A day before Eric Booth Jr. is set to make his professional debut, Baseball America already has him slotted near the top of the Orioles’ farm system.
Booth, the Mississippi high school outfielder taken seventh overall in last month’s draft, checked in at No. 2 in Baseball America’s Orioles prospect rankings. He signed with Baltimore for $7,324,700 and is slated to play for Single-A Delmarva when the Shorebirds host Salem at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury on Tuesday night.
The only player ahead of him is right-hander Anthony Eyanson, the headliner from the major trade with the Boston Red Sox that sent away three-time All-Star Adley Rutschman. Eyanson, who pitched for Double-A Chesapeake on Saturday night, is also No. 1 in the MLB Pipeline rankings.
MLB.com has not yet updated its list to include the recent draftees.
Behind Eyanson and Booth, Baseball America has left-handed starter Joseph Dzierwa at No. 3.
Dzierwa is also pitching for Chesapeake, where he joins Caden Hunter in what looks like a promising Baysox rotation. Hunter has moved quickly through Delmarva, High-A Frederick and into that group, and MLB Pipeline has him at No.
Outfielder Enndy Azocar, another top prospect acquired in the Rutschman deal and now at Frederick, sits at No. 5.
First baseman/outfielder Ike Irish is next at No. 6, even though his season ended last month with a torn meniscus in his left knee. Irish was the Orioles’ top draft pick in 2025.
The rest of Baseball America’s top 10 includes Triple-A Norfolk left-hander Luis De Léon, Tides right-hander Michael Forret, outfielder Nate George and Keys left-hander Boston Bateman. George hasn’t played since early May because of illness.
Kyson Witherspoon, another piece in the Rutschman trade, is ranked No. 11.
Further down the list, first-rounder Wehiwa Aloy checks in at No. 15, while Ty Head, the Orioles’ second-round pick who will also debut for Delmarva on Tuesday night, is No. 16.
Outfielder Jhomnardo Reyes, acquired from Minnesota in the trade for Dean Kremer, is No. 17.
Reyes is also at Delmarva, and a scout who watched him regularly in the Florida Complex League said he has a real shot to reach the majors, noting that even if the FCL was less talented than in recent years, Reyes’ ability stood out.
Norfolk outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr., the Orioles’ No. 1 draft pick in 2023, is No. 21 in Baseball America’s ranking and No. 14 in MLB Pipeline. Outfielder Vance Honeycutt, the top pick in 2024, is not in the top 30 for either publication while he remains on Frederick’s injured list with a strained left oblique muscle.
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