The strength of the Orioles farm system is, largely, measured by the talent in the lower levels of the minor leagues. 

Headlining arms like Anthony Eyanson and Joseph Dzierwa could certainly make their debuts in 2027 if all goes well, but have yet to reach Triple-A. First-round pick EJ Booth will likely start next season in High-A Frederick, a level that last year’s first-round pick Ike Irish is still working to earn a promotion from after an injury cut his promising season short. 

If you’re looking for nearly-MLB-ready prospects that could contribute next year, your eyes are likely set on Triple-A Norfolk, where you’ll find names such as Enrique Bradfield Jr., Trey Gibson and Michael Forrett. But there’s two more prospects that should be added to that radar, too: Aron Estrada and Ethan Anderson. 

The duo earned late-season promotions to Norfolk, and only got five games with the Tides to round out 2026, but have already started to impress. 

Estrada, the O’s No. 13 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, can flat out hit. In his five games in Norfolk, the second baseman hit .350 and struck out just once. 

Across Double-A and Triple-A on the year, Estrada hit .281 with 25 home runs and an .807 OPS. His impressive strikeout rate, showcased in his brief stint with the Tides, has always stuck out, and has never topped 18.5 percent in his minor league career. For context, the MLB average strikeout rate is over 22 percent this season, according to Baseball Reference. 

The jump in home runs is noteworthy as well. He hit just 10 big flies in 108 games last season and nine in 2024, but his 24 in Double-A this year was in the top-20 for the entire level. 

A contact-first approach, with both a below-average strikeout rate and a below-average walk rate, certainly benefits from some more pop. The switch-hitter did find a lot more success from the left-handed batters box this season, but still boasts an incredibly intriguing overall offensive profile. 

Regarding Estrada’s defense at second, Orioles minor league infield coordinator Tim DeJohn recently called the former international signee “one of the most improved infielders in the organization this year.” 

“I think he has eight errors this year,” DeJohn added, “and he made four of those in April. His progression, if you look at all of his metrics and everything, it’s gotten tremendously better. On paper and just looking at him.” 

Anderson had plenty of time to work on his defense this season, too, catching the most games of any season in his career. In fact, he was behind the dish more often in 2026 than his entire college career combined. 

Another switch-hitter, Anderson’s offensive profile isn’t to be outdone by Estrada’s. The University of Virginia product had four extra-base hits in his first five games for the Norfolk Tides, including two home runs. It capped off an incredibly productive season, in which he slashed .288/.375/.544, good for a .919 OPS. 

While Anderson, the No. 15 prospect in the Orioles’ system, doesn’t have the same pedigree as a former No. 1 overall pick, it’s worth comparing that 2026 slash line to Adley Rutschman’s in 2021, a year in which the former Oriole slashed .285/.397/.502 across Double-A and Triple-A, good for an .899 OPS. 

That impressive line came in Rutschman’s age-23 season, and he did spend far more time in Triple-A that year than Anderson did this season. However, this was Anderson’s age-22 campaign.  

Before anyone places ultra-lofty expectations, it’s important to point out a key difference: that Rutschman’s defense was highly-regarded, with a 60-grade field tool and 70-grade arm according to Baseball America’s 2021 preseason rankings. Anderson’s fielding was graded at a 50 in this year’s Baseball America’s mid-season prospect update, and his arm came in at a 40. 

The expectations for Anderson aren’t that he becomes Adley Rutschman. It’s not a bad offensive comparison to measure up to, though. 

As the duo of Estrada and Anderson have only played a handful of games at the level, both will almost certainly start next season at Triple-A. But with a pair of exciting offensive profiles and improving defense, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if both contribute at the big league level in a significant way in 2027.