11 Former Shorebirds Invited to Orioles Spring Training

The Delmarva Shorebirds will be well represented at the Baltimore Orioles’ Spring Training Camp in 2026 as 11 former Shorebirds have earned non-roster invitations to Sarasota.

These prospects touch every corner on the diamond, highlighting Delmarva’s role as a foundational stop in the Oriole’s player-development pipeline.

On the mound features a plethora of pitchers that showed their dominance first here in Delmarva including Luis De León, Keegan Gillies, Nestor German, Trey Gibson, and Cameron Weston.

Luis De León is now the top overall pitching prospect for the Baltimore Orioles in 2026. The 22-year-old southpaw had an impressive campaign in 2025 where he was promoted twice all the way to Double-A Chesapeake after beginning his season with the Shorebirds. In 2025, he produced an efficient 3.30 ERA in over 87 innings pitched. Currently, De Leon ranks as the No. 4 overall prospect for the Orioles in 2026 and could very soon be looking at his first start in Camden Yards.

A 2025 standout who burst on the scene is Keegan Gillies. Gillies shined last season posting just a 1.15 ERA while pitching 31 total innings with the Baysox. Drafted in the 15th round of the 2021 MLB draft by the Orioles, Gillies hot start landed him in Triple-A for the rest of the season where he pitched in 16 games showing that big arm that Delmarva fans caught a glimpse of in 2022.

Nestor German earned an invite to Spring Training this year and comes in to 2026 listed as the No. 12 overall prospect for the Orioles. German was a standout in the Delmarva rotation back in 2024 where he averaged 11 K/9 with an impressive 1.49 ERA. German will have a brief departure from the Orioles this week as he’s taking his talents to the World Baseball Classic (WBC) as a reserve pitcher for Team Mexico.

Trey Gibson earned his first-ever non-roster Spring Training invite of his career. Gibson has seen every level of minor league baseball, climbing all the way from Delmarva to Norfolk where he finished in 2025. Gibson was named the Orioles’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2025, recording over 160 strikeouts with a blistering 12 K/9. His latest chapter with the Tides served as a homecoming, as Gibson was born just outside of Norfolk in Newport News, VA and continues his journey to the big leagues.

Drafted in the 8th round of the 2022 MLB Draft, Cameron Weston is the last non-roster invitee from the Orioles pitching prospects. Weston spent his entire 2025 campaign in Norfolk where he appeared in 29 games, eating up innings and posting a solid 4.59 ERA at the Triple-A level. Weston is from the University of Michigan where he finished his season in the College World Series before coming to Delmarva for his first taste of professional baseball back in 2022.

Behind the plate, catchers Creed Willems, Silas Ardoin, and Ethan Anderson represent another wave of homegrown talent that started their professional careers in Delmarva.

The competition will be formidable this Spring Training, with former MLB No. 1 overall prospect and All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman anchoring the position, alongside current Orioles No.1 prospect and MLB’s No. 8 overall prospect, catcher Samuel Basallo.

Creed Willems was a standout player and fan-favorite during his time with the Shorebirds in 2022 and 2023. In his 2023 season, Willems batted .302 with 8 home runs and 28 RBIs in just 30 games before being promoted to High-A Aberdeen. Rocking his signature haircut and mustache, Willems finished in Double-A Chesapeake last season after he earned his first Spring Training invite just one season ago.

Silas Ardoin ended his 2025 campaign climbing up the ranks of the O’s farm system, ending in Norfolk. With the Tides, Ardoin posted a .258 average with 4 home runs and 11 RBIs. Ardoin was drafted in 2022 and has added to the rich line of Oriole’s catching prospects over the decade.

Ethan Anderson was selected in the 2nd round of the 2024 MLB draft out of the University of Virginia. Anderson is a versatile player like most Orioles catchers playing first base, designated hitter, and being the decision maker behind the plate. Anderson ended the season in Chesapeake posting a solid .248 batting average with 45 RBI. His performance on the field earned him a spot in the prestigious Arizona Fall League this year pitting some of Minor League Baseball’s best up and coming prospects against each other under the hot sun in Arizona.

Aron Estrada is an exciting young talent out of Venezuela, currently listed as the Orioles No. 9 overall prospect. Since his season with the Shorebirds in 2024, the 21-year-old has been one of the more productive players out of any Orioles prospect, hitting .288 with 10 home runs and 53 RBIs in his time with the IronBirds and the Baysox in 2025. The young infielder still has a ways to climb in his minor league career, but this Spring Training gives him the chance to play on a bigger stage and get one step closer to the show.

Rounding out the position players group is the outfielders with Enrique Bradfield Jr. and Jud Fabian, who enter Spring Training with an opportunity to make an impact. Both players have continued their steady rise through the Orioles minor-league system since their time with Delmarva.

With the recent departure of former Shorebirds star and longtime Baltimore Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins, this spring presents a valuable opportunity for Orioles outfielders.

Former first-round pick, Bradfield Jr., is one of these prospects ready to showcase his skill set against future big-league talent. The Orioles will be seeking to replace Mullins’ Gold Glove-caliber defense and speed on the basepaths, and Bradfield Jr.’s versatility and defensive profile position him as a compelling candidate to help fill that role in the coming future.

Bradfield Jr. currently ranks as the No. 10 overall prospect for the Orioles, but that ranking could rise if he can put together an impressive 2026 season. Bradfield Jr. will also take some time away from the team in Sarasota, as he’s ready to make his first World Baseball Classic (WBC) appearance for Team Panama.

Jud Fabian is the last of the 11 former Delmarva Shorebirds listed getting a Spring Training invitation in 2026. Fabian was a tornado coming through Delmarva to begin his professional career, hitting a whopping .386 with 3 home runs and 9 RBIs in just 10 games with the Shorebirds back in 2022. In his 2025 campaign with the Norfolk, he showcased his power again, hitting 15 home runs throughout the season.

This is an exciting time for Delmarva fans as we see many former players continue their journey from Delmarva to Camden Yards and getting their first taste of big-league baseball down in Sarasota this Spring.