Baltimore Orioles 3-Year Analysis: Position by Position

Oct 10, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles left fielder Alejandro De Aza (12) in game one of the 2014 ALCS playoff baseball game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

Left Field

A total of eight different players served in left field for the 2013 Orioles including Jason Pridie – you remember him, right? But most of the stats were compiled by Nate McLouth – who leveraged the season into a free agent contract with the Nationals for 2014. How’d that work out for you Nats fans?

The 2014 season certainly saw quite a dramatic improvement, led of course by Nelson Cruz who hit 18 of his 40 home runs from this position. Four others contributed at a high level, included David Lough, Alejandro De Aza, Steve Pearce and Delmon Young. Together these four added an additional 12 home runs and 42 RBIs beyond the efforts of Cruz.

It has been a long time since the Orioles had a steady presence in left field. And the more things change, the more they stay the same as we look toward 2015. Unless some unforeseen deal is struck over the remaining offseason, it would appear that De Aza is the candidate to get the most innings in left field. Lough looks to also be in the equation, and maybe occasionally Delmon Young – though I’d pencil him in more for the DH role. A question is if someone else will rise up from the minors to claim a larger role. Could it be Henry Urrutia breaking through, or even a midseason arrival of Dariel Alvarez?

In any event, it is difficult to imagine that the production can quite match that of the past year, but few teams could do that.

Looking back rating – “+2” – definitely better.

Looking ahead rating – “-1” – marginally worse.

Next: Grinding in Center Field