Orioles Acquire Pitcher Zach Eflin From Rays For 3 Prospects

Image credit: Zach Eflin (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Sitting atop the American League East standings with their attention geared toward a deep postseason run, the Orioles made an in-division a deal to bolster their rotation on Friday.

Baltimore acquired RHP Zach Eflin from the Rays in exchange for a trio of minor leaguers from Tampa Bay: OF Matthew Etzel, RHP Jackson Baumeister and 3B Mac Horvath.

Both Horvath and Baumeister ranked among Baltimore’s Top 30 Prospects in our latest update.

ORIOLES RECEIVE

Zach Eflin, RHP
Age: 30

Eflin is one of the preeminent control pitchers in the game today, with a walk rate of 1.3 per nine innings over the past four seasons. He’s a No. 3-type starter who will be pitching in front of a strong Orioles defense, potentially late into October. In 19 starts for the Rays this year, Eflin recorded a 4.09 ERA with 87 strikeouts and 13 walks in 110 innings.

Baltimore augments a rotation that already ranks seventh in MLB with a 3.72 ERA from its starting pitchers. Eflin is owed more than $3.5 million for the rest of this season and $18 million more in 2025.

RAYS RECEIVE

Matthew Etzel, OF
Age: 22

So many of the Orioles’ top position prospects were high draft picks or signed large bonuses. Etzel is one notable exception. Drafted in the 10th round last year out of Southern Mississippi, he quickly hit his way out of High-A Aberdeen this season, slashing .307/.379/.479 with four home runs and 31 stolen bases in 51 games. He was beginning to find his footing at Double-A Bowie after a slow start. The lefthanded-hitting Etzel uses a slashing, all-fields hitting approach that works because he has strong bat-to-ball skills and is an above-average runner. He is a strong defender in center field and has more raw power than he has shown in games.

Jackson Baumeister, RHP
Age: 22

Baumeister ranked among the South Atlantic League leaders with 93 strikeouts for High-A Aberdeen. The Orioles drafted the 6-foot-4 righthander out of Florida State in the second round last year, so his success in Class A—he logged a 3.06 ERA through 70.2 innings—is not unexpected. Baumeister throws a hoppy low-90s fastball that he can command and use to miss bats. His average curveball is his trusted secondary weapon of choice, while he has made strides with his changeup this season. The outline of a three-pitch starter is present. He ranked No. 18 in our updated Orioles Top 30 Prospects.

Mac Horvath, 3B/OF
Age: 23

Drafted in the second round last year after three years at North Carolina, Horvath hit the ground running in his pro debut but had struggled to repeat that success at High-A Aberdeen this year. He hit .233/.328/.417 with nine home runs and 26 stolen bases in 71 games. If Horvath realizes his potential, he could be an athletic, righthanded-hitting, multi-position player—he plays third base, second base and outfield—who runs well and hits for solid-average power. Horvath is the top-ranked prospect in the deal, checking in at No. 13 in our latest Orioles update.