another start. After Charlie Morton struggled again on Saturday, and Rogers allowed two runs on 11 hits in 6 2/3 innings for Triple-A Norfolk, there was some thought that perhaps Rogers’ turn would come soon.
Fortunately for the Orioles, there haven’t been any recent injuries to the starters, but Rogers will get many chances, particularly if the Orioles trade a starter or two ahead of next month’s trade deadline.
Chayce McDermott
Mayo has graduated from MLB Pipeline prospect status, and that means McDermott has moved up to third. Despite disappointing numbers with the Orioles and Norfolk this season, he’s likely to get many more chances, especially if there are trades involving starters.
In two starts for the Orioles this season, McDermott has allowed seven runs on eight hits in 7 2/3 innings for an 8.22 ERA. He’s also walked eight.
At Norfolk, McDermott has a 9.68 ERA with 18 walks and 19 strikeouts in 17 2/3 innings.
The Orioles won’t be endlessly patient with McDermott, but they do have to give him more major league starts.
Brandon Young
Like McDermott, Young has had issues with control at the major league level. In two starts this season with the Orioles, he’s walked eight in 8 2/3 innings.
Young, the organization’s minor league pitcher of the year in 2024, has a 6.23 ERA.
He’s rehabbing a right shoulder injury at High-A Aberdeen, but he should also get more major league chances.
Samuel Basallo
Basallo is the organization’s top prospect, and after missing time in April with a hamstring injury, he’s started to hit.
In May, the catcher/first baseman hit .234, but thanks to 16 walks, his on-base percentage was a robust .366. In five games this month, Basallo has four home runs and six RBIs and a .368 average.
He’s caught just 11 games this season, and if he’s to join the Orioles in 2025, Basallo will have to catch more regularly.
Dylan Beavers
With Mayo’s ineligibility, Beavers has moved up to the No. 5 prospect, and he’s on track to make his major league debut in 2025, perhaps after an outfielder or two is dealt.
Beavers, the 33rd overall pick in the 2021 draft, is hitting .326 with an .896 OPS at Norfolk. He has five home runs and 21 RBIs, and he’s stolen 16 bases in 20 attempts.
He’s played mostly right field with some left and three games in center for the Tides. Last year, he had 13 outfield assists at Double-A, but none so far in 2025.
Enrique Bradfield Jr.
Bradfield is up to the No. 2 prospect, and like Basallo, he missed time this season with a hamstring injury.
He’s hitting only .235 at Double-A Chesapeake, and he doesn’t have power. In 161 minor league games over the past three seasons, Bradfield has just five home runs.
A year ago, Bradfield had 35 steals in 108 games. This year, he’s stolen seven in eight tries in 21 games.
Bradfield has played some left field this year, but he’s mostly a centerfielder, and the Orioles hope he’ll succeed Mullins in center field, perhaps as early as 2026.
With those stats, it seems unlikely the Orioles will call Bradfield to the majors this season.
Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.