Orioles Prospect Profile: Creed Willems continues climb toward Baltimore

The Baltimore Orioles continue to build one of baseball’s deepest farm systems, and catcher/first baseman Creed Willems remains one of the more intriguing power bats in the organization.

Baltimore selected Willems in the eighth round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Aledo High School in Texas with the 227th overall pick. A $1 million signing bonus immediately showed how much the Orioles valued the left-handed slugger.

Three years later, Willems has pushed into Triple-A with the Norfolk Tides and continues to move closer to Camden Yards. MLB Pipeline currently lists Willems among Baltimore’s top prospects, while evaluators across baseball still view the power potential as the carrying tool.

Baltimore’s system already features high-end names such as Samuel Basallo and Coby Mayo, but Willems keeps forcing attention with steady offensive growth and improving plate discipline.

A recent feature on covering highlighted how aggressively Baltimore promotes prospects that show offensive maturity. Willems now fits that same conversation.

The 22-year-old opened the 2026 season with Norfolk after finishing 2025 at Double-A Chesapeake. MLB.com confirmed the promotion during Baltimore’s organizational assignment announcements entering the season.

Production at Double-A during 2025 gave the Orioles confidence to make that move. Willems hit .253 with 16 home runs and a .779 OPS across 105 games for Chesapeake according to multiple statistical reports.

Strong numbers have carried into 2026.

Baseball America listed Willems with a .266 batting average, seven home runs, a .374 on-base percentage and a .477 slugging percentage early in the Triple-A season with Norfolk.

Recent game logs also showed continued power production. Willems launched multiple home runs during a May series for Norfolk, including a three-run blast highlighted by MiLB.com.

Power has always defined Willems’ profile.

MLB Pipeline noted that the left-handed hitter has produced at least 16 home runs in each of the last three seasons while flashing plus raw power from the catcher position.

Several Orioles prospects have received attention recently on , including a feature on . Willems now shares the same clubhouse with several players already impacting Baltimore’s major league roster.

Development behind the plate remains the biggest long-term question.

Scouting reports consistently praise the raw power while questioning defensive consistency. FanGraphs graded the power tool well above the overall hit tool projection and noted ongoing work defensively at catcher and first base.

Improvement in contact rate has encouraged evaluators throughout the organization. Analysts at On The Verge and prospect evaluators across baseball pointed toward reduced strikeout totals and better swing decisions entering 2026.

That adjustment matters.

Baltimore’s major league lineup already features power-heavy bats. Consistent contact and situational hitting will determine whether Willems becomes an everyday catcher, a platoon power bat, or a versatile corner option capable of filling multiple roles.

Physical strength stands out immediately when watching Willems play. The 5-foot-11, 225-pound catcher generates elite exit velocity potential with compact leverage through the zone. Baseball America and MLB evaluators continue to project legitimate 25-to-30 home run upside if enough contact develops at the major league level.

Several recent Orioles prospect stories on have focused on Baltimore’s evolving farm system, including a feature on . Willems remains another important piece of that long-term pipeline.

National evaluators still see a realistic path to Baltimore.

MLB.com assigned Willems to Triple-A Norfolk in March after a strong spring and non-roster invite to major league camp.

Opportunity could arrive sooner than expected if injuries strike Baltimore’s catching depth chart or if offensive production forces the organization’s hand.

Patience remains important, though.

Baltimore has rarely rushed prospects during Mike Elias’ tenure. The organization prefers complete development instead of aggressive promotions based strictly on short-term production. Willems’ continued growth defensively and improved swing decisions will likely determine the timeline.

Still, the power already looks major league ready.

Every swing creates damage potential. Few catching prospects in Baltimore’s system generate raw left-handed power comparable to Willems outside of Basallo. That combination alone keeps evaluators watching closely throughout the 2026 season.

More information on Willems’ current profile and statistics can be found through , and .