A number of promising hitting prospects have put together tremendous breakout campaigns for the Baltimore Orioles organization this season, and Aron Estrada and Ethan Anderson certainly belong in that category.
Now, both players have been rewarded.
The Orioles have promoted Estrada and Anderson from Double-A Chesapeake to Triple-A Norfolk, giving both young players their first opportunity at the highest level of the minors.
Despite being just 21 years old, Estrada has established himself as an exciting switch-hitter in the organization. It is important to note that if he reaches the majors, he would become the first infielder from the international program under Mike Elias to do so.
Estrada hit .278 with 24 home runs, 76 RBIs and an impressive .802 OPS this season in the with Chesapeake. When you factor in his age, those numbers become even more impressive, as he competed against significantly older competition throughout the season while ranking near the top of the Eastern League in multiple offensive categories.
However, what was truly impressive about Estrada’s campaign was his newfound power. Coming into this season, Estrada had never hit more than 10 home runs in a professional season.
The Baltimore Battery’s No. 2 overall prospect shattered that mark in dramatic fashion this year, with his power becoming especially apparent during the final week of August. Estrada absolutely torched Reading in a series, homering five times in five games and earning a spot on MLB Pipeline’s Prospect Team of the Week.
His power certainly was not limited to one short stretch either, as Estrada finished the season with 24 home runs, good enough for third in the Eastern League.
Ethan Anderson joined the Orioles organization as a second-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft after a successful college career at the University of Virginia. The bat has always been a fun part of Anderson’s game, and this season, we have seen exactly why.
Over 82 games with Chesapeake, Anderson hit .271 with 21 home runs and an impressive .881 OPS. He also posted a .363 on-base percentage thanks to drawing 41 walks.
However, Anderson’s season becomes even more impressive when you realize that he missed more than a month after being placed on the injured list in mid-July. As soon as he returned to action in late August, he wasted no time showing off his power, hitting a two-run home run just two games into his return against Harrisburg.
There is certainly one big question surrounding Anderson: Where will he primarily play?
The Baltimore Battery’s 17th-ranked prospect spent 52 games behind the plate for Chesapeake, but he also saw action at first base and designated hitter. While his offensive skills would become even more valuable if he can stick behind the plate, even if his future eventually takes him away from catcher, it appears his bat is not going away anytime soon.
Despite joining the Orioles organization in different ways, Estrada and Anderson now find themselves in the same spot: Triple-A Norfolk.
The 2026 season is running low on time, so neither player will see many at-bats at the Triple-A level. However, that certainly is not the point of calling these players up.
If there is a 2027 season, this move could put both players in position for a potential midseason call-up. If there is no MLB season next year, all this move does is show these two players that the organization has confidence in them.
Whatever the case may be, it would be best for Orioles fans to get to know these two great young players.
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