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Baltimore Orioles: Left Field a Wasteland in 2016 in the AL East

ByNate Wardle|
Sep 9, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter (26) in the dugout prior to the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 9, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter (26) in the dugout prior to the game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
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Joey Rickard Hyun Soo Kim
May 28, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Baltimore Orioles right fielder Joey Rickard (23) and left fielder Hyun Soo Kim (25) celebrate after Rickard scored during the seventh inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

4. Baltimore Orioles – Hyun Soo Kim, Nolan Reimold, Joey Rickard

Preseason prediction – 5th, Kim, Henry Urrutia, Rickard, Reimold, Mark Trumbo

The Baltimore Orioles went into Spring Training wondering who would be their corner outfielders. By the start of the year,Joey Rickardhad emerged as an Opening Day starter, whileHyun Soo Kimwas controversially still on the roster. The word was that the team wanted to send him to AAA Norfolk, but Kim refused.

So, Rickard played well, but it didn’t last long before he suffered a thumb ligament injury crashing into the outfield wall, ending his season. Rickard hit .268/.319/.377 with 5 HRs, 19 RBIs, 13 2Bs, 32 runs in 64 starts, including 27 in left field.

But, by the end of April, Rickard was the primary right fielder, and Kim had shown he could play defense in the majors and hit major league pitching. Kim went on to hit to .302/.382/.420 with 6 HRs, 16 2Bs, 22 RBIs, 36 runs. Kim was a patient eye in the lineup for the free-swinging Orioles.

Nolan Reimoldplayed 40 games in left field and continues only to be a fringe major leaguer. The problem with each of these three guys is that they all rate badly defensively via dWAR. Kim got better as the year went on, and Rickard can cover some ground in the outfield with his speed, and his range numbers, which are above league average, reflect that. For two teams in Tampa and Baltimore that featured numerous players in left field, it is the offensive success of Kim and Rickard that helps put them in fourth.

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