The Baltimore Orioles have spent the Mike Elias era building an organization designed to identify talent, develop it, and turn that pipeline into sustainable major-league success. Now serving as President of Baseball Operations and General Manager, Elias oversees a baseball operation that has made scouting, analytics, player development, and an increasingly productive international program central pieces of the franchise’s identity.
DYNASTY BASEBALL: 2026 Baltimore Orioles Top 20 Fantasy Baseball Prospects
That developmental infrastructure remains one of the most important reasons dynasty fantasy managers should pay attention to Baltimore.
Under Elias, the Orioles transformed a once-thin farm system into one of baseball’s most productive talent pipelines. The organization’s success has been built around more than simply accumulating high draft picks. Baltimore has invested heavily in identifying underlying traits, using technology and analytics throughout the evaluation process, and creating a development system capable of helping talented young players turn those traits into major-league skills. That philosophy has produced waves of homegrown talent while giving the front office prospect capital it can also use to strengthen the major-league roster, as you’ll see in the Orioles’ Top 20 fantasy baseball prospects profiled ahead.
The organization has also expanded well beyond the domestic draft. Baltimore’s international operation under Elias and Vice President of International Scouting and Operations Koby Perez has become a legitimate source of impact talent, with Samuel Basallo representing the clearest example of how far that side of the organization has come. His progression from an international signing to the major leagues illustrates another avenue through which Baltimore can now acquire and develop players with significant ceilings.
And the Orioles continue to invest in the infrastructure behind that process, as you’ll see in the Orioles’ Top 20 fantasy baseball prospects profiled ahead.. The organization opened a new $23 million player development complex in Sarasota in 2026, giving its minor leaguers, rehabbing players, and offseason trainees another significant developmental resource. It is a tangible sign that Baltimore’s commitment to player development extends beyond prospect rankings and into the facilities and systems intended to sustain the pipeline.
For dynasty managers, that organizational track record matters.
An Orioles prospect should not receive fantasy value simply because Baltimore developed him, but the organization has earned enough credibility that its investments deserve attention. Players who show meaningful gains in plate discipline, power, pitch characteristics, command, or overall performance inside this system warrant a closer look, particularly when those improvements are accompanied by aggressive assignments or increased organizational responsibility.
The challenge is that Baltimore is no longer operating like a rebuilding organization desperate to create major-league opportunities. Young players increasingly must earn their way onto a roster built to compete, while the front office has shown a willingness to use prospect depth in trades when doing so improves the major-league club. That can complicate immediate paths to playing time, but it also makes understanding organizational preference especially important for dynasty managers.
Under Mike Elias, the Orioles have evolved from an organization accumulating young talent into one trying to continually produce, develop, and strategically deploy it. For dynasty fantasy baseball, that makes Baltimore a system where development trends, organizational investment, and opportunity should be evaluated alongside raw tools and traditional prospect pedigree.
So, let’s begin with our countdown of the Orioles’ top 20 prospects.
#20 — Nestor German | RHP (ETA 2027)
German has turned himself from an overlooked college arm into a legitimate upper-minors pitching prospect. Baltimore grabbed him in the 11th round of the 2023 draft out of Seattle University, and improved stuff has helped him miss considerably more bats as a professional. The fastball and breaking-ball combination gives him a chance to remain a starter.
For dynasty managers, German is more floor than fantasy ace. He can generate strikeouts and is close enough to Baltimore that he could provide useful innings soon, but his ceiling probably lands closer to a mid-to-back-rotation starter than a frontline difference-maker.
The encouraging part is how far German has already exceeded his draft pedigree. He reached Triple-A in 2025 and returned there in 2026, putting him on the doorstep of Baltimore. In deep dynasty leagues where MLB-ready pitching has value, German is a worthwhile stash.
#19 — Enrique Bradfield Jr. | OF (ETA 2027)
Few prospects can alter a fantasy category as dramatically as Bradfield can alter stolen bases. Baltimore selected the Vanderbilt speedster 17th overall in the 2023 draft, and his elite wheels and outstanding center-field defense have pushed him rapidly through the organization despite modest power.
