TAMPA, Fla. — Four months ago, Braxton Bragg was just another pitcher in the Orioles’ farm system. Now, he’s one of Baltimore’s top 10 prospects and the third-best pitcher in the system.

Earlier this month, Baseball America updated its top 100 list and the organizational top 30 lists for every MLB team. The Orioles saw several noteworthy changes that reflect the type of seasons it’s been for some of the system’s biggest names — and others who were previously unheralded.

Bragg took the biggest leap, going from unranked to No. 9. The 2023 eighth-round pick has burst onto the scene this season with a 1.24 ERA and 33.5% strikeout rate between High-A Aberdeen and Double-A Chesapeake. Bragg, who was placed on the injured list last week with a forearm strain, is behind only right-handers Chayce McDermott and Michael Forret in Baltimore’s pitching pipeline.

The other top risers in the system include right-hander Levi Wells (unranked to No. 11), outfielder Nate George (unranked to No. 12), right-hander Esteban Mejia (unranked to No. 15) and Yasmil Bucce (unranked to No. 24).

Wells, a fourth-round pick in 2023, impressed during spring training with his high-velocity fastball, and he’s maintained that with a 3.29 ERA in Double-A. George, a 19-year-old the Orioles drafted in the 16th round last year, dominated the Florida Complex League to earn a promotion to Low-A Delmarva, where he’s hitting .316 in five games thus far. Mejia, an 18-year-old the Orioles signed out of the Dominican Republic in January 2024, has a 2.35 ERA and is holding batters to a .185 batting average in the FCL this season. And Bucce, who spent the past four seasons in rookie ball, is mashing in Low-A, hitting .280 with an .854 OPS.

The top of Baltimore’s prospect list also saw more subtle changes. With Heston Kjerstad graduating from prospect status, Enrique Bradfield Jr. (No. 6 to No. 3) and Dylan Beavers (No. 7 to No. 5) received bumps. Bradfield has a .382 on-base percentage in Double-A, while Beavers is hitting .304 for Triple-A Norfolk.

The biggest fallers on Baltimore’s farm are a pair of high 2024 draft picks and a couple of pitchers who’ve dealt with injury this season. Vance Honeycutt, the Orioles’ first-round pick last year, dropped from No. 4 to No. 7 after his slow start to the season in Aberdeen. Griff O’Ferrall, the No. 32 overall pick last summer, did the same, falling from No. 9 to No. 26. And pitchers Patrick Reilly (Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery) and Trace Bright (forearm strain) fell out of Baltimore’s top 30.

In Baseball America’s top 100 list, the Orioles’ top two prospects — catcher Samuel Basallo and corner infielder Coby Mayo — moved down six spots and 11 spots, respectively. Basallo is now No. 19, and Mayo is No. 39. But Mayo will soon graduate from such status as he works to establish himself in the big leagues.

(Editor’s note: Each week, The Baltimore Sun will break down three of the top performers in the Orioles’ prospect ranks and hand out superlatives for those who didn’t make the cut.)

Double-A Chesapeake right-hander Nestor German: German has already earned one promotion this year, and he’s pitching like someone who could deserve another before the season ends. The 23-year-old right-hander was named the Eastern League’s Pitcher of the Week after twirling six shutout innings, allowing only one hit while striking out six. German, the Orioles’ No. 13 prospect, has a 3.53 ERA and a 28.6% strikeout rate between Aberdeen and Chesapeake this season.

High-A Aberdeen utility player Aron Estrada: After a 10-game slump in which he hit .094 with a .369 OPS, Estrada got back on track last week. He went 7-for-19 with two doubles, one triple and five RBIs. Estrada, the Orioles’ No. 20 prospect, has been the IronBirds’ best hitter this season despite the difficult offensive environment in Aberdeen. The switch-hitter is batting .286 with a .760 OPS this season.

Double-A Chesapeake outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr.: Bradfield went 4-for-15 without an extra-base hit. So why is he on this list? Because he displayed all three of his best tools. He walked eight times in six games to raise his rate to an elite 16.2% this season. He stole five bases to up his season total to 14. And he made a highlight-reel catch in center field to rob an extra-base hit. It’s important for Bradfield to keep improving at the plate, but it will be his ability to get on base, swipe bags and steal hits that make him an intriguing prospect.

The top prospect not featured so far: Basallo went 6-for-17 with a home run — his 14th of the season — last week, but it was his glove, or rather his legs, that opened eyes. While playing first base, Basallo showed off one of his most impressive traits: his flexibility. The 20-year-old did a full split while stretching for a ball — something he’s done multiple times in his professional career. Basallo’s freakish flexibility is part of the reason the Orioles remain committed to him as a catcher, but he’s also learning to play first base.

International acquisition of the week: Delmarva outfielder Elis Cuevas, a member of the Orioles’ 2022 international signing class, went 6-for-19 with two homers and six RBIs last week. The 20-year-old Dominican Republic native is hitting .253 with a .719 OPS this season, his first full one in affiliate ball.

Time to give a shout-out to …: Two under-the-radar prospects deserve a look this week. Chesapeake catcher Adam Retzbach, a 14th-round pick in 2022, went 7-for-20 last week with three homers and a double. Norfolk shortstop Jeremiah Jackson, a former second-round pick whom the Orioles signed this offseason, went 10-for-22 last week to maintain the hot start to his Triple-A career. Since his promotion earlier this month, Jackson is hitting .378 with a 1.080 OPS in 11 games.

Short-season snippets: Outfielder Stiven Martinez went 4-for-8 with two triples and three walks last week in the FCL. Martinez, whom the Orioles signed for $950,000 in 2024, is Baltimore’s No. 16 prospect. … In the Dominican Summer League, left-hander Kelvin Zapata threw four no-hit and scoreless innings with six strikeouts Saturday. The Orioles signed Zapata, a 17-year-old Dominican Republic native, in January. … Ricardo Chirinos, the nephew of Orioles bench coach Robinson Chirinos, hit his first career professional home run Friday in the DSL. The Orioles signed the younger Chirinos in January.

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