Orioles Farm Weekend: 10 Highlights From Norfolk, Chesapeake, Frederick and Delmarva

The Orioles’ farm system packed plenty into the weekend, from Creed Willems’ walk-off power in Norfolk to Vance Honeycutt’s ninth-inning blast in Frederick.

For more weekly farm coverage, check out Maryland Sports Blog’s recent Norfolk Tides weekly recap, Chesapeake Baysox weekly recap and Frederick Keys weekly recap.

The weekend did not bring clean results across the board, but it gave Baltimore several useful development notes. Norfolk showed late-inning power. Chesapeake flashed both a massive offensive ceiling and some offensive inconsistency. Frederick continued to play exciting baseball. Delmarva battled but still could not finish games cleanly.

Here are 10 highlights from Friday through Sunday.

1. Creed Willems delivered Norfolk’s biggest swing

Willems gave Norfolk one of the best moments of the weekend Saturday night. The Tides beat Durham 8-5 in 10 innings when Willems launched a three-run walk-off homer. Norfolk had watched Durham tie the game after the Tides grabbed a late lead, but Willems ended it with one swing.

2. Trace Bright gave Norfolk six strong innings

Bright turned in his best Triple-A start during that same win. The right-hander allowed two runs over six innings, gave up five hits, walked two and struck out five. That outing mattered because Norfolk needed length after a busy pitching week.

3. Christian Encarnacion-Strand carried the Tides offense Sunday

Norfolk lost 7-6 to Durham on Sunday, but Encarnacion-Strand had a monster day. The third baseman went 4-for-5 with a two-run home run. Heston Kjerstad, Tommy Pham and Bryan Ramos each added two hits, giving Norfolk plenty of offense despite the loss.

4. Heston Kjerstad kept swinging after his option

Kjerstad stayed productive in Triple-A. He went 1-for-4 with an RBI double Friday, then added two hits and a double Sunday. Norfolk’s lineup needs impact bats, and Kjerstad still gives the Orioles a left-handed power option if he forces his way back.

5. Chesapeake exploded for 14 runs Friday

The Baysox put together the loudest offensive game of the weekend Friday with a 14-2 win over Erie. Chesapeake collected 19 hits and had six players record multi-hit games. Aron Estrada hit his seventh homer, Ethan Anderson had three hits and Griff O’Ferrall had four hits.

6. Sebastian Gongora gave Chesapeake a strong start

Gongora backed that offensive explosion with 6 2/3 strong innings. The left-hander allowed two runs, two hits and one walk. His ERA sat at 3.56 after the outing, and he gave Chesapeake exactly what it needed after a stretch of inconsistent pitching.

7. Tavian Josenberger stayed hot even in a loss

Chesapeake lost 5-2 to Erie on Sunday, but Josenberger gave the Baysox their best offensive moment. He homered to put Chesapeake ahead 2-0, then added a double. The Baysox only had four hits, so Josenberger’s power stood out.

8. Frederick got a dominant High-A debut from Caden Hunter

Hunter made his first start for Frederick on Saturday and immediately looked ready. He threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings, allowed two hits, walked two and struck out nine. Frederick beat Jersey Shore 3-1, and Hunter gave the Keys another exciting arm to watch.

9. Vance Honeycutt delivered Frederick’s Sunday walk-off moment

Frederick trailed Jersey Shore 3-1 with two outs in the ninth Sunday. Braylin Tavera walked, Elis Cuevas doubled and Honeycutt came up with the game on the line. The 2024 first-round pick crushed a three-run homer to give Frederick a 4-3 win. Honeycutt still owns a low average, but the power continues to play.

10. Delmarva’s bats showed flashes, but pitching hurt the weekend

The Shorebirds dropped all three weekend games to Fredericksburg, but a few bats stood out. Stiven Martinez went 3-for-5 with four RBIs and a two-run homer Friday. Braylon Whitaker went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs. Elvin Garcia had three hits Saturday, while DJ Layton had two hits Sunday and lifted his OPS to .826.

Delmarva’s pitching and late innings caused the damage. The Shorebirds lost 11-9 Friday after allowing five runs in the ninth, lost 9-6 Saturday after Esteban Mejia walked five batters in two-thirds of an inning, then lost 6-2 Sunday after Christian Rodriguez allowed six runs, five earned, across 5 1/3 innings.

Final Take

Norfolk and Frederick gave the Orioles the best weekend moments. Willems and Honeycutt both delivered walk-off home runs, and Hunter’s High-A debut gave Frederick another strong pitching storyline. Chesapeake showed how dangerous its lineup can look when Estrada, Anderson, O’Ferrall and Josenberger produce. Delmarva still showed offensive upside, but the Shorebirds need cleaner pitching and late-game execution.

For full box scores and daily recaps, check the official MiLB Norfolk Tides page, Camden Chat’s Friday farm recap, Saturday farm recap and Sunday farm recap.