Orioles MiLB Weekly Recap: April 15-20
- Grant DeVivo
- 5 days ago
- 7 min read
Checking in on how each Baltimore Orioles affiliate performed last week
*Cover Photo Credit: Skylar Prieto, Norfolk Tides
It was a busy week down on the farm in Birdland. Here is a look at how each Baltimore Orioles affiliate performed last week.
AAA Norfolk Tides
The Tides tiook a trip to Omaha to do battle with the Storm Chasers (Royals AAA). They dropped the series 3-2 with the last game being washed out due to rain. They have yet to clinch a regular season series so far.
Strangly enough, the Tides dropped the series while outscoring Omaha 44-30. This is a good sign for the offense after scuffling a bit during the first few weeks of the season. Before their trip to Omaha, the Tides could only muster out 24 runs in a series loss to the Gwinnett Stripers. Now after an offensive explosion last week that saw the Tides post 55 hits (22 with runners in scoring position) and 15 RBI with two outs, their offense looks much better on paper than it did early in the season. Looking at the statboards, the Tides now have a .762 OPS, a .416 slugging percentage, 176 hits, 106 RBI, 281 total bases, and a .325 batting average on balls in play. All of these rank within the top five in the International League, and their 106 RBI stand alone at the top entering today. This was a big series for the bats, and it will serve as a momentum builder moving forward especially this week against the Memphis Red Birds (Cardinals AAA), who have a meager 4.61 team ERA right now.
Speaking of pitching, veteran righty Kyle Gibson got the ball on Tuesday, a 9-8 loss. "Gibby" went 3.2 innings allowing three earned runs while striking our four and walking none. He has since been assigned to Aberdeen as he keeps working towards his reunion with the Birds. Righty Dylan Heid made his Triple-A debut on Thursday. He struck out the side and had an unearned run. After being hit hard last week, Cameron Weston rebounded with four scoreless innings on Saturday. He struck out three batters, but he also walked four guys.
Norfolk falls to 8-12 on the season. Here are three standout performers from this past week.
OF Jud Fabian: the Orioles' No. 24 prospect was a key offensive piece for the Tides last week. He went 4-for-12 (.333) with five runs scored, three RBI, and seven walks to the tune of a .579 OBP. He only struck out twice.
C Maverick Handley: the 27-year-old backstop caught three games last week and came up big with the bat. He went 4-for-12 (.333) with three runss cored and three extra base hits including a home run. He now has a .900 OPS this season.
UT Terrin Vavra: the versatile utility guy broke out of a 3-for-18 (.200) slump with a big showing last week. He went 6-for-13 (.462) with four RBI, and he went 3-for-4 in the series finale.
Norfolk comes home this week for a six-game homestand against Memphis. Click here for tickets and join in on promotions including tomorrow's Triple Play Tuesday.
AA Chesapeake Baysox
The Baysox traveled last week to Richmond, Virginia for a six-game series against the Flying Squirrels (Giants AA). The Squirrels did not do much flying last week as Chesapeake came away with the 4-2 series win.
It was another series defined for the Baysox by a reliance on strong pitching. Baysox arms combined for 42 strikeouts and only 12 extra base hits allowed while inducing seven double players and working to 43 Squirrels base runners stranded. They controlled the free bases with just 14 walks all week, and they controlled the running game by allowing just five stolen bases. In terms of strong individual performances, Ryan Long had a tremendous week on the bump with two five-inning starts. He allowed just two earned runs and one lone walk while punching out six and throwing 69 percent of his pitches for strikes. Peter Van Loon continued dominant ouf of the bullpen with 2.1 scoreless innings on Saturday.
The Baysox' big offensive day came on Wednesday thanks to a 10-6 win. They went 3-for-6 (.500) with runners in scoring position, and they out-hit Richmond 8-6. Silas Ardoin, Adam Retzbach, Frederick Bencosme, and Creed Willems all launched their first home runs of the season. Jeremiah Jackson went 2-for-5 with three RBI.
The Baysox stay hot as they improve to 9-6 overall and are 7-5 in their last 12 games. Here are three strong performers from the series win.
RHP Ryan Long: the righty should get considered for the Eastern League Pitcher of the Week after a strong series in Richmond. In two starts, he allowed just two earned runs while striking out six and holding Richmond to just a walk and eight hits.
IF Jeremiah Jackson: the speedy infielder swung the bat well all last week. He went 9-for-23 (.391) with a .938 OPS, three doubles, and four RBI.
