Enddy Azocar put together the loudest night in the Orioles’ minor league roundup, going 3 for 5 with a double, a homer, four runs scored, three RBI and a walk for the Keys. That performance earned him ORIOLES HANGOUT MiLB Player of the Day honors.
At Triple-A, Norfolk came up short in a 9-3 loss to Buffalo. Creed Willems did his part in the middle of the order, finishing 2 for 3 with a homer, one run scored, one RBI and a walk. Rece Hinds added a double and two RBI while going 1 for 5.
The Tides also got a solid start from Michael Forret, who allowed two runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out five across 4.2 innings.
Buffalo’s offense was paced by Randal Diaz, who went 3 for 6 with two doubles, a homer, one run scored and four RBI. Braylin Tavera also chipped in with a 1-for-6 night that included a homer, two runs scored, three RBI and a stolen base.
Carson Dorsey started for the Bisons and gave up four runs on three hits, including a homer, while walking four and striking out four over 4.0 innings. Cohen Achen was the pitcher of record, improving to 1-1 after 1.1 innings in which he allowed one hit and struck out two.
In another game on the slate, Juan Ortega powered the offense with a grand slam homer, finishing 2 for 4 with two runs scored and five RBI. Joshua Liranzo went 2 for 2 with two runs scored, one RBI, a walk and a stolen base. Esteban Mejia opened the game with 2.0 scoreless innings, walking two, striking out four and throwing a wild pitch.
In Other News...
Orioles May Have Found A Bigger Catcher Piece Than Fans Realized
Carlos Narvaez arrived in Baltimore at the trade deadline with the kind of profile that can be easy to overlook in the moment, especially next to a catcher like Samuel Basallo who carries so much of the long-term buzz. But the Orioles clearly see Narvaez as more than just depth. Manager Craig Albernaz has already singled out Narvaez for his preparation and defensive work, the sort of traits that matter when a club is trying to settle a young pitching staff and keep the game organized behind the plate.
The bigger picture is that Baltimore does not appear interested in asking Basallo to shoulder everything at catcher right away, which opens the door for Narvaez to play a meaningful role over the next two years. In that sense, the move may have been less about finding a backup and more about giving the Orioles a catcher who can help ease Basallo into the job while still handling real innings of his own. For a team thinking beyond the present, that kind of arrangement can end up mattering more than the flashier headline. [Read more 🡒]
Orioles Just Changed Their Farm System In A Way Fans Will Feel
The Orioles spent the deadline reshaping both their big-league roster and the pipeline behind it, and the changes were broad enough to be felt well beyond the clubhouse. Baltimore sent catchers Adley Rutschman and Jake Rogers to Boston in exchange for Carlos Narvez and three prospects, then swung another deal to bring pitcher Michael Forret back from Tampa Bay, while also moving outfielder Taylor Ward for three right-handed pitchers.
For a franchise that has spent plenty of time talking about balance between now and later, these moves clearly tilted the organization deeper into the pitching side of the ledger. The major league roster changed, the minor league depth chart changed, and the farm system now looks heavier on arms than it did before, which is the sort of shift fans will notice as soon as the next wave of prospects starts moving up through the system. [Read more 🡒]