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It’s been a big week for prospect promotions in the Orioles’ organization.

On Monday, Baltimore moved Jackson Holliday up a level from Single-A Delmarva to High-A Aberdeen. The 19-year-old shortstop, who is the O’s No. 2 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 10 overall prospect, has already impressed for the IronBirds, hitting a homer and a triple on Friday.

On Thursday, Joey Ortiz earned his first call-up to the big leagues after getting off to a hot start for Triple-A Norfolk. The 24-year-old infielder -- Baltimore’s No. 7 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 90 overall prospect -- then collected three RBIs in his MLB debut in Detroit on Thursday.

Holliday and Ortiz aren’t the only top Orioles prospects playing well early in 2023. I recently caught up with Matt Blood, Baltimore’s director of player development, to discuss more about some of the latest happenings in the O’s farm system:

MLB.com: Let’s start with Heston Kjerstad, the club’s No. 5 prospect and MLB's No. 72 overall prospect. He has six homers through 16 games with Double-A Bowie. What has led to this continuation of his huge Spring Training?

Blood: He looks great. He looks comfortable and strong. And he’s hitting the ball very hard. He’s having really good at-bats. We’re all thrilled for him that he’s in the spot where he is now. Really expecting that to continue.

MLB.com: Kjerstad, an outfielder, has played his first six professional games at first base this year. How has he fared there?

Blood: He looks great, in terms of someone new to the position. He’s taken to it in his pregame work and his in-game work, and we’re very optimistic that it’s going to be a position that he’s going to be able to handle.

MLB.com: DL Hall was sent down to Triple-A Norfolk to get stretched out as a starter, rather than having him build up out of the Orioles’ bullpen. Why was that the right decision?

Blood: That’s what Triple-A is for, is to provide as high of quality competition as possible for the players that are close to contributing at the Major League level. He’s going about his work the right way, and that’s the only place where he could really get that work in, so it’s the right place for him to be for that.

MLB.com: How soon could Hall -- who was with the O's as the 27th man for Saturday's split doubleheader in Detroit -- be part of the big league rotation?

Blood: The big league level is very competitive right now for the Orioles. We have Major League-caliber starting pitching in Triple-A. And that’s really what you want as an organization, to have that kind of depth on the mound. He’s going to have to compete for that spot. It’s not going to be guaranteed to him. He’s going to have to pitch well, and he’s going to have to show that he can contribute better than the arms that are currently in Baltimore, and that’s just the way it is for everyone. It’s a good spot for the organization to be. I think he understands that, and he’s going to compete for that chance.

MLB.com: It’s like that on the position-player side as well, right?

Blood: Absolutely. There’s a lot of versatility on the Major League team and in the Minor Leagues, and we’re doing our best to win Major League Baseball games right now. And they’re going to do whatever is needed to be done to put the best product on the Major League field on a nightly basis.

MLB.com: Holliday isn’t the only member of the 2022 MLB Draft class at High-A Aberdeen. What have been your early impressions of prospects such as outfielders Dylan Beavers (Baltimore’s No. 10) and Jud Fabian (No. 16) and infielder Max Wagner (No. 13)?

Blood: They’re great kids with tremendous work ethic and aptitude, and they’re being exposed to a pretty high level of baseball right out of the gate in their amateur careers. And they’re learning a ton. That’s what Minor League Baseball is all about.

MLB.com: With Wagner (a second-round pick last year), he has started a bit slow (.136 average in 16 games), but he’s flashed his potential, including hitting his first homer last Sunday. How’s he looked so far to you?

Blood: Small sample, anything can happen, good or bad. He had a fantastic Spring Training, and he’s got a really good swing and approach. I’m not worried about him at all. I think he’s going to be a very productive player. He’s also shown some versatility in the ability to play third base and second base. He’s one that’s in his developmental process now, and we’ll continue to push him along.