When the 2025 season began, neither Nate George nor Trey Gibson were obvious standouts in an Orioles farm system that was starting to thin out after years of promoting top prospects to the major leagues. What a difference a summer makes.
The Orioles on Wednesday named George and Gibson their minor league player and pitcher of the year, respectively, recognizing the breakout campaigns that helped both begin to garner national recognition among the best prospects in the sport.
George, 19, began the year in the Florida Complex League and finished it in High-A Aberdeen, slashing .337/.413/.483 with 50 stolen bases in 87 games across three levels. Playing his first season as a professional, the 2024 16th-round pick out of Minooka Community High School in Illinois landed at No. 78 in Baseball America’s midseason top 100 prospect rankings.
An outfielder and right-handed hitter, George has the potential to develop into a five-tool player with plus speed and strong contact skills. He hit just five home runs but showed gap-to-gap power with 14 doubles and nine triples. The Orioles will look to sharpen his base running skills next season after he was caught stealing on 25 of his 75 attempts.
For the second straight year, the Orioles honored a former undrafted free agent as their top minor league pitcher. Gibson, 23, followed Brandon Young in receiving the honor, earning two promotions to reach Triple-A Norfolk behind a 4.26 ERA in 26 games (25 starts).
He truly broke out with Double-A Chesapeake. The right-hander had a 1.55 ERA and 0.90 WHIP with 68 strikeouts over 10 starts with the Baysox. ESPN ranked Gibson at No. 95 on its midseason prospect rankings.
Baltimore also announced Wednesday that FCL Orioles manager Christian Frias won its Cal Ripken Sr. Player Development Award, and area scout Rich Amaral took home the Jim Russo Scout of the Year Award. The Orioles plan to recognize all four award winners with an on-field ceremony Wednesday before their game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Matt Weyrich at mweyrich@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/ByMattWeyrich and instagram.com/bymattweyrich.
