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Three Prospects the Orioles Should Keep Their Eyes On This Summer

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As the 2025 MLB season comes to the halfway point, now is as good a time as ever to also take a look at the minor league farm system. Around midseason is where prospects are either shining or fading for teams. Several prospects are likely to see some playing time at the major league level before the season ends. For the Baltimore Orioles, their farm system is depleted as their talent now plays at the major league level. As a result, their farm system ranking plunged to 17th in Baseball America‘s 2025 ratings. Thankfully, however, the Orioles still have a few prospects worth watching throughout the rest of the season.

Three Prospects to Watch for the Orioles This Season

Michael Forret (RHP)

2025 (High-A): 8 Games Started; 1-1; 28.2 IP; 1.57 ERA; 11 Hits; 1 HR; 10 BB to 39 K; .117 OBA; 0.733 WHIP

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For a team in desperate need of pitching, Forret might help provide answers either in a few years time or as trade bait. The 2023 14th-rounder grades out around average across the board, but held a career 3.34 ERA with a 1.10 WHIP at the State College of Florida. He also struck out 106 batters over 86 1/3 innings, while only surrendering four home runs.

Following a 2024 minor league campaign that had some bright spots, the former Manatee has seen improvement across the board. Despite seeing a slightly elevated walk rate, Forret’s .117 opposing batting average complements his low 0.73 WHIP. While he has seen the workload drop from five innings to three per game, he still throws quality innings consistently.

One explanation for his increasing metrics might be his new splitter in the arsenal. Scouting reports suggest his fastball is now touching 97 mph, and a sweeper on top of his slider. Forret has an arsenal of at least five pitches, six if we include his two-seamer. If, and when, he gets a better handle of his control, there’s a good chance he becomes a number-five starter at the very worst.

The Orioles might sell at the deadline, but Forret currently offers a prospect chip for them to play buyers. If they do decide to sell and keep their talent, Forret will be a name to watch going forward in the farm system. Expect him to make a start or two at Double-A.

Braxton Bragg (RHP)

2025 Stats (High/Double-A): 9 Games Started (10 appearances); 4-1; 1.24 ERA; 51 IP; 30 Hits; 1 HR; 16 BB to 67 K; .166 OBA; 0.902 WHIP

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Once again, the Orioles’ best pitching appears to be down in the minor leagues. The 24-year-old is finally putting together a really successful season after also being selected in the 2023 draft. Bragg didn’t have an impressive college career at Dallas Baptist, but still showed some promise in terms of control and strikeouts.

Just like Forret, Bragg is enjoying his best season in the minor leagues with an improvement across most metrics. He’s had a decrease in OBA, a home-run rate well under one per nine, and only 30 hits in 51 innings. The only downside is that he’s allowing more walks per nine innings, and his flyball percentage is beginning to increase.

Per the MLB Pipeline scouting report, Bragg holds a plus fastball with three effective pitches, including a cutter and slider. While we don’t have an accurate total on whiffs and actual effectiveness ratings, it’s clear his elevated strikeout-per-nine rate shows how much movement those pitches can generate.

Again, Bragg is a potential trade piece. He has a better chance of being dealt due to his three-year development and experience, but still also gives a team in need of arms a reason to keep him.

Creed Willems (Catcher/First Base)

2025 Stats (Double-A): 199 ABs; .246/.326/.773; 14 doubles; 1 triple; 8 HR; 24 RBI; 19 BB to 40 K

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Most of the offensive prospects in the current farm system are regressing this year. Willems might be the lone exception, no matter how small his improvement is, if there is one at all. The 2021 eighth-rounder is on track to have his best OBP and best walk-to-strikeout ratio in his career, while showing consistency in almost all areas.

Per his scouting report, there have been some improvements in his hitting abilities and his raw power. He hit 34 home runs between the 2023 and 2024 campaigns, while drawing a fair number of walks and putting the ball in play. His arm strength proves to be a solid choice if top prospect Samuel Basallo goes to first base.

Shorebirds’ Creed Willems (35) crosses home to score against the Cannon Ballers Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, Maryland. The Shorebirds defeated the Cannon Ballers 7-2.
Bbm Delmarva Shorebirds Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

This one might be a stretch, but of these Orioles prospects, Willems has the best chance to move up to Triple-A by the end of the year. If all goes right, he might get some reps before the end of the season, but he’ll likely see some good playing time in 2026, barring any setbacks.

 

Photo Credit: © Maya Carter/Asheville Citizen Times / USA TODAY NETWORK

The post Three Prospects the Orioles Should Keep Their Eyes On This Summer appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.