Manager Brandon Hyde has not but revealed how he’ll break down taking part in time on the non-first base positions of the Orioles’ infield as soon as the common season arrives, largely as a result of his focus is guaranteeing that that group makes it by spring coaching wholesome.
But Monday’s exhibition in opposition to the Tampa Bay Rays, a 14-2 loss, supplied a take a look at one doable alignment. In a lineup that includes gamers who may very well be within the opening day model in eight of 9 spots, Adam Frazier began at second, Jorge Mateo at brief and Ramón Urías at third. Gunnar Henderson, the lone absent projected common, will play Tuesday, when Adley Rutschman will catch for the primary time this spring after beginning two of Baltimore’s first three video games at designated hitter.
The sport’s No. 1 total prospect, Henderson is the likeliest of the quartet to play each day, although Hyde will understandably discover relaxation days for every member of the group. When Henderson will get an evening off, Monday’s look figures to be the association.
The group affords loads of flexibility. All however Mateo determine to get time at a number of positions this spring, with Hyde saying he’ll stick with shortstop after being one of many sport’s greatest defenders at that place in 2022. Henderson will spell him at shortstop and in addition play third base, the place Urías gained a Gold Glove final 12 months. Urías competed with Mateo at shortstop final spring, however with Mateo and Henderson within the fold, Hyde plans to make use of him at solely third and second. Frazier, who signed a one-year take care of Baltimore this offseason, might see time within the outfield in addition to second base.
Like Henderson, Frazier bats left-handed, as does Terrin Vavra. An early frontrunner within the Orioles’ seek for a left-handed hitter to supply depth, Vavra spent this offseason turning into extra versatile, making a pair of diving performs Sunday at third base after having performed just one inning at that place beforehand in his skilled profession. Vavra’s presence on the roster would give Hyde the possibility to stack his lineup with lefties by placing him at third, Henderson at brief and Frazier at second.
Whatever breakdown Hyde decides on may very well be short-lived. Beyond Henderson, the Orioles have 5 different infielders amongst their prime 10 prospects, and all however 2022 first-overall draft decide Jackson Holliday ended final season at Double-A. In Monday’s sport, Connor Norby, Joey Ortiz and Coby Mayo changed Frazier, Mateo and Urías. It may very well be thought-about foreshadowing.
The battling lineup provided a possible opening day order, with Henderson probably slotting third behind Cedric Mullins and Adley Rutschman and pushing Anthony Santander, Urías, Austin Hays, Frazier and Mateo down a spot. In what was scheduled to be his last plate look of the sport, Santander was hit by a pitch on his left knee, exiting the sport and shortly after the sector with a slight limp. Hyde mentioned after the sport that Santander is day-to-day with a bruise.
“That’s all I know at this point, but I think he’s OK,” Hyde mentioned.
Zimmermann begins ‘fresh start’
Towson native Bruce Zimmermann started final season in Baltimore’s rotation, drawing a dream alternative because the starter for the Orioles’ dwelling opener at Camden Yards. He adopted that scoreless outing with one other, posting a 2.67 ERA by six begins.
But the left-hander then allowed 17 dwelling runs over his subsequent seven begins, spiking his ERA by greater than three runs and prompting a demotion to Triple-A. He made solely two main league outings the remainder of the best way, a one-inning reduction look in July and a six-inning bulk outing wherein he surrendered three extra dwelling runs.
“I think he lost a little bit of confidence,” Hyde mentioned earlier than Zimmermann began Monday’s sport. “He had a very good begin for us final 12 months, did an excellent job. He gave up a bunch of homers type of late there in his final handful of begins. I feel the stuff was nonetheless good. I simply assume he received knocked round a bit of bit and received his confidence shaken a bit of bit.
“It’s a fresh start for him. There’s jobs to be won in our pitching staff, and hopefully, he can go out and show the kind of pitcher that we think he is.”
The two runs Zimmermann gave up in his first spring outing got here on a Wander Franco dwelling run, however he retired 5 of the following six Rays. He spent this offseason trying to recapture that, targeted on differentiating his four- and two-seam fastballs, honing the shapes of his secondary pitches and total consistency. Although he agreed with Hyde’s “fresh start” evaluation, he felt assured in how he pitched at Triple-A, with a 3.04 ERA over his last 10 begins. Like Hyde, he famous the Orioles’ rotation success made it tough for the crew to seek out house for him.
Still, he finds himself as one in all Baltimore’s dozen rotation choices in camp.
“Unfortunately, our guys were pitching amazing in the big leagues, so I just had to kind of wait,” Zimmermann mentioned. “… I think everybody’s aware of the competition and what this camp is about, but I think guys are really excited about it, as well. The last five guys standing are really going to be a good competitive product to really push this year and build on what we did last year.”
Mixed bag for bullpen candidates
Quite a few the Orioles’ rotation candidates might as a substitute land jobs within the bullpen. Hyde famous the crew would ideally have “at least two” left-handed relievers, and with Cionel Pérez assured one spot if wholesome, that would create a possibility for Zimmermann or DL Hall.
Nonroster invitee Darwinzon Hernandez might pitch his means into that blend, too, however his effort to take action didn’t start effectively. The left-hander, who will go away camp early subsequent month to pitch for Venezuela within the World Baseball Classic, retired solely one of many six batters he confronted Monday, strolling three and permitting 4 runs.
An inning earlier, Joey Krehbiel allowed two dwelling runs in his first spring outing. Krehbiel was a key member of the Orioles’ bullpen for a lot of final season, however the commerce of All-Star nearer Jorge López pushed him right into a higher-leverage function. With a 2.35 ERA getting into August, he had a 6.98 ERA afterward.
Andrew Politi, one other fringe bullpen candidate, pitched a scoreless fifth, working round a one-out triple that Cedric Mullins had bother with in heart. As a Rule 5 draft decide, Politi should stay on the Orioles’ main league roster all season or be positioned on waivers.
Noting he gained’t learn an excessive amount of into one spring outing, Hyde praised Politi’s breaking ball and Krehbiel’s strike-throwing.
Grapefruit League
Orioles at Pirates
Tuesday, 1:05 p.m.
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com