NORFOLK, Va. — He’s a beastly kid with bear paws for hands who swings like a grown man.

Those are the initial impressions of Samuel Basallo, a mountainous catching prospect with a violent swing that belies his youth.

The Norfolk Tides have ushered several elite prospects to the major leagues in recent years. Basallo, the second-ranked prospect in the Orioles organization according to MLB.com, appears to be the next big thing — in more ways than one.

At 6 foot 4 and 180 pounds, Basallo strikes an imposing figure. During his first batting practice at Harbor Park this week after joining the Tides, the lefty-swinging Basallo hit several balls that endangered the Tides’ $1.7 million video board in right-center field.

One ball landed with a thud about halfway up, prompting oohs and ahs from Basallo’s teammates.

“He’s a monster,” Tides manager Buck Britton said. “The power is off the charts. When he gets ahold of it, my God. When he gets it, it’s incredible.”

It only seems like Basallo — whose name is pronounced SOM-well bah-SIGH-yo — reached Triple-A in a hurry. Signed at 16 out of the Dominican Republic for what was then a club-record $1.2 million, he’s in his fourth season and sixth level of pro ball.

Before joining Norfolk, Basallo hit .289 with 16 home runs and 55 RBIs in 106 games this season at Double-A Bowie, putting up an .820 OPS.

His journey to the doorstep of the major leagues has not seemed like a whirlwind. “It feels like normal time for me,” Basallo said through a translator. “It doesn’t feel like it’s been long. It feels right.”

Basallo’s impending arrival in Baltimore, which is highly unlikely to happen this season, brings up a potentially inevitable conundrum: The Orioles already have an All-Star catcher in Adley Rutschman.

Britton, though, sees it as a good problem to have. Basallo, he said, plays a strong first base. Britton envisions Rutschman and Basallo someday splitting time behind the plate, with Basallo peeling off to play first or DH as needed.

Many catchers in recent years, including All-Star Carlos Santana and Hall of Famer Joe Mauer, have ended up at first base as catching has worn them down.

“I think there’s ways you could get them both in the lineup and a way to protect each other, not having to just carry the full load behind the plate,” Britton said. “You see what happens to these guys that catch. It’s changed. That spot gets you beat up.”

Talking with Basallo isn’t as intimidating as facing him from a mound. He’s soft-spoken, perhaps even a bit shy.

He was initially spotted by one of the Dominican’s many buscones, freelance scouts who bring young players to the attention of major league organizations for a fee.

Basallo tried out for several teams before the Orioles offered.

“It was huge,” Basallo said when asked about his bonus. “It helped my family. It’s also easier to keep working and be where I need to be.

“The organization is moving me up the way they feel that I’m going to be good. I feel good about it.”