Bradfield’s dynasty appeal is unusually format-dependent. In roto leagues, his upside as a 30-plus-steal player makes him intriguing even if he contributes very little in home runs. His plate discipline gives him a chance to reach base enough to fully weaponize that speed, but the bat needs to keep pitchers honest.
He reached Triple-A before the 2026 season and remains one of Baltimore’s most MLB-ready position prospects. The defensive value should create opportunities, but fantasy managers should view him as a potential speed specialist rather than expect five-category production.
#18 — Trey Gibson | RHP (Debuted in 2026)
Baltimore uncovered Gibson after the 2023 draft, signing him as an undrafted free agent out of Liberty. That modest acquisition has become an impressive development success, as Gibson’s arsenal took a sizable step forward and his ability to miss bats carried him all the way to the majors in 2026.
Strikeouts drive Gibson’s dynasty value. His fastball/breaking-ball combination can overpower hitters when everything is synchronized, but command and consistency remain the dividing line between a long-term rotation job and a more volatile role.
Gibson has already shown that his stuff can race through the minors, and Baltimore named him its 2025 Jim Palmer Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Dynasty managers shouldn’t overreact to rough stretches against advanced hitters; there is enough swing-and-miss here to produce useful fantasy numbers if he secures a rotation spot.
#17 — Ethan Anderson | C (ETA 2027)
Anderson is becoming one of the more interesting offensive catchers in Baltimore’s system. The Orioles selected the switch-hitting University of Virginia product with the 61st overall pick in the second round of the 2024 draft, initially betting on his advanced offensive background and versatility.
His 2026 power surge has made the fantasy profile considerably more interesting. Anderson produced 22 homers with a .901 OPS across his first 367 plate appearances listed by MLB in 2026, a significant development for a player whose earlier professional résumé was much lighter on over-the-fence damage.
Catcher eligibility is what can turn a good bat into an especially valuable dynasty asset. If Anderson continues producing enough offense while remaining behind the plate, he could become much more than organizational catching depth. He is an arrow-up player who deserves considerably more dynasty attention than he received a year ago.
#16 — Andri Hidalgo | LHP (ETA 2030)
Hidalgo is the lottery ticket of this Top 20, but it is a fascinating ticket. Baltimore signed the Dominican left-hander for $700,000 during the 2026 international period, landing a projectable 6-foot-4 teenager who was already reaching the mid-90s before his professional career really got started.
The fantasy ceiling is enormous for such a young pitcher. Hidalgo combines premium left-handed velocity with a slider that could eventually become another bat-missing weapon, and there is physical projection remaining. If additional velocity arrives as he matures, his arsenal could become genuinely nasty.
The catch is obvious: teenage pitching prospects carry enormous developmental risk. Hidalgo is years away, has plenty of command and changeup development ahead and shouldn’t be treated like a safe asset. In very deep dynasty leagues, though, he is exactly the type of high-upside arm worth getting ahead of before a potential breakout.
#15 — Ty Head | OF (ETA 2029)
Head joined Baltimore as its second-round selection in the 2026 draft after starring at North Carolina State. The left-handed-hitting outfielder’s calling card is his sophisticated offensive approach, and his ability to control the strike zone gives him an appealing foundation as he begins professional baseball.
The dynasty attraction starts with the possibility of a strong hit/OBP combination. Head isn’t simply hunting pitches to drive; his advanced patience gives him a chance to post useful on-base percentages while eventually developing enough power to become more than a table setter.
He is a particularly interesting target in OBP dynasty formats. There is still a sizable gap between college success and upper-minors production, so patience is required, but Head possesses the offensive ingredients to climb quickly if his bat translates.
