SARASOTA—Thairo Estrada has joined the competition for an infield spot, and the Orioles will get their first look at him on Friday against Pittsburgh in Bradenton, Florida.
Estrada, who lives in nearby Tampa, is a seven-year major leaguer with the New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies. Last season, when he was limited to 39 games because of wrist, thumb and hamstring injuries, Estrada hit .253 with three home runs and 21 RBIs for the Rockies.
“Feeling good, feeling healthy right now, thank God,” Estrada said through a team translator. “Sometimes those injuries are things you can’t really control. As a player, sometimes you have to focus on the things you can control. Right now, I’m feeling healthy and looking forward to go out on the field and doing what I can.”
Estrada had to wait a long time to get an offer and tried to stay ready.
“Continuing to have my body in the best shape possible, putting in the work offensively, defensively,” Estrada said. “Trying to replicate spring training as much as possible, even though I wasn’t with a team yet … Really a matter of getting the timing going.”
On Sunday, Estrada celebrated his 30th birthday. A day later, he signed a minor league contract.
“I think there are a lot of good things going on, and I’m happy to be a part of this team,” Estrada said.
Second baseman Jackson Holliday is out because of surgery on the broken hamate bone in his right wrist, and third baseman Jordan Westburg is out because of a tear in the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. Neither will start the season with the club, and Westburg isn’t expected to play until at least May. The Orioles are hoping he can heal without surgery.
The injuries have created opportunities for others, including Estrada, who’s played mostly second base but has also played shortstop, third base and the outfield.
“I think this is a team with a lot of talent, a lot of young talent, young players,” Estrada said. “I’m looking to bring my experience, contribute however I can, with my bat, on the field defensively, however it is and just trying to help the young guys in any way, shape or form.
“I’m happy to help the team however I can, and I’m happy to do whatever I can to enjoy the game and have fun.”
There’s plenty of competition for infield spots.
Coby Mayo, who played first base last season and didn’t have a position when the Orioles signed Pete Alonso, is playing third base, which he played in the minors.
Blaze Alexander, who started at second base on Wednesday, cost the Orioles reliever Kade Strowd and two pitching prospects when he was acquired from Arizona earlier this month. He’s got a spot secured, and there might be another one available.
Weston Wilson, who started at third base on Wednesday, is in the competition, and so are Luis Vázquez and Jeremiah Jackson, who played the last two months of the season with the Orioles.
Estrada has more big league experience and played in the American League East. In 2019 and 2020, he played 61 games for the New York Yankees.
“I’ve been in this division before,” Estrada said. “These days every division is tough. I think the players are hungry in this organization.”
Estrada played four seasons with the San Francisco Giants from 2021-2025, where he intersected with manager Craig Albernez, who was the Giants’ bullpen coach rom 2021-2023.
Estrada had two fine seasons with the Giants. He hit 14 home runs in both 2022 and 2023 and drove in a career-high 63 runs in 2022 when he hit .260 with a .722 OPS and stole 21 bases in 28 attempts. He hit .271 with a .731 OPS in 2023 when he stole 23 bases in 30 tries.
As a child, Estrada was a fan of longtime Orioles infielder Melvin Mora, a fellow Venezuelan, who lives in Harford County.
“He’s someone I haven’t had the opportunity to meet yet,” Estrada said. “I would love to meet him. I just admired the way he played the game. He played the game hard. He had a good bat. He played hard. He played hard on the field. He’s a guy I tried to model my game after.”
Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.