FORT MYERS, Fla. — Manager Brandon Hyde on Thursday revealed that utilityman Jorge Mateo would be making the opening day roster, but he won’t be playing much shortstop.
That’s because Gunnar Henderson will be spending almost all of his time in the field at his natural position.
Hyde said Henderson will “primarily” play shortstop this season, only moving over to third base if needed in the middle of games. Henderson is excited for the consistency after switching back and forth between short and third during his American League Rookie of the Year campaign last year.
“Yeah, this is what I was drafted as and what I’ve played my whole life growing up,” he said. “I’m looking forward to just getting some consistent playing time there.”
Henderson was a plus defender at both spots last year, but he was better at shortstop. Ten of his 13 defensive runs saved last season came at shortstop despite evenly splitting his defensive innings at the two positions. He would’ve been a worthy Gold Glove Award finalist at the new utility spot, but he missed the cut.
Henderson believes just playing shortstop will make him even better defensively.
“I feel like I can make some big strides there,” he said.
It could also make the 22-year-old even more valuable. He was already one of the AL’s most valuable players by Baseball-Reference’s version of wins above replacement last year, but if he plays the majority of his innings at shortstop, he will get even more opportunities to show off his glove.
This is Henderson’s preference, but he said it was the team’s decision.
“They told me pretty much going into spring training,” Henderson said. “I kind of had an idea, but I came in with the right mindset and was just able to take most of my reps there and get ready to play every day at short.”
Henderson missed the beginning of camp with an oblique injury, but he said that’s behind him and he’s ready for opening day March 28 at Camden Yards. He’s hitting .419 this spring with a 1.083 OPS.
Mateo will still get plenty of playing time as a super utility player, as the speedster has spent spring training working on his defensive versatility, playing the middle infield and all three outfield spots. Despite his offensive struggles, the Orioles’ brass believes he can bring value to the club in other ways, and so does Henderson.
“You can’t coach speed, and I feel like he’s going to make a difference on the base paths,” Henderson said of Mateo. “Wherever he is, he’s going to make a difference, and that’s just the beauty of his ability. He’s a difference-maker no matter where he is.”
Corbin Burnes wasn’t a pitcher until he was a high school senior. He struggled as a freshman at a small D1. He earned his spot in the Cape by happenstance.
Burnes was never destined to be an ace. That fact is why he became one.
On the making of an ace: https://t.co/qPCcWJEbUM
— Jacob Calvin Meyer (@jcalvinmeyer) March 21, 2024
Hey, hey, hey, Albert’s ready to play
Albert Suárez is a man of few words, and he needed even fewer for this answer.
Does Suárez believe he’s a big league-caliber pitcher?
“Yes.”
Suárez pitched his last game this spring, starting for the Orioles in the club’s 3-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox at JetBlue Park. The veteran right-hander pitched 4 1/3 innings of one-run ball, allowing four hits while striking out three against a lineup mostly filled with Boston’s starters.
“Well, really what he’s been doing all camp — really good command of all pitches, aggressive in the strike zone,” Hyde said. “I thought he threw the ball extremely well once again. That’s a great pick up for us, and we’re excited about it.”
Suárez’s path to making the opening day roster is murky given Hyde announced the five-man rotation Thursday without him in it and that it’s not likely a traditional long reliever breaks camp with the Orioles because of the large number of days off in the first month.
Nevertheless, Suárez believes he’s good enough.
“I think I showed them that I’m ready to pitch in the major leagues,” he said. “Personally, I don’t control the decision, but I did my best to show them I’m ready to pitch in the big leagues.”
Suárez’s spring hasn’t been perfect. He’s had two blow-up innings in which he’s surrendered eight runs, but he’s been stellar in the rest of his frames. The 34-year-old ends his spring with a 5.17 ERA in 15 2/3 innings with 19 strikeouts while displaying a surprise mid-90s mph fastball.
“I didn’t even know who he was coming in and for me, I’m really comfortable [with him]. Whatever we do with him, it’s nice to have a guy — one of those surprise guys a little bit that you talk about at the beginning of camp,” Hyde said. “How he’s thrown the ball this camp, his fastball is 96-97 [mph], he knows how to pitch, he’s got a good cutter, he faced the varsity squad there for the Red Sox tonight and threw the ball well.”
Suárez pitched in the big leagues from 2016 to 2017 with the San Francisco Giants and spent the past five years playing in Japan and Korea. The Orioles signed him in September to a minor league contract, and he could begin the year in Triple-A as a depth option.
“He’s pitched in a lot of different places. I know he’s really appreciative to be here, and we’re appreciative that we signed him, the coaching staff is,” Hyde said. “They did a great job scouting him. He’s thrown the ball well all month.”
Also on the mound, right-hander Wandisson Charles, whose high-90s mph fastball makes him an intriguing arm to watch in the high minors, struck out one in a scoreless inning. Left-hander Andrew Suárez, who is competing for a bullpen spot as a nonroster invitee, pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts.
Nevin not down for the count
Mateo is on the roster, but there are still one or two infield spots left to claim.
Former Gold Glove Award winner Ramón Urías and top prospect Jackson Holliday appear to have inside tracks, but Hyde has yet to commit to either. In fact, Hyde made sure to say another infielder — a familiar name — has a chance.
Tyler Nevin, who played for the Orioles in 2021 and 2022, is competing for a roster spot and has excelled this spring with a .346 batting average and an .882 OPS. He went 1-for-3 Thursday. Hyde was asked during his pregame session about Nevin, and the questioner said “even though he’s not going to make the team. Hyde interjected and said, “He’s got a chance to make the team.”
“We’re still keeping our options open with everything,” Hyde said. “He’s had a really, really good spring training like almost everybody else. His ability to hit left-handed pitching, play corner infield and outfield defense is something we’re really talking about. He’s had a great camp.”
The Orioles tallied just six hits and two runs in the loss. Anthony Santander, who homered Wednesday, went 2-for-3 with a double. Ryan McKenna, who has struggled at the plate this spring as he competes for a bench spot, also doubled.
Baltimore is an MLB-best 20-6-2 this spring.
Around the horn
• Jordan Westburg returned to game action for the first time since being hit on the triceps by a pitch Tuesday. The infielder went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.
• Hyde and Mike Elias, the club’s executive vice president and general manager, spent much of the Orioles’ batting practice talking with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on the field. DeSantis was a candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, but he withdrew his candidacy in January.
Grapefruit League
Pirates at Orioles
Friday, 6:05 p.m.
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM