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Writer's pictureGrant DeVivo

Orioles MiLB Weekly Recap: July 30-August 4

A look at how all four Baltimore Orioles Minor League affilates performed this past week


The calendar has flipped to August, and the final third of the Minor League regular season is underway. Many of the Orioles' affiliates will be making a hard push for the postseason while others will be wrapping up their season when that last week in September approaches. Somehow in someway, all of this happens to be right around the corner, and the season will soon be over.


For now, there is still baseball to be played. Here is a look at how each affiliate did in the middle of last week's transition.


AAA Norfolk Tides

The Tides began last week wrapping up a series at the Charlotte Knights (White Sox AAA) that happened in June. Tuesday began with the completion of June 30's suspended 4-4 tie in the 9th. After wrapping up the suspended contest, which ended in a 6-4 Knights win, the actual 6-game set began between the two teams immediately after. Once again, the Tides came out with a series tie, making this back-to-back series ties for them.


Daniel Johnson had a 2-homer game ad 9 RBI last week for Norfolk. Photo: Skylar Prieto

Pitching prospects Chayce McDermott (No. 6) and Cade Povich (No. 7) stood out in that they threw extremely well in their starts last week, and this is important as they both come off recent demotions from the big league squad. Povich, who struggled in the big leagues with 23 walks in 37.1 innings, allowed just one free base runner in his start on Sunday while allowing just 2 earned runs with 8 strikeouts in a stretched out 7-inning outing. McDermott went 6 innings in Tuesday's 7-inning series opener, striking out 10 batters while allowing just 2 earned runs and 3 walks. Having gone deep in their starts recently and having found success again at Triple-A, the hope is that their success can translate into big league results when their next opportunity arises. Tucker Davidson also turned in a nice start on Wednesday, going 5 innings with just 2 earned runs, 6 strikeouts, and only 5 hits. Starting pitching had a good week last week. However, it was the bullpen that had an up-and-down week. Carlos Tavara and Kade Strowd had rough outings out of the 'pen on Thursday as they combined for a home run, 5 walks, and 5 earned runs over 3 combined innings. Nick Vespi, who has still been a reliable staple out of the Tides' bullpen this season, got tagged for 6 earned runs as a result of 3 walks in the 7th inning. His ERA now sits at 5.35. The Tides did however have a nice 18-10 free-swinging win on Thursday as Daniel Johnson collected swatted his 15th and 16th home runs of the season and No. 3 prospect Coby Mayo went 4-for-6. This would prove to be Mayo's final game with the Tides, for now, as he got the call to the Major Leagues immediately after the game.


Norfolk is now 16-17 in the second half in the International League East. They are 52-56 overall. Here are three standout performers from last week's road trip to Charlotte.


  • OF Daniel Johnson: the lefty-swinging outfielder had the long ball working last week with 3 home runs, two of them coming on Thursday, He had 9 RBI in the week, scored 9 runs, posted a 1.168 OPS, and went 9-for-25 (.360).

  • LHP Cade Povich: the Orioles' No. 9 prospect had a great outing on Sunday, as the southpaw went 7 innings, allowed jst 3 hits, walked just one batter, struck out 8, and needed a moest 97 pitches (65 strikes).

  • OF Shayne Fontana: the 27-year-old had a very productive week as he went 8-for-23 (..348) with 2 homers and 7 RBI. He had a 3-for-6 showing in the Tides' 18-10 win on Thursday.


The Tides return home this week for a 6-game set with the Durham Bulls (Rays AAA). It will be their first full week without Jackson Holliday or Coby Mayo. Be sure to get tickets for tonight's game and bring the little ones as the first 2,000 fans ages 17 and under will get the first of three packs of team distributed baseball cards. Gates at Harbor Park open at 5:30 pm.


AA Bowie Baysox

The Baysox kicked off a 6-game homestand last week and did battle with the Somerset Patriots (Yankees AA). The previous meeting between these two teams ended in a series tie. This time, it ended in a Baysox 2-4 series loss.


