The Orioles have developed several young stars to fill their infield, but Urías and Mateo remain a constant in Baltimore. Can the former waiver claims hold on for another season?
Baltimore’s youth movement has generated plenty of excitement over the years. Names like Adley Rutschman and Grayson Rodriguez provided hope during the dark days of the rebuild, and the Orioles quickly gained recognition for their top-of-the-line farm system.
Gunnar Henderson put on a clinic in the minors in 2022, only for Jackson Holliday to one-up his fellow top prospect the following season. Colton Cowser and Jordan Westburg quickly developed into valuable pieces for the Orioles, and both Heston Kjerstad and Coby Mayo appear on the verge of breaking out this season.
Baltimore’s borderline historic surplus of young infield talent prevented players like Connor Norby, Joey Ortiz and Darell Hernaiz from getting an opportunity to shine at Camden Yards. However, the likes of Henderson, Holliday and Westburg have yet to chase Ramón Urías or Jorge Mateo from the 26-man roster.
The Orioles claimed Urías prior to the 2020 season. He represented an immediate improvement over Pat Valaika, but did Mike Elias really expect to milk five seasons out of the utility infielder? Urías went on to provide 9.1 WAR while slashing .262/.328.408 over 429 games with the organization.
Urías limped out of the gate last season with a .174/.192/.261 line through 17 games. Some speculated that his time in Baltimore could finally be coming to an end, but the former Gold Glover outlasted the whispers. Urías bounced back in a big way by slashing .278/.343/.476 and emerging as one of the O’s most consistent hitters in the second half.
Even with Westburg putting together an All-Star campaign, Urías refused to go quietly into the night. The former Mexican League star hit .295/.337/.500 against lefties while still providing solid defense at the hot corner.
Urías has manned second base, shortstop, and third during his time in Baltimore, but he was relegated almost exclusively to third base last season. Jackson Holliday should claim the everyday second base job, which would push Westburg to third more often.
The Orioles expect Westburg to improve against lefties, but these things don’t happen overnight. In the same vein, Holliday could easily hit a rough patch after an up-and-down rookie season at 20-years-old.
Unfortunately for Urías, the talent keeps on coming. Mayo currently ranks as Baltimore’s top prospect in multiple publications. The 23-year-old struggled to make contact over 41 big league at bats last season, but he has nothing left to prove at Triple-A. The Orioles could easily send Mayo to Norfolk with specific instructions for the month of April, but the power-hitting third baseman will be major league ready this season.
Mayo’s defense at third has come into question, but first base is blocked by Ryan Mountcastle and Ryan O’Hearn. Kjerstad, Tyler O’Neill and Adley Rutschman will all require time as the designated hitter, so nobody should expect to occupy the position on a daily basis.
Urías has roster crunches coming at him in multiple durations, but at least he’ll head to camp with a clean bill of health. Jorge Mateo carved out a steady role for himself in 2024 before suffering a left elbow subluxation at the end of July. The injury ended the speedy right-hander’s season and has led to questions about his health this winter.
Mateo and the Orioles avoided arbitration with a $3.55 million deal and a club option for 2026. Baltimore has valued Mateo’s speed and defense since claiming the former Yankees prospect in August 2021, but his ability to hit lefties adds to the draw.
It’s easier to project the 26-man roster if Mateo begins the season on the injured list, but Mateo could finish camp with a clean bill of health. The 29-year-old hit the ground running with a strong start last season, and it’s unclear whether Baltimore would steer Mateo toward an unnecessary rehab stint. Both Mateo and Urías are out of minor league options.
The Orioles worked Mateo in center field throughout spring training, but the shortstop only made three appearances in the outfield grass last season. Cedric Mullins, Colton Cowser, and Ramón Laureano all boast more experience than Mateo in center.
Injuries take place every year, and young players often go through rough patches, but the field sure looks crowded in Baltimore. The wall may literally be creeping in, but don’t expect Urías or Mateo to get claustrophobic. Both players have transformed from waiver claims to big league contributors, and both will fight to remain with the Orioles for another season.