A 5-foot-8 Orioles prospect has put two balls in play in four spring training at-bats. They’ve been 107.3 and 111.5 mph off the bat.

What Aron Estrada may lack in height, he more than makes up for in pop. Signed for just $150,000 out of Venezuela in 2022, the switch-hitter has become the prize of the class thus far.

He may just be the next international prospect to make a splash in the big leagues, too. 

“He’s always performed,” vice president of international scouting and operations Koby Perez said of Estrada back in January. “And every level he’s gotten to, he’s been young for the level, but he’s performed very good for the level.”

The offensive performance jumps off the page. Estrada’s first professional action came in the Dominican Summer League as a 17-year-old, where he hit a ridiculous .368 with a .483 OPS and just 23 strikeouts in 45 games. It showcased an early example of what Baseball America calls a “contact-first profile.” 

Four years later, the second base/outfield hybrid has worked his way up to Double-A Chesapeake, where that contact-first approach is still helping him find success.

“He got a taste of Double-A and performed, as he usually does,” Perez added. 

In 27 games with the Baysox in 2025, Estrada hit .300 with an .855 OPS, adding five home runs with just 17 punchouts. While the batting average and lack of strikeouts continue to impress, Baseball America notes that the quality of his contact can be hindered by a swing-heavy approach. Continued refinement there should lead to an improvement from a minuscule walk rate.

Critiquing Estrada’s offense, especially at this early stage of his career, is mostly splitting hairs. His frame may limit overall power potential, but clearly, Estrada has no problem posting impressive exit velocities. Plus, while his aggressive approach could continue to improve, it’s still led to outstanding results.

The question marks in Estrada’s game come on the other side of the ball. While he’s graded as a plus runner and good athlete, the utilityman has yet to find a true home defensively, though most believe that will eventually be second base.

Most outlets have Estrada ranked highly in their updated prospect rankings, but FanGraphs left the Venezuelan product outside of the O’s top 50 back in April. At the time, they noted that Estrada didn’t “currently have the hands or actions to play the infield at all, and he might soon be limited solely to left field.” Other outlets seem to be more bullish on his ability to play second, but still aren’t particularly high on the defense.

A non-roster invite to big league camp, Estrada may be leading the charge among Orioles infield prospects, a group that is not as deep as Baltimore has grown accustomed to. Recent high draft picks like Griff O’Ferrall and Wehiwa Aloy are on the way, but with the promotions of Jackson Holliday and Coby Mayo, a trade that saw Connor Norby head to Miami, and second-round pick Max Wagner’s struggles, Estrada may just be the prize of the infield crop.

“You talk about a switch-hitting second baseman that has a lot of athleticism, can play different positions, that’s a good bet,” Perez said.

With just 27 Double-A games under his belt, Estrada is likely to start the season with the Baysox. An invite to spring training is clearly an indication of how highly the organization sees him, though, and a promotion to Triple-A may not be far down the line.

Samuel Basallo’s promotion and subsequent extension is the earliest and greatest sign of the Orioles’ growing success on the international market. Estrada’s promotion could be the next.