#14 — J.T. Quinn | RHP (ETA 2028)
Quinn gives Baltimore another imposing pitching frame to develop. The Orioles selected the 6-foot-6 Georgia right-hander with the 69th overall pick in the Competitive Balance Round B of the 2025 draft, and he quickly began showing that his combination of size and stuff could work in a professional rotation.
There is legitimate strikeout potential here, but Quinn’s dynasty trajectory will ultimately depend on command. Big-bodied pitchers can sometimes require additional time to consistently repeat their deliveries, and improved strike-throwing would give his arsenal a much better chance of playing deep into starts.
Quinn is a strong second-tier pitching stash for dynasty managers. He doesn’t possess the same combination of upside and probability as Baltimore’s top pitching prospects yet, but continued improvement could move him quickly because he entered pro ball with college experience.
#13 — Aron Estrada | 2B/OF (ETA 2027)
Estrada has quietly become one of Baltimore’s better international development stories. Signed out of Venezuela for $175,000 in 2022, the versatile switch-hitter broke out in 2025 with a .288 average, .813 OPS, 10 homers and 34 steals while reaching Double-A.
That power-speed combination is precisely why dynasty managers should pay attention. Estrada doesn’t need to become a 25-homer slugger to matter if he continues getting on base, contributing double-digit power and aggressively taking bases.
His ability to move around the diamond could also accelerate his path to Baltimore. Estrada may lack the superstar ceiling of the names near the top of this ranking, but a multi-position player capable of helping in average, runs, and steals can become sneaky valuable in deeper dynasty formats.
#12 — Kyson Witherspoon | RHP (ETA 2028)
Witherspoon arrived in Baltimore in one of the franchise’s biggest recent trades, coming from Boston alongside Anthony Eyanson and Enddy Azocar in the August 2026 deal that sent Adley Rutschman and Jake Rogers to the Red Sox. Boston had originally selected the Oklahoma right-hander in the first round of the 2025 draft.
The arsenal gives dynasty managers plenty to dream about. Witherspoon can miss bats with a lively fastball and multiple breaking looks, giving him a starter’s repertoire with considerable strikeout upside. His biggest obstacle is getting that arsenal over the plate consistently.
That command volatility makes him riskier than Eyanson, but it also creates a potentially attractive dynasty buying opportunity. If Baltimore can tighten his delivery and strike-throwing, Witherspoon has the raw ingredients to leap several spots up this list.
#11 — Boston Bateman | LHP (ETA 2028)
You don’t overlook a 6-foot-8 left-hander, and Bateman offers Baltimore one of the more visually imposing pitching prospects in its system. The Orioles acquired him from San Diego at the 2025 trade deadline in the six-prospect return for Ryan O’Hearn and Ramón Laureano.
Bateman’s size creates difficult angles, and his arsenal has enough bat-missing potential to project him as a starter. Like many extremely tall pitchers, maintaining repeatable mechanics and consistent command will be central to whether he reaches that ceiling.
For dynasty purposes, Bateman offers a desirable blend of ceiling and developmental progress without the extreme distance of a teenage arm. He remains a pitching prospect with considerable inherent risk, but there is a legitimate midrotation-or-better outcome if Baltimore can maximize the package.
#10 — Michael Forret | RHP (ETA 2027)
Forret’s route through the Orioles organization has been unusual. Baltimore originally selected him in the 14th round of the 2023 draft, traded him to Tampa Bay in the December 2025 Shane Baz deal, then reacquired him in August 2026 by sending Tyler Wells to the Rays.
That history shouldn’t obscure the development of a legitimate starting pitcher. Before returning to Baltimore, Forret had produced a 3.29 ERA with 102 strikeouts over 93 innings between Double-A and Triple-A in 2026. His arsenal and proximity give him one of the clearer paths to near-term fantasy relevance on this list.
Forret doesn’t need to become an ace to pay off in dynasty. A durable starter capable of generating roughly a strikeout per inning can carry meaningful value in deeper formats. His combination of performance and proximity makes him considerably safer than many lower-level arms.
