Baltimore Orioles Spring Training: Lesser-Known Players

June 26, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Los Angeles Angels relief pitcher Dane De La Rosa (65) pitches fourth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

When it comes to the Baltimore Orioles spring training roster each year, even though I follow this rather closely and write an article about the O’s on almost every day of my life, I have to remind myself and refresh my memory about who are some the lesser-known players in camp.

The Orioles recently announced the full training camp roster that includes the 40-man list plus Chris Davis, along with 15 non-roster invitees. Many of these names are familiar to regular Orioles fans. But there are a few that likely need a bit of biographical flesh put on them.

So let’s try to do that today.

Pitchers

Dane De La Rosa

, RHP

Hunter Harvey

, RHP

Mark Hendrickson

, LHP

Steve Johnson

, RHP

Chris Jones

, LHP

Chaz Roe

, RHP

Hunter Harvey is familiar to fans as one of the top prospects in the organization. He is being given a short big-league camp experience before being sent to his assignment.

Steve Johnson is known from his excellent stint at the end of 2012 and because of his broadcaster father. He is looking to return from multiple health issues.

And Mark Hendrickson – the grandfather – last pitched in MLB for the Orioles in 2011, and he looks to return at age 41 with a nasty side-arm delivery from his huge frame.

The other three names here are not so common.

De La Rosa could be the Brad Brach of 2015

Dane De La Rosa – At age 32, he is coming off a season with knee problems and surgery. However, the performance of this righty reliever in the season before was simply outstanding. With the Angels in 2013, he appeared in 75 games with a 2.86 ERA and 1.161 WHIP. Beyond that, he’s a ground ball pitcher. One wonders what “Fresh Eyes” might be able to do with this guy who is 6’7” and 245 pounds. It is not like he had arm or shoulder problems since his outstanding season.

Chris Jones – The 15^th round pick of the Indians in 2007 out of high school, Jones has never made it to the big leagues. He has had some decent numbers the past two years at AAA Norfolk: 12-12 with a 3.61 ERA.

Chaz Roe – Another first round pick (of the Rockies in 2005), Roe is still trying to find his way into a regular pitching job. He has compiled 24.1 innings in MLB with the Diamondbacks and Yankees for a 4.44 ERA. He has literally and exactly pitched a thousand and one minor league innings in 10 years for an ERA of 4.57. So I think he is going to need more than Fresh Eyes; he probably needs a fresh arm.

Catchers

J.P. Arencibia
Ryan Lavarnway
Brian Ward

Arencibia was featured a bit in our article yesterday. Lavarnway is of course out of the Red Sox organization, and as a 6^th-round pick was expected to hit better than his career .201 over 97 games. He is, however, still only age 24. And Brian Ward has been with the Orioles for quite some time and is a .240 hitter over six minor league seasons.

Infielders

Michael AlmanzarPaul JanishChris Parmelee

Almanzar was the Rule 5 Draftee from a year ago and will play at Norfolk. Chris Parmalee has his background in the Twins organization where in 273 career games with the Twins he has hit .251 with 22 home runs.

Paul Janish – With 431 MLB games of experience in the National League, Janish has a career average of .214. About 75% of his play has been at shortstop, though he can also play at second base or third base. He is just so far down the depth chart – behind not only Ryan Flaherty, but Rey Navarro and Jimmy Paredes as well.

Outfielders

Dariel Alvarez

Nolan Reimold

Matt Tuiasosopo

Alvarez has been written about much this year because of his outstanding minor league season in 2014. He may be ready soon. And so, so, so much has be written about Reimold on this blog – everyone knows that, and everyone knows you can save 15% on car insurance by switching to Geico.