Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s run with the Orioles has turned him from a depth add into a real piece worth talking about for 2027.
The path here was anything but smooth. He first landed on the radar when the Minnesota Twins placed him 29th on their top 30 prospects list in 2022.
After moving to Cincinnati, he climbed to seventh on the Reds’ list in 2023 and then made his MLB debut that same year. In 63 games, he put up a .805 OPS, a 113 wRC+, and 13 homers.
Then the injuries hit. In 2024, he was limited to 29 MLB games, and he wasn’t the same in 2025.
Cincinnati designated him for assignment in early April this year, and the Reds sent him to Baltimore for straight cash. He spent about half the season in Norfolk before injuries elsewhere cracked the door open in Baltimore.
The 2026 Orioles, as it turned out, were a mess in plenty of ways. They missed the playoffs, sold at the deadline, and dealt their franchise catcher. But amid all that, they may have uncovered one of their more useful surprises in Encarnacion-Strand.
He made a clear case this season. In 58 games, he hit .277/.325/.513 with 11 home runs and posted a 133 wRC+.
The profile isn’t clean. He doesn’t walk much, carrying a below-average 5.2 percent walk rate, and he strikes out often at 25.8 percent. But the Orioles have reasons to keep betting on him anyway.
One is his work at third base. In 411.2 innings at the hot corner, he finished with 0 Defensive Runs Saved and 3 Outs Above Average. He may not look graceful there every time, but he’s become playable on the infield corners, and he can also handle first base and give Pete Alonso a break when needed.
The other calling card is much louder: he absolutely hit left-handed pitching. Against southpaws this year, Encarnacion-Strand produced a 179 wRC+ with a .290/.372/.638 line and a 1.009 OPS. Against right-handers, he still held his own, batting .270/.299/.444 with a .743 OPS and a 106 wRC+.
That kind of bat gives Baltimore something useful - a corner infielder and DH option who can punish lefties even if the on-base profile stays shaky. The issue is fit.
The Orioles already have Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday in the middle infield, while Alonso is locked in at first. Coby Mayo, Blaze Alexander, and Jordan Westburg all have their own claims, too.
Henderson could be traded, though there’s a very good chance he stays. Holliday’s long-term outlook is still unsettled, but for now he’s the second baseman.
Alexander offers some outfield flexibility, but the roster picture would still leave Mayo, Encarnacion-Strand, and Westburg fighting over third base and the DH slot.
Westburg, assuming he is healthy, is expected to have a major role next spring. He can play second and third, which only tightens the squeeze for everyone else. That leaves Mike Elias and Craig Albernaz with a difficult lineup puzzle.
Even after the strong 2027 he put together, Encarnacion-Strand could still get crowded out. For now, though, his season gives him a real chance to matter. If he does stick, the Orioles should expect a lot of the same: shaky plate discipline, plenty of strikeouts, steady enough defense, and real power - especially when a lefty is on the mound.
In Other News...
Orioles Suddenly Have A Tough Call On A Pitching Prospect
After missing time to a torn UCL and Tommy John surgery, some encouraging news has started to pile up around Orioles pitching prospect Kyle Bragg in the Arizona Fall League. The 2023 eighth-round pick has returned to game action and, in his brief Fall League work, has been sharp enough to remind the organization why he was worth developing in the first place, showing both strike-throwing ability and the kind of velocity that stands out this time of year.
Now the Orioles have to weigh the bigger-picture roster question that comes with a healthy Bragg. Because he is Rule 5 eligible, Baltimore has to decide whether to protect him with a 40-man roster spot, and those choices can get tricky fast when a pitcher is coming off surgery but also performing like someone other clubs might be tempted to grab. For a farm system that is always trying to balance depth against upside, Braggs progress has made this one worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Former Orioles Lefty Finds A New Chance After Brutal Setback
Nick Raquet has landed a new opportunity with the Tigers, who signed the left-hander to a two-year minor league contract as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery. For a pitcher looking for stability during a long rehab, the deal gives him that breathing room, with Detroit planning to keep him in the fold until he is ready to pitch again.
For Orioles fans, the name still carries some familiarity, since Raquet was let go in early September before this move to Detroit. The recovery timeline is a long one, and the Tigers are essentially betting on his health for 2028, but the contract at least gives him a clear path and a place to aim while he grinds through the comeback. [Read more 🡒]
Adam Jones Just Tapped Into Orioles Fans Biggest October Hope
The Orioles October drought has stretched long enough that every reminder of how hard it is to reach the World Series lands with a little extra weight in Baltimore. Adam Jones added to that conversation on social media after the Milwaukee Brewers recent run, and his optimism about where the Orioles are headed is the kind of note fans will grab onto after a pair of 90-win seasons have still not translated into sustained postseason success.
Baltimore has spent years trying to turn regular-season progress into something more lasting, with only seven postseason trips since 1983 to show for it. Jones knows what the city looks like when the team gets there, and his belief in the Orioles future speaks to the biggest hope around Camden Yards right now, even if the final step remains the one that keeps hanging over everything. [Read more 🡒]