After DJ mixes it up, who's next to arrive? 

BALTIMORE -- For months now, Orioles officials have reiterated their reasoning for waiting to promote some of their best position-player prospects. The hope being that, by alloting said prospects a few more weeks of development, they would soon be ready not just to arrive in Baltimore, but to remain here.

That was part of the calculus in promoting DJ Stewart, with manager Brandon Hyde calling the outfielder “part of the future” Tuesday afternoon. That his season debut coincided with a 3-0 loss to the Tigers at Camden Yards was hardly the fault of Stewart, who spent the evening flashing the adjustments that recently turned him into one of the Minor Leagues’ hottest hitters.

“He showed us he was ready by how he was playing,” Hyde said. “We’re looking for guys to dominate the league. Once you dominate the league, then you’re ready.”

Stewart garnered half the Orioles’ offensive output courtesy of a career-high three-hit effort, adding a stolen base and an impressive throw from right to provide several bright spots on a night Baltimore suffered its fourth shutout defeat of the season.

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The result came largely at the hands of Tigers lefty Matthew Boyd, who continued his breakout season by holding Baltimore to six singles over six-plus shutout innings. Stewart had three of them; the rest of the Orioles lineup went 3-for-23 off Boyd, who lowered his season ERA to 2.85.

“That’s not an easy assignment, for a guy’s first game in the big leagues, to face a left-hander like that,” Hyde said. “He had some really good at bats, outstanding.”

Now that Stewart is here, who’s next? That was the lingering question by the time two late rallies fizzled and the Orioles wasted a strong outing from Dylan Bundy, who was forced to end his resurgent May on a sour note.

Throwing predominantly breaking balls for the third consecutive start, Bundy struck out eight across seven efficient innings, notching his 500th career punchout when he got Grayson Greiner swinging in the seventh. But Bundy was never let off the hook for the trickle of runs allowed over his first five innings of work. Miguel Cabrera and JaCoby Jones collected RBI hits before Niko Goodrum skied a solo home run for insurance in the fifth.

It all combined to overshadow a stellar second impression for Stewart, who posted a .890 OPS in a small 17-game sample last September. By that point this season, he figures to be just one of a cadre of blue-chippers contributing in the Majors.

“That’s always something we talk about, to be here together and turn this organization around,” Stewart said. “We like the fact that we’ve seen it at its worst, and we’re looking forward to the opportunity to seeing it at its best.”

Let’s take a look at some others who might be joining Stewart in Baltimore later this summer.

Chance Sisco, C
The last player to be cut from camp this spring, Sisco is similar to Stewart in a sample-size sense. The backstop is enjoying his best stretch at Triple-A in a repeat showing at the level, where he’s accumulated more than 700 plate appearances over parts of four seasons. Pedro Severino’s breakout offensive performance (career-high 124 OPS+) complicates things, but Sisco’s production is demanding attention thus far. He hit .277 with a .865 OPS over his first 39 games with the Tides, and is likely to be summoned at some point in the near future.

Anthony Santander, OF
Already promoted as the 26th man for a doubleheader earlier this season, Santander impressed the Orioles this spring with his power potential. The switch-hitter is putting up solid numbers in his first full season at Triple-A, hitting .278 with four homers and 14 doubles through 39 games. But due in part to the emergence of Dwight Smith Jr. and Stevie Wilkerson, Santander will probably have to wait until the Orioles' roster turns over once more for another promotion.

Cedric Mullins, OF
The club’s Opening Day center fielder, Mullins got off to a slow start, and his subsequent demotion threw Baltimore’s outfield alignment in flux earlier this year. He’s hitting just .235 with a .686 OPS with Norfolk, but brings defensive and speed elements others in this group do not.

Austin Hays, OF
If Hays could prove himself healthy after a 2018 campaign lost to shoulder and ankle injuries, he would seemingly be the surest bet to crack the Orioles roster by midseason. A sprained right thumb suffered shortly after he was sent to Minor League camp in mid-March delayed that timeline; Hays is currently rehabbing at Double-A Bowie. The Orioles still want to see him develop at Triple-A, where Hays has never appeared.

Ryan Mountcastle, 1B
The same rings true for Mountcastle, though the progress of the club’s No.1 prospect per MLB Pipeline hasn’t been thwarted by injuries. The issue with Mountcastle is merely time. Though he’s already one of the International League’s top hitters, Baltimore would rather give the 22-year-old a chance to see Triple-A pitching a second or third time, as well as more reps at first base, a new position for him. Mountcastle is probably the farthest away of this bunch, but features the most upside. ·