C Adam Retzbach: the backstop had a big week with the bat, going 6-for-15 (.313) with four RBI and his first home run of 2025. He drove in the game-winning run on Thursday with an RBI groundout in the eigth inning.
Chesapeake comes home this week to host the talented Altoona Curve (Pirates AA) and top prospect Termarr Johnson. Make sure you grab tickets for Sunday, as the Baysox will host "Meet The Team Day" where fans can get autographs and photos with players and coaches.
A+ Aberdeen Ironbirds
The 'Birds had a six-game homestand against the future of the Big Apple, the Brooklyn Cyclones (Mets A+). An uncharacteristic offensive slump and resulted in a 4-2 series loss to the Cyclones.
The 'Birds continued their running ways with nine stolen bases while only being cut down four times. They lead the South Atlantic League with 44 stolen bases. Besides that, they could only collect 29 hits overall and just seven hits with runners in scoring position, and they struck out 64 times. I say that this is an uncharacteristic slump for the offense because in general, the bats have still had a solid year. Their .702 OPS ranks fourth in the league while their 78 runs stand third and their 68 RBI stand fourth. Their 147 strikeouts are also ranked fourth least in the league. Perhaps this was just a down week for the offense, they just need to hit the refresh button heading into this week against the Wilmington Blue Rocks (Nationals A-) who have a 5.08 team ERA.
Some pitchers had some monster weeks for the Ironbirds. Braxton Bragg dominated on Wednesday with seven scoreless innings while No. 8 prospect Michael Forret tossed five innings of one run ball on Thursday. Righty Kyle Gibson debuted on Sunday after traveling from Triple-A Norfolk. He went five innings of one-run ball.
Aberdeen sits just one game under .500 at 7-8. Here are three standout performers from last week.
RHP Braxton Bragg: the 24-year-old righty absolutely ate on Wednesday. He went seven scoreless innings while allowing just three hits and striking out seven batters. He needed just 79 pitches with 61 of them being for strikes.
RHP Michael Forret: the Orioles' eighth best prospect held Brooklyn hitless on Thursday night. His one run was surrendered thanks to a walk, two stolen bases, and a sacrafice fly. Other than, he commanded the zone and earned nine K's as a result.
IF Anderson De Los Santos: the 21-year-old was the big bat of the week, going 5-for-15 (.333) with a double, a triple, and two RBI. He launched his first home run of the season on Saturday, a mammoth shot that landed behind the visitors' clubhouse in left field.
Aberdeen his the road this week for a six-game set at Wilmington.
A- Delmarva Shorebirds
The Shorebirds did battle with the Carolina Mudcats (Brewers A-) last week. After a strong showing in the first two games, the Shorebirds' momentum could not be replicated the rest of the series and they ended up dropping the series 5-1.
In a 11-10 loss and a 6-3 win, the bats broke out competed right alongside what the Mud Cats had to offer. In those two games, Delmarva walked twelve times, compiled 22 hits, and pushed the running game with four stolen bases. For the remainder of the series, the 'Birds scored just four runs on 20 hits. They went 5-for-25 (.200) with runners in scoring position and stranded a total of 26 base runners. The pitching was roughed up during these final four games as well. They surrendered 25 walks including nine on Friday. A week after winning the Carolina League's Pitcher of the Week award, Chase Allsup was tagged for six runs in 3.1 innings on Thursday. The defense did not give the pitching any help as they combined for ten errors on Thursday and Friday. They had a total of 14 errors in the series. It was an unfortunate end to the series after such a strong start, but this level of baseball is all about learning, growing, and adapting. Many of these players are in their first ever seasons of affiliated baseball outside of the Florida Leagues, and it is a growth process. The key focal point moving forward for Delmarva is growing stronger to be able to finish a six-game series start to finish.
Delmarva falls to 4-11. Here are three standout performers from last week.
OF Kevin Guerrero: the right-handed hitter was one of Delmarva's standout hitters last week. He went 7-for-16 (.438) with three runs scored, an RBI, and a stolen base. He also collected four walks.
RHP Carter Rustad: the 23-year-old reliever had a big outing out of the bullpen on Friday. He tossed two scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and striking out one batter.
RHP Ben Vespi: the brother of former Oriole Nick Vespi, Ben had two great relief outings for Delmarva last week. He tossed a total of four innings, allowing just one run while striking out three.
Delmarva is home this week for a six-game set against the Augusta GreenJackets (Braves A-).
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