Orioles pitchers and catchers will report back to Sarasota, Florida, this week, marking the official begin to spring coaching after a tumultuous offseason.
At occasions, the drama of the crew’s possession scenario, expiring lease and measured offseason strategy has overshadowed the primary season in half a decade the Orioles start the 12 months with a playoff berth seen as a respectable chance. A mixture of a core that has weathered the group’s rebuild, a wave of younger expertise that’s the product of it and veteran additions have the membership believing it might probably attain the postseason after unexpectedly being one of the best American League crew to fall quick in 2022.
On the verge of the Orioles’ first post-rebuild season, The Baltimore Sun is breaking down the roster place by place, inspecting the most important questions at every spot and who may assist carry the crew again to the postseason, in 2023 and past.
The gamers because of report Wednesday — beginning pitchers, relievers and catchers — have already had their turns. Now, eyes flip to an infield competitors that may very well be heated all through camp and deep into the season.
Opening day candidates
Assuming well being, the Orioles have 5 gamers who will arrive at camp seemingly assured a roster spot. Ryan Mountcastle would be the on a regular basis first baseman, with prime total prospect Gunnar Henderson, Jorge Mateo, Ramón Urías and Adam Frazier deployed within the different three spots primarily based on matchups and wishes for relaxation.
That quartet will supply supervisor Brandon Hyde loads of flexibility. Henderson and Frazier hit left-handed, and Mateo and Urías bat from the suitable facet. Ideally, Baltimore may have two choices at every of the three spots, with Urías and Frazier at second, Mateo and Henderson at shortstop, and Henderson and Urías at third base; Urías may play quick in a pinch, whereas Frazier — whose $8 million free-agent deal makes him Baltimore’s highest-paid place participant aside from Chris Davis in Hyde’s 5 seasons — would possibly make occasional outfield appearances. Beyond the probability Henderson is within the lineup most days, it’s not but clear how the Orioles plan to handle this rotation, and spring coaching may assist kind that out.
In phrases of roster spots, the most important non-pitching competitors in camp might be discovering out who will get to function Mountcastle’s left-handed complement at first base. Excluding gamers who’re regulars elsewhere resembling switch-hitters Adley Rutschman and Anthony Santander, the one participant already on the 40-man roster who may match is Terrin Vavra, a pure second baseman who has by no means performed first as knowledgeable however has spent his offseason practising “everywhere” with hopes his mixture of versatility and plate self-discipline preserve him on the large league roster.
Ryan O’Hearn, Lewin Díaz, Franchy Cordero and Josh Lester give the Orioles a number of candidates amongst their nonroster invitees, as nicely. With left-hander John Means more likely to open the season on the 60-day injured listing as he finishes his rehab from Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgical procedure and Rule 5 draft decide Andrew Politi having a tricky path to the opening day roster, opening a 40-man spot for any of those gamers received’t be tough.
Biggest query
When, if ever, is the youth motion?
Last season, at the same time as Rougned Odor’s bat slumped, Hyde caught with him as Baltimore’s common second baseman, citing his veteran presence, clutch hitting and skill to show double performs.
The Orioles may very well be pressured to decide on between youth and expertise usually in terms of their 2023 infield. Urías was the American League’s Gold Glove winner at third base. Mateo was maybe baseball’s finest defensive shortstop. Frazier has lengthy rated positively for his work at second. But with a trio of prime infield prospects all ending final season at Triple-A, it’s truthful to surprise how a lot leash every participant has if the bat doesn’t match the glove.
Given the aggressiveness the Orioles had been anticipated to indicate this offseason, it’s considerably of a shock that Jordan Westburg, Joey Ortiz and Connor Norby all stay within the group. With Baltimore’s infield depth, parting with any of the three in a commerce for a prime beginning pitcher would have been logical, nevertheless it appears every may get the possibility to showcase what he can do within the majors in 2023. Ortiz’s place on the 40-man roster may assist him beat Westburg, who has essentially the most Triple-A time of the group, and Norby to the majors. Regardless of order, the timing of their arrivals may have as a lot to do with the performances of Mateo, Urías and Frazier as their very own.
X-factor
After not even being invited to huge league camp final 12 months, Henderson enters this spring as the game’s prime prospect and virtually assured a spot excessive within the Orioles’ opening day lineup after forcing his option to the majors late final 12 months.
Projection techniques are understandably enamored with Rutschman, forecasting Henderson’s predecessor as the sport’s No. 1 prospect to be one among baseball’s most precious gamers in his first full season. But they’ve given Henderson love, as nicely. ZiPS has the 21-year-old as one among solely 21 gamers predicted to be value 5 wins above substitute this season; that’s seventh amongst third basemen and tied for fifth amongst shortstops, trailing solely Trea Turner, Carlos Correa, Francisco Lindor and Marcus Semien.
Henderson doesn’t must ship on that standing to have a constructive impression on the Orioles, however that degree of efficiency being projected from a participant who’s technically nonetheless a rookie speaks to how influential he may be within the Orioles’ playoff hopes.
The future
Much of it may very well be displayed by the top of this season, with Mountcastle — not but arbitration eligible — and Henderson sustaining their spots on the corners with Westburg, Ortiz and Norby arriving to assist up the center. But there’s much more infield expertise on the best way.
Shortstop Jackson Holliday, the primary total decide within the 2022 draft, will start his first full skilled season as a nonroster invitee to main league camp. It wouldn’t be a shock to see him give the Orioles their third straight No. 1 total prospect subsequent 12 months and likewise echo Henderson’s meteoric rise to the majors.
Third baseman Coby Mayo as soon as advised an Orioles scout he hoped to be within the majors at 21, and reaching Baltimore this 12 months would match that timeline. Speaking at a fan Q&A final week, government vp and basic supervisor Mike Elias mentioned Mayo, who ended final 12 months at Double-A, may see time at first base or the outfield to create house for his highly effective bat on the main league roster.
The Orioles’ worldwide pipeline has additionally paid off right here. A Cuban native signed in 2022, César Prieto stays on observe to be the primary product of Baltimore’s elevated funding to succeed in the majors. Luis Ayden Almeyda signed with the Orioles final month for $2.3 million, a franchise document for a Latin American newbie. Frederick Bencosme didn’t obtain a giant bonus when he signed in August 2020, however he starred at Low-A Delmarva final 12 months and is a quick riser up the system’s prospect rankings.
Spring coaching
Pitchers and catchers report: Wednesday
First full-squad exercise: Feb. 21
Grapefruit League opener: Feb. 25 vs. Twins
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Source: www.bostonherald.com