Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 40 | Overall: 50

As they’ve reemerged into the international market in recent years, the Orioles have proven more prone to sign position players to large bonuses than pitchers. As such, the $150,000 they used to sign Mejia out of the Dominican Republic in 2024 represents one of the biggest bonuses the current front office has bestowed upon a hurler. He racked up 97 strikeouts across his first 68 professional innings in the Dominican and Florida Complex Leagues in 2024 and '25, then flashed triple-digit radar readings in three starts with Single-A Delmarva.

It might not be long until Mejia proves more than worthy of that initial investment. The 6-foot-3 righty features electric stuff, easily overpowering lower-level hitters with a fastball that cranks up to 102 mph with arm-side run. His best secondary offering is a hard, gyro-like slider he can snap in the low 90s, and he also throws a firm, developing changeup in the low 90s that is still a work in progress despite good action. Mejia throws from a low, three-quarters slot and is getting better at repeating his delivery, which should lead to improved command as he gains experience.

Bettering that command could be critical -- he’s walked more than five per nine in his brief career -- in determining how high Mejia’s ceiling actually is. Just 19 for all of the 2026 season, he still offers plenty of projection, both in terms of size, strength and ability. But there is a ton to dream on here, given his tantalizing combination of age and eye-popping raw stuff.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 40 | Overall: 45

The Orioles spread their international bonus pool money around in 2024, handing out a total of 15 six-figure-or-better bonuses when the signing period opened that January. Mejia was one of the recipients, with the Dominican right-hander getting $150,000 to sign. He missed a ton of bats during his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League, joining fellow Orioles flamethrower Keeler Morfe among the leaders in K/9 (14.3) for pitchers who threw more than 20 innings in the circuit. He was having similar success with a move to the United States and the Florida Complex League in 2025.

At 6-foot-3, Mejia offers plenty of projection, not that his current stuff lacks wow factor. He has the chance to have three easily plus pitches when all is said and done, starting with a fastball he cranks up to 102 mph that features plenty of arm-side run. He has a gyro-like slider that can touch 90 mph and miss plenty of bats, and there’s good action on a firm changeup that reaches the low-90s.

The only things holding Mejia back are his command -- he’s walked over five per nine in his brief career -- and experience. Just 18 for all of the 2025 season, getting more of the latter will certainly help with the former. It’s too soon to know exactly what Mejia might be, but the ceiling could be very, very high.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

The Orioles were once again very busy at the start of the 2024 international signing period, bringing in a lot of talent from Latin America, led by Emilio Sanchez ($1.3 million) and Stiven Martinez ($950,000). Mejia got $175,000, the second-largest bonus the organization gave to a pitcher during the period and he went out and missed a lot of bats during his brief pro debut in the Dominican Summer League.

Just 17 for all of his debut season, Mejia is a 6-foot-3 right-hander who screams projection. He already has a big arm, with a fastball that he can already fire in the 94-98 mph range. He has good feel to spin a slider that could eventually develop into a strikeout pitch, and while his changeup is clearly his third offering, there’s some feel for it and it could be fringe-average.

Mejia is very much a block of clay who needs to be molded. There’s work to be done in terms of him finding the strike zone more consistently, but the raw ingredients are there to give him the chance to start, with it easy to dream on sharper stuff as he fills out his frame.

Awards

Baseball America Rookie All-Star

Year	Team
2025

FCL Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2025

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/05/2026	RHP Esteban Mejia assigned to Baltimore Orioles Prospects.
	09/17/2025	Delmarva Shorebirds activated RHP Esteban Mejia.
	08/19/2025	Delmarva Shorebirds transferred RHP Esteban Mejia to the Development List.
	07/31/2025	RHP Esteban Mejia assigned to Delmarva Shorebirds from FCL Orioles.
	05/01/2025	RHP Esteban Mejia assigned to FCL Orioles from DSL Orioles Orange.
	05/01/2025	FCL Orioles activated RHP Esteban Mejia.
	08/05/2024	RHP Esteban Mejia assigned to DSL Orioles Orange from DSL Orioles Black.
	06/02/2024	RHP Esteban Mejia assigned to DSL Orioles Black.
	01/15/2024	Baltimore Orioles signed free agent RHP Esteban Mejia to a minor league contract.