Every weekday, I’ll be answering at least one Orioles question. If you’d like to submit a question, send it to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com. Questions may be edited for clarity, length and style.
Question: If Orioles’ performances continue to trend as they have since the start of the season, Gunnar Henderson is an obvious All-Star selection. It seems the rest of the infield should be in the discussion, too. How do you see things? From: Rick Staley
Answer: Rick, All-Star voting won’t begin until next Wednesday, and the team won’t be finalized for more than a month, but I think there will be several Orioles on the team.
You are correct. Gunnar Henderson is an obvious selection and so are catcher Adley Rutschman and starting pitcher Corbin Burnes. I think infielder Jordan Westburg should be on the team. Two names to watch are closer Craig Kimbrel and first baseman Ryan Mountcastle. Kimbrel has been a nine-time All-Star, and if he has a strong June, he has a chance. A good June for Mountcastle could help him, too.
Remember, each team has to be represented, so it may be hard for the Orioles to get more than four players on the team.
Question: Wouldn’t picking up Jorge López be a good idea if he was available? From: Richard Frazier
Answer: Richard, I wouldn’t be shocked if the Orioles signed López to a minor league contract if he passed through waivers. He had his most productive time with the Orioles in 2022, and while he was ineffective in the few weeks he was with the Orioles last September, taking a chance on him, especially on a minor league deal, might not be a bad idea.
López had a very supportive environment with the Orioles, and he’s dealt with many difficult issues in his life. He’s a very nice man, and I think the incident on Wednesday when he threw his glove in the stands after an ejection was uncharacteristic. While regrettable, it shouldn’t stop teams from taking a chance on him.