The Orioles are poised to advertise high infield prospect Jordan Westburg previous to tomorrow’s recreation towards the Reds, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Baltimore might want to make a 40-man roster transfer to accommodate Westburg along with clearing area for him on the energetic roster, although these strikes haven’t but been introduced. Passan provides that Westburg can be within the beginning lineup tomorrow for his main league debut.

Westburg was chosen thirtieth total by Baltimore within the first spherical of the 2020 draft. He instantly impressed with the bat in his first skilled season, slashing .285/.389/.479 in 506 journeys to the plate whereas climbing from Single-A all the best way to Double-A over the course of the 2021 marketing campaign. Whereas these numbers had been actually spectacular, his roughly league common 104 wRC+ in 30 Double-A video games did depart questions as as to if he would have the ability to dominant within the higher ranges of the minors the best way he had in A-ball.

The teenager answered these questions in a giant approach together with his efficiency in 2023. After displaying enchancment throughout 47 video games on the Double-A degree with a .247/.344/.473 slash line, Westburg went on to take one other step ahead with a robust displaying in Triple-A throughout his age-23 season. In 91 video games on the degree final season, Westburg slashed a formidable .274/.361/.508 with the bottom strikeout charge of his profession and 46 further base hits, together with 18 house runs.

After a superb 2022 marketing campaign, Westburg entered the 2023 marketing campaign rated as roughly a top-75 prospect within the sport by every of MLB Pipeline, Baseball America, and Baseball Prospectus. He’s since delivered on that promise by posting the very best numbers of his profession throughout 67 video games in a return to Triple-A. In 301 plate appearances this season, Westburg has slashed .295/.372/.567 with a wRC+ of 131, a strikeout charge of simply 21.3%, and .404 wOBA.

Given these spectacular numbers, it’s no surprise why the Orioles have made the choice to drag the set off on Westburg’s promotion regardless of the membership’s crowded infield image. Gunnar Henderson, after all, is entrenched on the left aspect of the infield with appearances in 67 of the membership’s 76 video games this season. That leaves Westburg more likely to combine in alongside the likes of Jorge Mateo, Ramon Urias, and Adam Frazier up the center, although Frazier has additionally seen time within the outfield this season whereas Urias has often stepped in at first base with Ryan Mountcastle on the injured checklist.

Of the aforementioned trio, solely Urias has hit above league common this season with a wRC+ of 101. That being mentioned, Mateo’s glove at shortstop ranks within the 89th percentile of certified fielders per Statcast, which means he’ll probably draw begins at the same time as his bat has cooled off considerably after a scorching begin to the season. That leaves the likes of Frazier and Joey Ortiz almost certainly to lose out on enjoying time in favor of Westburg. Ortiz, specifically, stands out as a possible candidate to be optioned in favor of Westburg, because the 24-year-old teenager has gotten into simply 15 video games with the membership this season, slashing .212/.206/.242 in 35 plate appearances.

Westburg’s promotion is the most recent in a line of current high prospect promotions that started with the debut of catcher Adley Rutschman final 12 months. Since then, Henderson, Ortiz, and Grayson Rodriguez are among the many teenager to make their debut for the Orioles, although Ortiz and Rodriguez have but to ascertain themselves absolutely on the main league degree. The youth motion in Baltimore has paid dividends, because the membership has adopted up a surprisingly aggressive 2022 marketing campaign with a 47-29 file that leaves them each in second place in an especially aggressive AL East division and within the driver’s seat of the AL Wild Card race.