Former MLB Exec Calls Baltimore Orioles' Triple-A Team Better Than Oakland Athletics

The Baltimore Orioles' Triple-A affiliate has put on a show so far this season and one former MLB executive thinks they are actually better than a Major League team.

Feb 26, 2023; Lakeland, Florida, USA; Baltimore Orioles second baseman Connor Norby (94) hits a single during the fifth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. / Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

After a blistering start to the season, the Baltimore Orioles and their bats have cooled off in a massive way, only scoring five or more runs in two out of their last seven games.

Meanwhile, their Triple-A affiliate is loaded with future stars and they have been lighting up scoreboards during the early portion of the year.

If the Orioles' offense continues to sputter like it has so far, there could some tough decisions that have to be made by the front office and coaching staff to give some of these prospects a real shot at the MLB.

How many of them get an opportunity this year will be seen, but one former Major League executive thinks that Baltimore's Triple-A team, the Norfolk Tides, are better than the Oakland Athletics.

"This is not a difficult one for me ... It's one of the best Triple-A teams I've ever seen," he wrote for The Athletic. "If the A's had a chance to trade their entire major-league roster for the Orioles' Triple-A roster, they would do it in a Sacramento second without any debate."

Six of their top 10 prospects are playing at this level, including the No. 1 player in the minors, Jackson Holliday, No. 28 overall Connor Norby, and No. 30 overall Heston Kjerstad.

Through nine games played, Norfolk is completely lapping their competition.

They've scored 100 runs with the next closest team having 57. They've bashed 29 homers with the second-most being 11. They have 95 RBI, while the second place number is 52. Plus, they're leading in batting average (.343), on-base percentage (.433), and slugging percentage (.671).

It's complete dominance.

The Orioles are certainly happy they've been able to draft, develop, and retain the next group of stars who will reach their Major League roster one day.

How soon that happens might be dependent on what takes place from players already in the bigs.