There are the spoken causes for why Terrin Vavra has but to make his first Orioles begin.
One is a matter of circumstance, with Baltimore going through three left-handed beginning pitchers in 4 of the video games since Vavra’s promotion Tuesday. Another, as supervisor Brandon Hyde put it Tuesday, is that Baltimore finds itself able to push for a wild-card spot. That surprising improvement has left Hyde with little incentive to vary a profitable lineup — a lineup that features Rougned Odor enjoying second base.
The unstated facet might issue into Tuesday’s commerce deadline. Odor, a free agent after this season, is hitting simply .200, however left-handed hitters with energy (10 dwelling runs, 37 RBIs) might nonetheless intrigue a purchaser. Leaving Odor on the bench leaves him out of the attention of opposing groups on the lookout for an improve, though it’s unclear whether or not the Orioles would think about transferring such a key locker room presence.
When requested Friday how troublesome it’s to not play a newly promoted prospect similar to Vavra — who ranks because the No. 12 prospect within the group, in keeping with Baseball America — Hyde talked about the slew of left-handed pitchers which have saved Vavra on the bench.
“But we’re looking to get him in here the next couple days,” stated Hyde, who put Odor at second base for Friday evening’s sport towards the Cincinnati Reds. “I had him ready off the bench [Thursday] to pinch-hit in a big spot. Same thing tonight. He might be in there tomorrow. We’ll see.”
Odor can be a left-handed hitter, however the veteran has reverse splits this season. He holds a .232 batting common towards left-handers and a .192 towards right-handers. Eight of his 10 homers, nonetheless, have come towards a righty. Odor additionally hit a double into the fitting area nook within the ninth inning, organising Cedric Mullins’ go-ahead single in Friday evening’s 6-2 win.
Vavra has excelled at Triple-A Norfolk this season forward of his call-up, batting .324 with a .886 OPS. He was a third-round draft decide in 2018 and purchased from the Colorado Rockies on the 2020 commerce deadline as a part of the package deal for reliever Mychal Givens. At 25, he’s discovering his most success within the minors this season. His splits are extra excessive, nonetheless, as he’s hitting .347 towards righties and .242 towards lefties.
The Orioles referred to as up Vavra to interchange Jonathan Araúz, a utility infielder who hadn’t performed in two weeks earlier than injuring his finger on a slide into second base Monday. When Araúz went on the injured record, the Orioles wanted to interchange an rare contributor, and now Vavra finds himself in the same spot.
Vavra has positional flexibility, enjoying primarily second base and heart area however possessing the flexibility to fit right into a nook outfield spot or elsewhere within the infield. But with the Orioles (50-49) above .500 and simply three video games out of the ultimate wild-card spot coming into Friday, there are few positions Vavra can bump a longtime starter.
The circumstances are even trickier contemplating Vavra’s 35-week pregnant spouse, Carlie, acquired particular permission from a health care provider to fly from Minnesota to Baltimore and now to Cincinnati within the hopes of seeing her husband make his main league debut. Vavra’s mother and father additionally made that journey. He pinch ran within the ninth inning Friday, however he’s nonetheless ready on the complete expertise.
It all comes at an attention-grabbing time for the Orioles, who discover themselves in a stunning current vs. future debate: pushing for a playoff spot whereas listening to potential commerce presents.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com