Arizona Fall League Preview: Baltimore Orioles
By Avery Brooks ·
The Arizona Fall League offers the Baltimore Orioles a chance to evaluate several of their prospects, from those making up for lost time to others trying to solidify their place in the organization. Eight of the nine are with the Peoria Javelinas and one is with the Salt River Rafters.
Ike Irish Brings His Bat to the AFL
Ike Irish, a 22-year-old outfielder and Baltimore's 2025 first-round pick, joins the Peoria Javelinas after a breakout season with the Frederick Keys (High-A), where he posted a .286/.388/.528 slash line over 76 games with 16 home runs and 20 stolen bases. He is 80Grade's No. 6 Orioles prospect and No. 139 overall. His AFL assignment makes up for the at-bats he lost when he tore the meniscus in his left knee sliding into second base on July 22, an injury that ended his regular season and led to a meniscectomy on July 28.
Irish's offensive profile blends bat-to-ball skills, strike-zone awareness and enough power to impact the game. His bat-first profile makes him a candidate for an everyday role if his power continues to develop, and the AFL stint gives him a chance to regain his rhythm against more advanced pitching than he has seen at High-A.
Braxton Bragg's Road Back from Surgery
Braxton Bragg, a 25-year-old right-hander, did not pitch in 2026 after Tommy John surgery on July 30, 2025. Now he steps onto the mound for the Peoria Javelinas in his return to competitive pitching. Bragg, 80Grade's No. 23 Orioles prospect, is using this assignment as the next step in his recovery and as a showcase ahead of his first Rule 5 eligibility this winter. His arsenal includes a fastball that has reached 97 mph, along with a cutter and slider that have shown potential for generating whiffs, and his command and durability after surgery will be the focus during his AFL outings.
Vance Honeycutt Aims to Continue His Momentum
Outfielder Vance Honeycutt, 23, comes into the AFL with momentum from a late-season promotion to Double-A Chesapeake, where he posted a .997 OPS over 20 games after hitting .182 in 63 games at High-A Frederick. Speed and defense in center field are his standout tools, complemented by raw power that could become more reliable if he cuts his strikeout rate, which was 38.4% for the season. His stint with the Javelinas is an opportunity to carry forward that Double-A success and work on the offensive consistency a major league role requires.
Patrick Reilly's Development Continues
Patrick Reilly, a 24-year-old right-hander, is back on the field after Tommy John surgery in May 2025. In 39⅔ innings with Chesapeake after his July 21 return, he recorded a 3.63 ERA and 55 strikeouts. With his power fastball and above-average breaking ball, Reilly is in the AFL to add innings and show his progress, and as a Rule 5-eligible pitcher this winter, his outings will factor into Baltimore's evaluation of him as a bullpen piece or more.
Brandon Butterworth's Versatility on Display
Shortstop Brandon Butterworth, 24, joins the AFL after a season of versatility, playing shortstop, second base, third base and all three outfield spots. He hit .269 with 10 home runs and 12 stolen bases over 52 Double-A games, and that performance earned him a promotion to Triple-A Norfolk, where he hit .208 in 28 games. Butterworth's AFL assignment gives him additional reps after he missed about two months on the injured list earlier in the season, and his ability to contribute across the field will be a focal point for the Orioles' staff during his time with the Javelinas.
Kiefer Lord's Fastball in the Spotlight
Kiefer Lord, a 24-year-old right-hander, features a fastball-heavy approach that produced a 35.1% strikeout rate over 53 innings between Single-A Delmarva and High-A Frederick in 2026. He also posted a 4.92 ERA and a 12.6% walk rate. His Rule 5 eligibility this winter and the need to refine his secondary pitches make his AFL assignment with the Javelinas an important period for development and evaluation, with the focus on his command and the effectiveness of his breaking balls.
Quick Hits
Kailen Hamson (A, LHP) · Assigned to the AFL with the Javelinas after a challenging season at Single-A Delmarva, where he posted a 6.82 ERA and a 19.8% walk rate. His five-pitch mix will be evaluated for future roles.
Miguel Rodríguez (A, C) · Joins the Salt River Rafters after hitting .273/.412/.351 at Single-A Delmarva, looking to build on the contact skills and receiving ability he showed there.
Teddy Sharkey (A+, RHP) · With the Javelinas, Sharkey continues his recovery from injury after coming off the 60-day injured list in July and posting a 1.21 ERA over 22⅓ innings, and he will lean on his fastball and breaking pitches in a relief role.
The player to watch most closely this fall is Ike Irish. He was hitting .286 with 16 home runs when the knee injury stopped his season, and a healthy fall in Peoria would carry that bat into 2027 with no further time lost.