Ramón Urías has managed to contribute in a part-time role after struggling early in the season.
Ramón Urías became an easy target the second the Orioles left Jackson Holliday off the Opening Day roster. Tony Kemp briefly served as a lightning rod, but Baltimore parted ways with Kemp to make room for Holliday in early April.
The rookie phenom struggled from the jump, and the Orioles eventually optioned Holliday back to Triple-A. Still, Urías remained a popular target for criticism. Infielders Connor Norby and Coby Mayo continued to earn praise at Triple-A, and roster constraints forced Mike Elias to choose between Heston Kjerstad or Kyle Stowers.
Urías initially struggled in his part-time role. While Jorge Mateo and Jordan Westburg made an impact from the jump, Urías failed to record a hit in his first five games. He slashed a measly .174/.192/.261 over his first 17 contests with only two extra-base hits in 47 plate appearances.
Westburg emerged as a legitimate All-Star candidate (don’t forget to vote) while splitting time between second and third. Gunnar Henderson played shortstop every day, so any appearance by Urías chased Westburg’s bat or Mateo’s speed from the lineup. The Orioles appeared to have several internal options capable of outperforming Urías on a daily basis.
Quietly, Urías finally received a break in the middle of April. He put together a modest six-game hit streak despite receiving only one at bat in three of the six contests. The brief success foreshadowed a breakthrough to come in the month of May.
Urías broke out against Chicago with a single, double, and three runs scored on May 5. He went on to slash .318/.400/.500 over 10 games in the month of May.
Sure, it’s a small sample size, but that’s the deal with bench players. Urías has remained hot at the plate with a .290/.353/.484 line over 11 games in June. He’s taken a step back defensively after winning a Gold Glove in 2022, but he still plays a league-average third base.
The Orioles have yet to ask Urías to play shortstop this year, but he remains a utility option if the team ever needs it. Urías replaced Westburg last night when the starter exited with left hip discomfort. The Orioles have yet to announce an update on Westburg as of the time of this writing.
Urías split time with Norby when Mateo landed on the 7-day injured list with a concussion. Norby went 3-for-14 with a homer in limited action, but there was little doubt which player would depart when Mateo returned. Urías and Mateo are both out of minor league options, and teams would likely jump at the opportunity to snag either player on waivers.
It’s unclear whether Mike Elias seriously contemplated parting with Urías at the end of spring training or after a lackluster April. Regardless, the 30-year-old appears to have played his way off the hot seat for now.
How long the Orioles can keep Norby and Mayo off the roster is another question altogether. Norby has slashed .284/.371/.491 with 9 homers and 36 RBIs at Norfolk this season. Mayo lost nearly a month with a broken rib, but he rejoined the Tides last week. Mayo has dominated at the plate this season with a .303/.375/.659. He’s blasted 16 homers and driven in 43 runs in the minors this year.
Norby, Mayo or even Urías could find their way into a deal for pitching next month. The prospects would likely hold more value in a trade, but MLB Network insider Mark Feinsand recently included Urías as player that would benefit from a change of scenery.
Feinsand pointed to Urías’s 3.8 bWar in 2022 and Baltimore’s crowded infield. Urías’s lack of options reduces his value to any team, but the infielder could serve as a major-league ready sweetner in a deal that boosts a position of need.
The Orioles were never going to win the division on the back of Ramón Urías, but the 30-year old deserves credit for extending his tenure in Baltimore. The O’s will look for Urías to continue his contributions as a bench bat and late-inning replacement until a prospect beats down the door this year.