3 Baltimore Orioles Prospects Ready for a Promotion
With the Baltimore Orioles well out of contention and major trades and shifts to the Orioles roster expected, which prospects are worthy of a promotion?
The Baltimore Orioles are more than 28 1/2 games back from the American League East-leading New York Yankees and 23 games back from the second and final AL wild card spot as we enter the midway point of the season.
Baltimore Orioles superstar Manny Machado and premiere relief pitcher Zach Britton, along with other veterans are expected to be traded by the MLB trade deadline on July 31.
In other words, changes are coming for the Orioles roster and prospects should get their chance to prove themselves on the major league roster or at least gain valuable experience.
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Despite some impressive play and performances from Orioles prospects down in the minors, many have failed to prove they’re ready for a major league promotion. Others have suffered injuries such as Orioles promising pitching prospect Hunter Harvey who is currently out with a shoulder injury and is expected to visit Dr. James Andrews on June 27 to reevaluate his injury, per MASNSports.com’s Roch Kubatko.
Regardless, the Orioles will need to make some promotions as the season progresses and a new chapter of Orioles baseball begins.
Below are three prospects worthy of a big league promotion sooner rather than later.
3. DJ Stewart, LF
The Baltimore Orioles first-round pick in the 2015 MLB draft D.J. Stewart continues to develop his game, this year with the Triple-A Norfolk Tides.
So far with the Tides, Stewart is batting .296/.365/.440 with six home runs and 28 RBIs in 50 games and is coming off a 2017 year where he smashed 21 home runs with 29 RBIs in Double-A Bowie.
Stewart has been on an absolute tear as he knocks on the door of the Orioles major league roster. In his past 10 games, he’s batting .294 with 10 hits in 34 at-bats, along with a home run and five RBIs. He’s shown the ability to excel in clutch situations both on the field and at the plate and flashes his power with soaring home runs.
The former Florida State baseball star is a potent left-handed batter that would fit in nicely in the Orioles lineup in 2018. Ideally, Stewart could fit in the Orioles lineup as their everyday designated hitter (DH) or play the corner outfield positions at times. He would be a nice young upgrade from Orioles slugger Mark Trumbo.