The Orioles are giving their fans a reason to circle February 20 on the calendar. That’s when MASN kicks off a record 20-game spring training broadcast slate-more than double last year’s total.
And it’s not just about volume. With a wave of young talent pushing toward the big leagues, this expanded look comes at the perfect time.
Last season, Baltimore got a taste of the future when catcher Samuel Basallo and outfielder Dylan Beavers were called up on back-to-back days in August. Both made enough of an impression to open 2026 on the major league roster, shedding their prospect labels in the process. But the pipeline behind them is still flowing strong.
The Orioles’ international program, led by VP of international scouting and operations Koby Perez, has quietly become one of the more productive systems in baseball. Since taking the reins in 2019, Perez has built a foundation that’s starting to bear serious fruit. As Matt Blood, the team’s VP of player development and domestic scouting, put it back in 2024: “We’re starting to see what they started come to fruition.”
One of the most compelling examples of that growth is Luis De León. The 22-year-old left-hander wasn’t a high-profile signing-just $30,000 out of the Dominican Republic late in the 2020-21 period-but he’s developed into one of the Orioles’ most intriguing arms.
In 2025, he posted a 3.30 ERA and racked up 107 strikeouts over 87.1 innings across three levels. His final stretch of the season was especially eye-opening: a 1.47 ERA and 0.95 WHIP over his last seven starts between High-A Aberdeen and Double-A Chesapeake.
Then came the Arizona Fall League, where De León didn’t just hold his own-he dominated. A 1.08 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 8.1 innings earned him Pitcher of the Week honors and put him firmly on the radar for a potential 2026 call-up.
What makes De León so effective? It starts with the fastball-both a four-seamer and a two-seamer that sit in the 95-98 mph range.
He’s not just blowing hitters away; he’s inducing weak contact and keeping the ball on the ground. His slider, once considered a weak point, has become a legitimate weapon thanks to improved command.
That evolution in his arsenal has scouts and analysts alike taking notice.
And he’s not alone.
Center field is another spot where a prospect could make waves this spring, and Enrique Bradfield Jr. is the name to watch. The 2023 first-rounder wrapped up last season at Triple-A Norfolk before heading to the Arizona Fall League, where he was named Defensive Player of the Year.
His elite speed-graded at a true 80-makes him a menace on the bases and a vacuum in the outfield. He swiped 17 bags in 18 attempts during fall ball, and even if questions about his bat linger, the glove and wheels are already big-league ready.
Bradfield’s approach heading into spring is exactly what you want to hear from a young player on the cusp: “Whether I make the roster out of spring, whether I start in Triple-A, it does no different for me. I’m just going to show up every day, work, learn as much as I can and continue to do what I’ve been doing.”
Another name to keep an eye on is Aron Estrada. The 21-year-old switch-hitting second baseman may have been a modest $175,000 signing out of Venezuela in 2022, but he’s turned heads at every stop.
In 2025, Estrada hit a combined .288 with an .813 OPS, 10 homers, 53 RBIs, and 34 stolen bases between High-A and Double-A. What stands out is how he handled Double-A despite being more than three years younger than the average player at that level.
In 27 games, he hit .300 with five home runs.
Baseball America now ranks him as the Orioles’ No. 11 prospect, calling him a contact-first hitter who plays hard and squeezes every ounce of value out of his skill set. He’s expected to begin the season back at Double-A, but if he keeps producing-and if Baltimore’s infield depth is tested-Estrada could be knocking on the door sooner than later.
On the pitching side, Trey Gibson’s rise is one of the more remarkable stories in the system. The right-hander went from undrafted free agent to the organization’s Jim Palmer Minor League Pitcher of the Year in just two seasons. In 2025, he climbed three levels, dominating Double-A Chesapeake with a 1.55 ERA in 10 starts-including a complete-game shutout-before getting a late-season look at Triple-A Norfolk.
Things got a little rocky at that final stop (7.98 ERA over seven starts), but Gibson’s five-pitch mix-fastball, slider, curveball, cutter, and changeup-gives him the tools of a potential mid-rotation starter. He’ll need more seasoning at Norfolk, but if he finds his footing, a second-half debut isn’t out of the question.
Then there’s Nestor German, another fast-rising arm. The 24-year-old righty, drafted in the 11th round in 2023, has added velocity since turning pro and also climbed three levels last season. Like Gibson, German had a tough go at Triple-A (7.04 ERA in two starts), but his development trajectory suggests he could be in the mix later in the year-especially if the O’s face another season of churning through arms like they did in 2025, when 16 different pitchers started games.
The Orioles aren’t in a rush to push these arms before they’re ready, but as we’ve seen time and again, injuries and opportunity have a way of speeding up the timeline. The good news for fans?
With MASN airing 20 spring games this year, there will be plenty of chances to see these young players in action before the games count. And with a record-setting international class also on the books, it’s clear the Orioles are doubling down on building from within.
This spring isn’t just about getting reps. It’s about getting a glimpse of the future-and that future is looking brighter by the day.