Fourth/fifth outfielder

With Trey Mancini as the starting left fielder, Adam Jones as the starting center fielder and Anthony Santander needing 44 more days to complete his Rule 5 obligations from last year, I feel like there are two more spots here to be filled. One will certainly go to left-handed hitting Colby Rasmus, who was signed to a minor league deal but will almost certainly be in a right field platoon if he stays healthy throughout the spring. That leaves one more opening with several candidates battling, including Craig Gentry, Joey Rickard, Austin Hays and Alex Presley. Hays, the organization’s top position prospect, hasn’t been able to play the outfield in a Grapefruit League game because of a right shoulder/lat issue. He is probably ticketed for Triple-A to begin the year. If Gentry proves to be healthy – he’s been sidelined recently with a hamstring issue but should return to action today – he may have a slight edge over Rickard because he is a more proficient pinch-runner/basestealer. Rickard has the edge over Presley. This dynamic will change completely, however, if the Orioles sign Jay or Carlos Gonzalez or another available outfielder.

My projected winner: Gentry

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7