Amid the Orioles’ rebuild, govt vp and normal supervisor Mike Elias pointed to the Tampa Bay Rays’ “transactional” nature as a cause for his or her short- and long-term success, suggesting it was one thing his group may aspire to.
Those days have arrived. With improved organizational depth, the Orioles have capitalized on the fringes of their roster in getting off to a 23-13 begin, the newest win coming Tuesday in opposition to a Tampa Bay staff that’s the solely membership within the American League with a greater report (29-8) than Baltimore.
“I think this is a season and a 40-man roster where every single person on that 40-man roster is going to come into play for us throughout the year,” Elias mentioned earlier than Tuesday’s sport, shortly after the Orioles shuffled their bench and bullpen.
With Ramón Urías happening the injured listing with a left hamstring pressure, Baltimore changed an infielder who hits from the appropriate facet with two who bat left-handed, recalling Ryan O’Hearn and Terrin Vavra from Triple-A Norfolk whereas additionally designating catcher Luis Torrens for project.
Elias mentioned citing the pair of left-handed bats “helps us from a matchup standpoint and depth standpoint for these upcoming opponents.” The Orioles have already proven a willingness to platoon not solely on the sector however with their roster. When Vavra was first despatched to Norfolk, it was to deliver up infield prospect Joey Ortiz, a right-handed hitter, forward of three straight matchups with left-handed starters. After that trifecta, Ortiz was returned to Triple-A, and the Orioles introduced up the left-handed-hitting Kyle Stowers.
Stowers and Ortiz had been chosen early within the 2019 draft, Baltimore’s first beneath Elias, whereas Vavra was among the many minor leaguers they acquired in buying and selling away main league expertise throughout the rebuild. Each has been considered one in all Baltimore’s high 15 prospects, and though the group needs them to get the chance to develop, it would want them to fill a task within the majors, even when it proves small or short-lived.
“We’re still wanting to develop these guys as everyday players and make sure they have everyday playing time or a lot of playing time, but we’re bringing them up in spots to help out off the bench or in short spurts,” Elias mentioned. “I think it requires a little bit more of a balancing act between developing their careers and then maybe getting them some part-time play up here, taste of the major leagues, a little more sporadic playing time in the major leagues, but they’re brought up to help our team win in spots, so I think that part is relatively new for us kind of in the last calendar year, where that balance is more to the forefront. I’m very happy that that’s the situation because it means we’re winning.”
Added fifth-year supervisor Brandon Hyde: “We’re trying to field a competitive team and to win, and we’re trying to put our best roster we can at the big league level. And sometimes that means younger players have to platoon or not get everyday at-bats.”
The Orioles additionally made a swap of left-handed lengthy relievers, optioning Keegan Akin and citing Drew Rom for the primary time. Rom was effectively rested, with Elias noting that his being scheduled to start out Tuesday for Norfolk was factored into the call-up resolution.
Each member of the Orioles’ Triple-A rotation can be on their 40-man roster, giving them the pliability to make related strikes all through the season, although Elias famous it’s vital for the group to retain rotation depth even when these pitchers may gain advantage the staff as relievers. Although No. 4 prospect DL Hall thrived in a reduction function with Baltimore down the stretch final yr, the Orioles had him open this season as a starter with Norfolk. However, he’s since made one main league reduction outing throughout a short call-up, and Elias mentioned the staff may “definitely” use him out of the bullpen once more if a necessity arises.
“When we have an injury or we have some matchups changing or the bullpen needs a fresh arm, we tend to be able to make a move to do it,” Elias mentioned. “It’s a long season. I’m sure we’ll have a lot of this for a number of reasons.”
Unlike the rebuilding seasons, these transactions are made with aggressive intentions moderately than out of desperation. The Orioles’ rotation has struggled to work deep persistently, however Hyde has usually had sufficient relievers at his disposal to make do on a given evening.
Having managed Baltimore for the reason that rebuild’s first full season in 2019, he’s appreciative of how far the group has come.
“I feel like we have a lot of movable pieces,” Hyde mentioned. “A lot of our 40-man players are young, and so when you’re looking to match up or you have a need roster-wise, we’re picking from kind of prospect-type players. That’s not always the case. I think that’s exciting, honestly, that we have young, really, really talented players in Triple-A that we feel like can help us.”
That expertise exemplifies the Orioles’ depth, as Norfolk possesses one of the best report within the minors. Many of the gamers contributing to that success have both hung out with Baltimore or determine to take action in some unspecified time in the future. Infield prospect Jordan Westburg has almost spent a full yr at Triple-A, however Elias prompt the Orioles’ efforts to match up in opposition to upcoming opponents meant O’Hearn and Vavra, as left-handed hitters, bought priority over a right-handed hitter who Baseball America ranks because the Baltimore’s No. 5 prospect.
But Westburg is within the group, and which means in some unspecified time in the future this season, he may assist the Orioles.
“I just view this whole group as our team this year,” Elias mentioned. “We’re going to tap into every resource that we have in the majors and minors as needed.”
Baltimore Sun reporter Jacob Calvin Meyer contributed to this text.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com