Orioles Prospect Report - July 2024

[Orioles]

From BA's Midseason Minor League Players Of The Year For All 30 Organizations:


Sal Stewart, 3B/2B (Reds)
High-A Dayton

Led by Elly De La Cruz and Hunter Greene, the Reds’ top six WAR totals have been compiled by players who have debuted since 2021. That is to say, with all the recent impact MLB graduates, Cincinnati’s minor league talent level is lower than usual. Stewart is one exception. The 2022 first-rounder hit .279/.391/.454 with eight home runs and 50 walks through 80 Midwest League games, all while taking on his largest share ever of second base.


Carson Williams, SS (Rays)
Double-A Montgomery

For years, the Rays have had a reputation as a pitching development factory. This season, it’s the hitters who take center stage. Tampa Bay has gotten best-case results from practically every one of their top hitting prospects, including Brayden Taylor, Tre’ Morgan, Chandler Simpson, Xavier Isaac and others. But Williams is the midseason POY pick because he is a lockdown defensive shortstop who hit .259/.351/.493 with 14 home runs and 22 stolen bases through 72 games at Montgomery. He ranks second in the Southern League with an .844 OPS.


James Wood, OF (Nationals)
Triple-A Rochester

Wood earned a July 1 call-up to Washington on the strength of a rollicking first half at Triple-A in which the 21-year-old hit .353/.463/.595 with 10 home runs in 52 games. Power has never been a question for the 6-foot-7 Wood, though his command of the strike zone—40 walks against 42 strikeouts—belies his long levers. The sky’s the limit for Wood, who moved into position as the No. 1 prospect in baseball in the Top 100 Prospects July update.