#9 — Enddy Azocar | OF (ETA 2029)
Azocar was another major piece of Baltimore’s August 2026 return for Adley Rutschman, arriving from Boston with Eyanson and Witherspoon. Originally signed by the Red Sox out of Venezuela in 2024, Azocar brings considerably more offensive upside than his age might initially suggest.
The exciting fantasy ingredient is impact. Azocar has the physical ability to drive the baseball, with enough projected power to develop into a legitimate home-run threat while still offering athleticism rather than a one-dimensional slugging profile.
There is plenty of developmental road remaining, and young hitters with power frequently encounter adjustments as advanced pitchers exploit their approach. Still, Azocar possesses one of the better ceiling-versus-age combinations in the organization and belongs on the radar in virtually every deep dynasty league.
#8 — Wehiwa Aloy | SS (ETA 2028)
Baltimore selected Aloy 31st overall out of Arkansas in the 2025 draft after he established himself as one of college baseball’s premier performers. He quickly carried that production into pro ball, using a powerful right-handed swing to force his way toward Double-A in his first full professional season.
For fantasy managers, Aloy’s selling point is obvious: shortstop eligibility attached to legitimate power. His exit velocities have stood out within the Orioles system, and he has the strength to produce substantial home-run totals without needing years of physical projection.
The swing-and-miss question keeps him from ranking even higher. If Aloy makes enough contact against upper-level breaking stuff, however, the payoff could be substantial. Middle infielders with 20-plus-homer potential are valuable dynasty commodities, making him an upside play worth embracing.
#7 — Luis De León | LHP (Debuted September 2026)
De León represents one of Baltimore’s biggest international-development wins. The Orioles signed him out of the Dominican Republic in December 2021 for a modest bonus, and the lanky southpaw steadily transformed himself from a projection play into a major-league pitcher, earning his first callup on September 1, 2026.
De León’s fantasy profile revolves around deception, movement, and his ability to keep hitters uncomfortable rather than overwhelming them with pure velocity. His changeup gives him a weapon against right-handed hitters, while his unusual look can make the entire arsenal play up.
The major question is his role. Baltimore could use him as either a starter or leverage his stuff in shorter appearances, and that distinction dramatically affects dynasty value. Managers in deeper leagues should hold while the Orioles determine where his arsenal fits best.
#6 — Nate George | OF (ETA 2028)
Few players in Baltimore’s system have changed their prospect stock as dramatically as George. The Orioles found him in the 16th round of the 2024 draft, and he exploded through three minor-league levels during his first full season to establish himself as a legitimate Top-100-caliber prospect before illness interrupted much of 2026.
George brings the kind of skill mixture dynasty players chase: hitting ability, athleticism, and speed with enough offensive upside to avoid being pigeonholed as a one-category player. His rapid rise also suggests his underlying tools were much better than his draft position indicated.
The lost 2026 development time introduces some uncertainty, but it shouldn’t erase what George accomplished beforehand. If healthy, he remains one of Baltimore’s most exciting fantasy hitters and a potential top-of-the-order player capable of helping across several categories.
#5 — Ike Irish | OF/1B (ETA 2028)
Baltimore used the 19th overall selection in the 2025 draft on Irish after an outstanding career at Auburn, betting on one of that class’s most polished offensive players. Although drafted as a catcher/outfielder and now seeing substantial work away from catcher, his fantasy value has always been driven primarily by the bat.
Irish combines an advanced left-handed approach with the strength to produce 20-plus homers. He can handle velocity, use the entire field, and make hard contact without adopting an all-or-nothing swing, giving him a chance to contribute both average and power.
The dynasty downside is positional. Losing catcher eligibility lowers his ceiling considerably, especially if first base becomes his long-term home, and a 2026 knee injury cost him valuable development time. But the bat is good enough that Irish can still become a middle-of-the-order fantasy asset.
