The non-MLBers

There are six players from the 2016 Orioles who didn’t play in MLB at all in 2017. One is still in the organization — outfielder-turned-pitcher Dariel Alvarez, who underwent Tommy John surgery before he could officially start his conversion to the mound — but the five others find their careers at an end or at a crossroads.

Righty reliever Logan Ondrusek and outfielder Michael Bourn were both in spring training with the Orioles after signing new deals last winter, but neither made it into a game with the big league club after suffering injuries at camp. Ondrusek suffered elbow soreness and was released, while Bourn broke his right ring finger catching a football and started the year on the DL. He put up uninspiring numbers for Triple-A Norfolk after his return (.220 average, .690 OPS, no homers or RBIs) and the Orioles let him opt out of his contract May 24. He later latched on with the Los Angeles Angels for a month-long stint at Triple-A Salt Lake, but was released July 2.

Outfielder Julio Borbon spent 2017 in the Mexican League, where he batted .365 with an .895 OPS in 90 games split between the Acereros de Monclova and Pericos de Puebla. Another outfielder, Nolan Reimold, tried his hand in independent ball with the Long Island Ducks, but retired after 19 games.

Then there’s Brian Matusz, the one-time ace in the making for the Orioles whose career has gone into a tailspin. He lasted just 11 games for the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Triple-A affiliate in Reno, going 0-1 with a 6.11 ERA and surrendering 31 baserunners in 17 2/3 innings. Matusz (pictured above) was released May 12 and didn’t find a new home.

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