Double-A
Baltimore Orioles Prospect Patrick Reilly is Having Success in the AFL
The organization also wants to get more innings from the righthander after missing time due to his injury.
Baltimore Orioles prospect Patrick Reilly is having success in the AFL (Arizona Fall League) thus far. Through this past Friday’s games, the pitcher already has two wins. He’s currently holding an ERA of 1.29 and has 13 strikeouts.
https://x.com/MLBPipeline/status/2108376355524206631.
Once a Top 10 Prospect
Reilly was once ranked as high as the No. 10 prospect in the Orioles organization. Then, after just three outings in 2025, he underwent Tommy John surgery in mid-May. The injury and subsequent rehab cost him over a year of development, limiting his career and raising questions about whether his stuff will rebound post-surgery. Those indicators made him fall out of the team’s entire top 30 prospects.
13 Starts in 2026
After returning in late June 2026, he got 13 starts in rookie ball, A, and Double-A play. In 53 innings, he had a 5.09 ERA. Those numbers, however, weren’t a concern, since Reilly was just looking to return to the mound without arm issues and face live hitters, giving his arm a stamina workout and looking to regain his form.
Final Six Games
Nonetheless, Reilly and the Orioles had to be happy with his last six starts at Double-A. Reilly posted a 2.08 ERA and showed a breaking ball, a cutter, a slider-sweeper, and his fastball almost all the way back. For a pitcher returning from such a prolonged injury, that is encouraging for the upcoming season.
In the AFL
Baltimore Orioles prospect Patrick Reilly is succeeding in the AFL and continues building confidence on the mound. Although he has started well, the statistics aren’t as important at this point as the experience and play he’s getting. Reilly needs more exposure facing top-notch competition. The team wants to see how he commands the strike zone against hitters. The AFL is giving him that opportunity.
The organization also wants to get more innings from the righthander after missing time due to his injury. Working with coaches from other organizations is an added benefit. They can point out flaws the Orioles farm system might miss and offer alternate adjustments to improve his play.
Pitching Style
Reilly’s fastball once reached 100 mph, but sits comfortably in the low-to-mid-90s. He mixes in that power slider and that has challenged left-handed hitters. Along with a breaking ball and sweeper, his arsenal comprises four solid pitches to choose from.
Rule 5 Draft
Patrick Reilly is eligible for the Rule 5 Draft this winter, leaving the Orioles facing a tough decision about protecting him. They will need to open a spot on the 40-man roster if he pitches well in this AFL’s six-week season. Their farm system is considered one of the best for pitching depth and they have a group of high-upside arms. They might leave Reilly off the roster, waiting to see if he is taken in the draft. If not, he remains with the Orioles organization.
Outlook
Baltimore Orioles prospect Patrick Reilly is having success in the AFL. The innings and experience he’s getting will benefit—both physically and mentally—heading into next season. He is expected to play at Triple-A Norfolk next season. At this point, he could move to the bullpen, where his power fastball may work well in a few innings instead of being a starter.
If Reilly can keep his fastball and other pitches in check and continue improving his control, he could become a sustainable, viable option for the Orioles in the near future. If he demonstrates he’s become a quality bullpen arm, he might be on the big-league roster sometime in the 2027 season.
Jim Marshall
Jim Marshall has been writing about sports for over 10 years. He started his sports career in radio, co-hosting and producing several sports-talk radio programs in Phoenix. He has covered local, college, and national sports, but specializes in MLB. His articles have appeared in several sports-reporting sites, including our own Legends On Deck. Jim is also a member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA).