MLB's No. 12 prospect Samuel Basallo crushed 2 home runs last week for Bowie. Photo: Grant DeVivo

The bats did manage to break out early on in the series. In Tuesday's 7-6 comeback win, the Baysox pulled out an 11-hit effort that saw No. 2 prospect Samuel Basallo go 3-for-4 and No. 19 prospect John Rhodes smash a game-winning 2-run home run in the bottom of the 8th. In a tense and frustrating 13-12 loss on Wednesday afternoon that saw skipper Roberto Mercado get ejected in the 3rd inning, the Baysox went 4-for-11 (.363) with runners in scoring position and outhit Somerset 12-11. No. 24 prospect Frederick Bencosme went 4-for-5 with 2 RBI that day, and infielder TT Bowens had a 2-homer game that included a grand slam. After those first two games, the offense slowe down again. In the final 4 games, the Baysox could only muster out 7 runs with a respectable 26 hits. They went 2-for-28 with runners in scoring position, stranded 27 runners on base, and struck out 35 times. So, the offense showed a glimpse of a resurgence early in the series. The ability and the swings are there, and if the Baysox can get on a consistent run of good swings, clutch hitting, and just general production, then they will gradually see better results overtime. Right now, it is a little inconsistent. Shoutout to some clutch pitching, though. Logan Rinehart had a clutch 2-inning relief appearance on Tuesday that saw him get the save, and No. 20 prospect Alex Pham allowed just one run in a solid 5-inning start on Thursday.


The Baysox fall to 46-56 overall and 13-20 in the second half in the Eastern League Southwest. Here are three standout performers from last week for the Baysox.


  • C Samuel Basallo: the prized No. 2 prospect for the Birds reached base safely in 4 of the 5 games he played in last week. He went 9-for-19 (.474), scored 9 runs, and blasted two absolutely mammoth home runs.

  • RHP Cameron Weston: the right-hander had a great start on Friday, as he needed just 67 pitches (43 strikes) to get through 5.1 innings of one-run ball. He struck out 6 batters, walked just 2, and allowed only 2 hits.

  • RHP Patrick Reilly: acquired in a trade for Billy Cook prior to the deadline, the 22-year-old New Jersian debuted in the Orioles organization on Saturday. The Orioles' new No. 15 prospect tossed 3.1 scoreless relief innings, allowing just 2 hits while punching out 5 batters. Welcome, Patrick!


The Baysox continue their big 12-game homestand tonight, as they are set to kick off a 6-game Double-A Battle of the Beltways with the Harrisburg Senators (Nationals AA).


A+ Aberdeen Ironbirds

Rain played a factor into last week's 6-game set between the Ironbirds and the Brookyln Cyclones (Mets A+), as delays and suspensions were a common occurance. Yet, all 6 games were still squeezed in. The Ironbirds took the previous series between these two teams 5-1, but they fell to a series split this time with each team claiming 3 games.


Tavian Josenberger hit .438 with 6 stolen bases last week. Photo: Grant DeVivo

It was a week defned by close contests and competitive baseball, as the highest run differential between the teams in a single game was 4 runs. The Ironbirds offense did not make a ton of noise, but it pressed the right buttons situationally and in the clutch moment. In Game 1, Carter Young's 8th inning sacrafice fly came through as a game-winner. Newly arrived infielder Carlos Rodriguez had a game-winning sac fly of his own during Friday's victory, which was completed on Saturday due to rain. By the end of the week, the Ironbirds had scored 8 runs in the 6th inning or later. The main weapon that they used last week, and the main weapon that they have used all season, is the stolen base. Aberdeen has very fast and athletic base runners and by the end of last week, they had stolen 24 bases. Their 294 stolen bases this season are the most in the entire South Atlantic League, and the gap between them and the next closest team is wide with the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Rays A+) 100 stolen bases back from Aberdeen. Seven Ironbirds have at least 20 or more stolen bases. Bradfield's 55 stolen bases and Tavian Josenberger's 42 stolen bases are first and second in the league respectively. The 'Birds have not hesitated to run on teams, and they will do it at any given time. It has been a big part of their offense this season, and they ran the bases well to a solid series split with Brooklyn, though they probably would have liked a series win with the chances they were given throughout the week.


