These O's prospects could be next in line for promotion

This story was excerpted from Jake Rill’s Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

BALTIMORE -- As the Minor League season progresses, the likelihood of players getting promoted increases. We’re now at the point in the year in which some of these youngsters have shown they’re ready for a more difficult challenge at a higher level.

With that in mind, here’s a look at one Orioles Minor Leaguer from each affiliate who could be on the cusp of a promotion.

Triple-A Norfolk: LHP Andrew Magno
A 28-year-old left-hander who has yet to reach the big leagues, Magno is putting up the types of numbers that could make him a candidate to join Baltimore’s bullpen sometime this summer. The southpaw has a 0.64 ERA in 28 innings over 24 appearances for Norfolk.

Magno was a non-roster invitee to the O’s big league camp during Spring Training after he signed a Minor League deal last Dec. 2. He’s now proving he could potentially be a valuable asset in the Majors down the line.

Double-A Chesapeake: INF Aron Estrada (Orioles’ No. 7 prospect per MLB Pipeline)
This past offseason, vice president of international scouting and operations Koby Perez was asked who he thought could be the next international prospect in Baltimore’s system to reach the big leagues, and he named the 21-year-old Estrada. That’s how much of a positive impression the Venezuelan infielder has made on the Orioles in recent years.

Estrada is having a solid season at Chesapeake, where he’s hitting .272 with 10 doubles, one triple, 10 home runs, 30 RBIs and a .778 OPS in 56 games. His bat has especially come on of late, as he is 20-for-65 (.308) with five doubles and five homers in 16 games since May 27.

High-A Frederick: RHP JT Quinn (O’s No. 19)
Two pitchers from the O’s 2025 Draft class have already earned promotions this season -- left-handers Joseph Dzierwa (High-A to Double-A) and Caden Hunter (Single-A to High-A). It should be Quinn’s turn soon.

Quinn continues to pitch well for Frederick, posting a 3.27 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 52 1/3 innings over the first 12 starts of his pro career. The 22-year-old went a season-high six innings in his most recent outing at Brooklyn on Saturday, allowing only one run on two hits (including a solo homer) and two walks.

Single-A Delmarva: INF/OF DJ Layton
Layton doesn’t currently appear on the Orioles’ Top 30 Prospects list, but he’s making a case to become ranked. The 19-year-old has shown a ton of offensive potential this year while playing for the Shorebirds, posting a .265/.399/.416 slash line with 10 doubles, three triples, four homers and 23 RBIs in 54 games.

Baltimore’s sixth-round pick in the 2024 Draft, Layton has also moved all over the field on defense, making appearances at shortstop (26 games), center field (11), second base (11) and third (one). So he’s capable of playing anywhere up the middle of the diamond.

Florida Complex League: SS Wilfri De La Cruz (O’s No. 20)
Acquired from the Cubs in the Andrew Kittredge deal at last year’s Trade Deadline, De La Cruz is only 18 and is playing stateside for the first time. But he could still get bumped up to Delmarva sometime this summer, especially if he continues to fare well in the FCL.

Through 27 games, De La Cruz is hitting .236 with three doubles, one triple, two homers, 11 RBIs and an .804 OPS.