Orioles Add Marco Luciano to Infield Pool, DFA Noel

Baltimore Orioles Claim Marco Luciano to Bolster Infield Depth

The Baltimore Orioles just claimed infielder Marco Luciano off waivers. It’s a low-risk, high-upside move to add some infield depth and maybe, just maybe, unlock the talent of a guy who once had “elite prospect” written all over him.

Let’s break down what Luciano brings, what it means that he’s out of minor-league options, and the roster shuffling Baltimore made to fit him in.

Orioles Take a Calculated Gamble on Marco Luciano

The Orioles keep looking for ways to boost both their farm system and their big-league roster. This time, they grabbed 24-year-old infielder Marco Luciano off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Luciano adds another option to Baltimore’s infield. He gets yet another shot to prove himself in the majors—something that’s eluded him so far.

His path here? Pretty wild, honestly. Pittsburgh designated him for assignment on Dec. 19, just days after they’d claimed him from the San Francisco Giants.

Now, the Orioles are the third team to put Luciano on their 40-man roster in just over a month. That’s a lot of moving around for a guy his age.

A Former Elite Prospect Still Searching for His Breakthrough

Luciano used to be one of baseball’s brightest prospects. Baseball America had him in their top 15 as a teenager, mostly because of his raw power—scouts once dreamed of him hitting 30 homers a year.

That pop hasn’t really shown up in the majors yet. In 41 big-league games with San Francisco from 2023–24, Luciano slashed .217/.286/.304 in 126 plate appearances.

Those numbers don’t jump out at you, but he’s still young. And honestly, that’s not a ton of at-bats to judge him by.

Minor League Production Tells a More Complete Story

Look at his minor-league track record and things get a little more interesting. In 2025 with Triple-A Sacramento, Luciano played 125 games and put up a .214/.335/.413 slash line.

He showed patience and some pop in that stint. Here’s what he did at Triple-A:

Career Numbers Highlight Strengths and Weaknesses

Across six minor-league seasons, Luciano has a career .246/.355/.445 line. He’s launched 88 home runs and drawn 302 walks in 500 games.

That’s some legit power and on-base skill. But there’s a catch: he’s also struck out 598 times—swing-and-miss has always been part of his game.

Defensive Versatility Adds Value

Shortstop is Luciano’s main spot, but he’s played around. He’s seen time at second base, left field, and even made a start at first.

That kind of versatility could help Baltimore, especially since they like to mix and match lineups based on matchups.

But there’s a wrinkle. Luciano is out of minor-league options, so the Orioles have to keep him on the active roster or risk losing him on waivers if they try to send him down.

Roster Moves Reflect Baltimore’s Priorities

To fit Luciano onto the 40-man roster, the Orioles designated outfielder Jhonkensy Noel for assignment. Lefty Josh Walker cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk.

A Low-Risk Bet with Upside

The Orioles are already contenders in the American League. Picking up Marco Luciano feels like a classic upside play.

If his much-hyped power finally shows up, Baltimore might’ve found something special. If not, well, they didn’t risk much.

It’s just another glimpse of how Baltimore keeps making clever roster moves, isn’t it?

 
Here is the source article for this story: Orioles add Marco Luciano to infield pool (DFA Noel)