Aberdeen is now 19-17 in the second half standings of the South Atlantic League North, and they sit 53-49 overall. Here are three standout performers from last week.


  • OF Tavian Josenberger: the 2023 third rounder had a great week, going 7-for-16 (.438) with a 1.113 OPS, 4 RBI, 4 walks, and 5 runs scored. He ran all over Cyclones catching with 6 stolen bases, raising his season total to a SAL second best 42.

  • OF Douglas Hodo III: the outfielder went 5-for-15 (.333) last week and reached base safely in 5 of the 6 games that he started. He scored 5 runs and stole 4 bases, twice participating in a double-steal with Enrique Bradfield Jr.

  • RHP Trey Gibson: in his third start for the Ironbirds, Gibson continued his excellence at A+ ball with a 4-inning outing that sae him allow just one run on 5 hits with 6 strikeouts. 45 of his 64 pitches were strikes.


Aberdeen hits the road this week for a 6-game trip to the Hickory Crawdads (Rangers A+).


A- Delmarva Shorebirds

The Shorebirds squared off last week against longtime members of the Carolina League, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Cubs A-), whom used to do battle against the former Orioles' Class-A affiliate, the Frederick Keys. In last week's matchup, Delmarva dropped the series 4-2.


Jake Cunningham hit .389 with 5 RBI last week for Delmarva. Photo: Hannah Reagle

Nothing went Delmarva's way in the first half of the series. An extra innings dogfight on Tuesday saw both teams strike back and forth until a 2-run 11th for the Pelicans put them on top 9-7. Delmarva scored a run to make it a one-run game in the bottom half of the inning and after a sacrafice bunt, they somehow stranded the tying and winning runs in scoring position to fall to the Pelicans 9-8. The next day, they were disassembled early after the Pelicans put up a 7-spot in the first two innings, and Delmarva's offense had no answer after leaving 10 men on base the entire day. The offense did not answer the following day either as the 4-1 loss guaranteed at least a series split for Myrtle Beach. Things got interesting on Friday and Saturday, as Delmarva utilized the walk-off to get back in the series with back-to-back wins. The Pelicans gifted the 'Birds a win on Friday with a passed ball, and then Aron Estrada finished off Saturday's 7-6 win with a walk-off sacrafice fly. On Sunday, the Shorebirds had a chance to even the series but they were instead dismantled 13-5,thus ending the series on a sour note. Stiven Acevedo picked up 2 RBI however, and three Shorebirds hitters had multi-hit efforts.


The Shorebirds fall to 38-64 overall and 15-22 in the second half in the Carolina League North. Here are three standout performers from last week.


  • OF Jake Cunningham: the right-handed swinging former 5th rounder reached base safely in evry game that he appeared in last week and tallied a hit in each game as well. He went 7-for-18 (.389) with 2 doubles and 5 RBI, and had a big sacrafice bunt on Tuesday that gave the Shorebirds a chance to drive the winning run in.

  • IF Aron Estrada: the 19-year-old's final week in Delmarva went well, as he went 5-for-23 (.264) with 2 RBI, 5 runs scored, and a walk-off sacrafice fly on Saturday. He has officially been promoted to Aberdeen according to the team's transaction log.

  • RHP Braxton Bragg: a 5-inning, 1-hit start on Thursday lands Bragg on the Learning To Fly Standout Performers list once again. He collected 7 strikeouts while walking only one batter, and he threw just 66 pitches (44 strikes).


Delmarva hits the road this week for a 6-game set at the Salem Red Sox (Red Sox A-).





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