The Orioles’ 2024 season didn’t end as they would have hoped, but there are plenty of positives for the franchise moving forward. They graduated several key players who they expect to be part of their young core for years to come. When you graduate the best prospect in baseball, along with other contributors, it’s natural for the farm system to take a hit—that’s a good problem to have, and exactly what teams aim for as they rebuild. The current Orioles system is now headlined by Samuel Basallo, a highly-touted prospect whose defensive future is uncertain but whose power and contact skills are unquestioned. Basallo is positioned to be the next big name to graduate, following in the footsteps of Jackson Holliday and Heston Kjerstad. Despite the graduations, Baltimore’s pipeline remains well-stocked, in part due to its forays into Latin America, which have bolstered organizational depth. This depth could be crucial in securing pitching reinforcements through trades, an area the Orioles need to address. Additionally, bats like Coby Mayo are set to bolster the Orioles’ roster, giving them even more offensive firepower. With this talent on the horizon, the O’s look poised to build off this year and hopefully make a deeper postseason run next season.
About Our Top 20 Lists
Prospects Live, led by its evaluating team & Director of Scouting Rhys White, is proud to begin rolling out its annual offseason system reports. The team combines industry feedback, our live looks, film, and available data to compile each org. We believe this effort has enabled us to present you, the reader, with our best possible view of the prospects in the organization.
We have constructed this list using the Overall Future Potential (OFP) scale. There is no perfect equation for ranking prospects or assigning value to them, but we believe this method is the best possible approach. Every prospect on this list has been graded based on the tried and true 20-80 scouting scale. An 80 is the highest tool and OFP grade on the scale, reserved for MVP-caliber players or tools. Conversely, a 20 is reserved for non-prospects (NPs). A 50 OFP falls in the middle, indicating our evaluators deem this player a future average major league player. Below the 50 OFP tier are the 45s and 40s, comprising a large majority of players on each list. These are specific-role players, such as platoon hitters, utility players, or low-leverage relievers. Above the 50 OFP tier are the 55s and 60s. A 55 represents a future above-average player, and a 60 OFP designation is reserved for future All-Star caliber players.
In addition to the tool grades and OFP, we will also include a 'Risk' associated with each prospect. We use this to better communicate to you, the reader, whether a grade is more aggressive or conservative in nature. The evaluation team has worked hard to apply both the grades and risk components to better illustrate how each individual prospect stacks up in their respective system and in the baseball ecosystem.
Below you'll find the top 5 players in the system with a full report for the #1 prospect in the system. The full rankings and scouting reports on all top 20 prospects per team will be available on our Patreon at the 55-tier ($5) as we publish them. We’ll also have additional content on Patreon for each team: Honorable Mentions, Top 10 players 25 years and under, and Team MLB Dynasty Rankings.
Top 5 Team Rank and Scouting Report for #1 System Prospect Below
1. Samuel Basallo, C/1B
DOB: 8/13/2004, HT: 6-3, WT: 180, H/T: L/R, Acquired: 2021 IFA
Highest Level: AAA, ETA: 2025, Rule V: 2025
OFP: 60
Hit: 55, Power: 70, Field: 40, Throw: 60, Run: 40
Risk: High
Scouting Report:
Basallo is a big, physically imposing player with long levers and some noticeable bulk, especially in his upper body. There's room for him to add more muscle, particularly in his lower half, as he fills out with age. His standout trait is his performance at the plate, where his offensive potential shines. Basallo employs a slight leg kick in his setup and generates impressive rotational force from his hips and lower half, leading to consistent hard contact. He shows the potential to become a 60-grade hitter at maturity, with a knack for barrel manipulation and adjusting his bat path to pitches in all areas of the strike zone. He makes solid swing decisions and occasionally passes up borderline pitches, showing discipline by not chasing out of the zone at concerning rates. Basallo has a well-rounded approach, driving pitches to the opposite field when away while pulling pitches in the zone with more loft in his swing. His ability to hit for both contact and power suggests a future as a middle-of-the-order bat, capable of driving the ball out of any part of the park. Defensively, Basallo currently catches, but he likely won't stick behind the plate in the majors due to his stiff and clunky movements. He lacks the fluidity needed for a big-league backstop. A move to first base is more likely, where his bat would more than carry the position. Given his plus arm strength, he could transition to a corner outfield spot. While not entirely on the level of Yordan Alvarez, Basallo could reach 80-90% of Yordan's offensive production, and at that level, his defensive home will only matter a little. His value will primarily be tied to his bat, and he has the potential to become a middle-of-the-order force. - Rhys White
Fantasy Spin:
Samuel Basallo takes baseball seriously, and if you don’t believe me, ask me about the ‘pants’ story. Through his momentous ascent through the minor leagues and prospect-dom, Basallo has shown to be an exemplary hitter – patient, balanced, cerebral, and consistently making hard, meaningful contact while kicking in a handful of stolen bases based on his game IQ and acumen for the basepaths. As far as the ‘eye test’ goes, Basallo passes with flying colors as a ball player. Beyond our own feeble human understanding, though, PLive+ similarly adores Basallo, assigning him a PL+ score of 163 – the second best given to any player in 2024 – and projects him for a .294/.362/.510 slash line with 26 HR and 9 SB, averaging 19 percent strikeout and 9 percent walk rates throughout his career. We will likely lose him from the ranks of catchers, but the position never really mattered with Basallo – he’s the sort of player you build around, not an auxiliary piece with which you mix or match. Until we can soak in his debut, Basallo is a universal top-five prospect in the game and, better yet, a top 125 (or better) dynasty piece overall. – Drew Wheeler