A Look at the Baltimore Orioles' Outfield Options

Back in Spring Training, the Baltimore Orioles had a large number of players vying for time in the team’s starting outfield. Let’s look at how all of those players are doing.

At the beginning of Spring Training, the O’s had a lot of players in consideration for the major leagues.

Then, Joey Rickard showed his stuff, Hyun Soo Kim refused an assignment, and those issues were largely resolved.

Mark Trumbo (MLB) – .306/.355/.599 with 13 HRs (top in AL), 31 RBIs, 5 2Bs, 24 R, 43 Ks. Trumbo has been everything offensively and more for the Orioles. But, the other part to this is that defensively has has been better than a lot of people expected.

Joey Rickard (MLB) – .268/.317/.386 with 4 HRs, 11 RBIs, 6 2Bs, 20 R, 32 Ks. Joey has been the Orioles’ lead-off hitter for much of the year, and has been what the team lacked previously, a consistent on-base threat.

Nolan Reimold (MLB) – .322/.359/.525 with 3 HRs, 8 RBIs, 3 2Bs, 9 R, 19 Ks, 19 H in 64 plate appearances. Reimold has been healthy, and arguably the team’s second-best corner outfielder. He has worked the count, shown power and also played a good job in the outfield, as usual.

Hyun Soo Kim (MLB) – .379/.455/.414 with 0 HR, 2 RBIs, 1 2B, 3 R, 2 Ks, 11 H in 33 plate appearances. Kim has been everything the O’s thought he could, in limited opportunities. The 28-year-old has only played in 12 games this year.

Dariel Alvarez (AAA Norfolk) – .289/.312/.380 with 1 HR, 20 RBIs, 12 2Bs, 12 R, 24 Ks in the most at-bats of anyone on the Norfolk roster (173). Also has six assists with his powerful arm.

Xavier Avery (AAA Norfolk) – .280/.368/.460 with 3 HRs, 7 RBIs, 7 2Bs, 14 R, 30 Ks. Also has 8 SBs in 9 attempts.

Christian Walker (AAA Norfolk) – .236/.293/.437 with 8 HRs, 27 RBIs, 9 2Bs, 22 R, 51 Ks. Walker has looked good defensively, which was the main goal for him this year. However, his batting average is low and the strikeouts are very high so far.

L.J. Hoes (AAA Norfolk) – .229/.317/.276 with 1 HR, 5 RBIs, 2 2Bs, 9 R, 20 Ks, 3 SB in 7 attempts. Hoes really has struggled so far this year in AAA Norfolk.

Mike Yastrzemski (AA Bowie and AAA Norfolk) – .265/.355/.456 with 7 HRs, 30 RBIs, 5 2Bs, 31 R, 29 Ks. Has only played in five games for Norfolk since being called up midway through May.

Henry Urrutia (AAA Norfolk and AA Bowie) – .238/.344/.295 with 0 HR, 11 RBIs, 6 2Bs, 9 R, 24 Ks, 17 BBs. Urrutia reported to Bowie on Friday after being demoted earlier this week. Disappointed with the demotion, Urrutia has struggled in 2016.

Julio Borbon (AA Norfolk) – .250/.316/.290 with 1 HR, 9 RBIs, 0 2Bs, 19 R, 18 Ks, 8 SBs in 12 attempts. Borbon, easily a veteran in AA Bowie, has been who the O’s know he can be, a strong defensive presence with less offense than you would like from a major league outfielder.

So, let’s review. Trumbo has been excellent, Rickard has been very good as a lead-off hitter, and Nolan Reimold has arguably been better. Kim has also excelled offensively in his limited experiences.

As for the other options, the guys who did not make the major league roster, Alvarez has worked on improving his offense, which is what the Orioles wanted from him in the minor leagues. Conversely, Christian Walker has worked on playing the outfield, which is what the O’s wanted from him in the minors.

A Look at the Baltimore Orioles’ Outfield Options

By Nate Wardle | May 21, 2016

Back in Spring Training, the Baltimore Orioles had a large number of players vying for time in the team’s starting outfield. Let’s look at how all of those players are doing.