#4 — Caden Hunter | LHP (ETA 2027)
Hunter may be Baltimore’s biggest pitching-development breakout of 2026. The Orioles selected the USC left-hander in the sixth round of the 2025 draft, and he responded by charging from Single-A through High-A and into Double-A during his first full professional season.
The fantasy appeal has risen with the strikeouts. Hunter recorded 128 punchouts with a 2.04 ERA and 1.02 WHIP across his first 84 innings of 2026, showing a much more dangerous bat-missing profile than his draft position suggested.
He may not carry the same overpowering raw arsenal as Eyanson, but starters who combine multiple usable pitches, left-handed deception, and improving command can move quickly. Hunter has transformed from sleeper into one of Baltimore’s premier pitching assets and is now a legitimate Top-100 MLB prospect.
#3 — Joseph Dzierwa | LHP (ETA 2027)
Dzierwa immediately stands out at 6-foot-8, but his game is more sophisticated than simply creating intimidating extension. Baltimore selected the Michigan State left-hander 58th overall in the second round of the 2025 draft, and he has moved rapidly enough to reach Double-A during his first full season.
His changeup is the fantasy headliner. Dzierwa pairs it effectively with his fastball, throws strikes, and has seen his breaking pitches generate more misses as a professional. That combination gives him both a relatively high starter probability and enough strikeout potential to matter.
This is exactly the type of pitching prospect dynasty managers sometimes underrate because there isn’t triple-digit velocity attached to the name. Dzierwa’s command, unusual dimensions, and deepening arsenal could instead make him a dependable midrotation starter with stretches of considerably better fantasy production.
#2 — Anthony Eyanson | RHP (ETA 2027)
Eyanson instantly became one of Baltimore’s premier prospects when the Orioles acquired him from Boston in the blockbuster August 2026 Adley Rutschman trade. Boston had selected the LSU right-hander in the third round of the 2025 draft, but his professional ascent quickly made that draft position look light.
This is the pitcher on the list with the most exciting combination of stuff and proximity. Eyanson’s slider can be a true bat-missing weapon, his fastball plays effectively around it, and he showed the arsenal immediately after reaching Double-A Chesapeake, including nine strikeouts in five innings in his Orioles organizational debut.
Starting-pitcher prospects always carry risk, but Eyanson offers legitimate SP2-type fantasy upside with a path toward more. He is already a Top-50 overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline, and dynasty managers should value him as much more than simply another intriguing minor-league arm.
#1 — Eric Booth Jr. | OF (ETA 2030)
The newest crown jewel of Baltimore’s farm system is Eric Booth Jr. The Orioles selected the Mississippi high school outfielder seventh overall in the 2026 draft and signed him for a reported $7.3247 million, making a major investment in a player with an enticing combination of hitting ability, athleticism, and physicality.
Booth’s dynasty profile starts with the bat. He is a left-handed hitter with advanced contact skills for his age, an aggressive competitive approach, and enough physical strength to project meaningful future power. Add his athleticism and speed, and there is a plausible path toward production in all five traditional fantasy categories.
There is considerable distance between an 18-year-old in Single-A and Camden Yards, so patience is mandatory. But upside should carry weight at the top of a dynasty prospect ranking, and Booth offers both ceiling and a remarkably polished offensive foundation for his age. MLB Pipeline already ranks him No. 40 overall in baseball, giving Baltimore another potential cornerstone bat to build around.
Final Thoughts
Baltimore’s system remains one dynasty managers should take seriously because of the organization’s track record of turning raw ingredients into meaningful prospect gains. The current group offers an appealing mix of near-term pitching, breakout candidates, and longer-range offensive upside, headlined by Eric Booth Jr.’s five-category ceiling and Anthony Eyanson’s combination of stuff and proximity.
The larger takeaway is to keep watching the developmental signals. Baltimore has earned credibility in identifying and improving talent, but a competitive major-league roster means opportunity can be just as important as tools. Dynasty managers should pay particular attention to players showing performance gains, aggressive assignments, and growing organizational responsibility.
