How Wilkerson's versatility has paid off for O's

CLEVELAND -- Earlier in their four-game series against the Indians at Progressive Field, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde compared his current club to a land of opportunity, noting how they hoped to build an environment where players could potentially get a chance they might not elsewhere.

That is certainly true of Stevie Wilkerson, who has made the most of his first chances as a center fielder in the big leagues -- or any league for that matter.

“He’s going to make some mistakes here and there,” Hyde said. “But the more reps he’s getting out there, you see the improvement.”

Some occasional miscues would be expected from any player who was converting to a new position. That is especially true of someone doing it on the fly at the Major League level. But when the Orioles had an opening in center field following the demotion of Cedric Mullins last month, Wilkerson’s athleticism, despite the inexperience in center, made him a potential fit at the position.

“I think me and Mike [Elias] were just talking about it one night probably three days before he got here -- not kidding,” Hyde said. “And we had him play a game or two down in [Triple-A] Norfolk. Then he came. And he’s been playing center field quite a bit.”

Wilkerson did had some brief Minor League experience in the corners. But center field was an entirely different animal.

A two-game Minor League training ground is less than ideal, but the Orioles believe they are seeing incremental development each day. On Friday, for example, Wilkerson demonstrated a bit of his athleticism and speed in the eighth inning, tracking down a Carlos Gonzalez deep fly onto the warning track, making a lunging grab in center to help preserve the O’s 5-1 victory over Cleveland.

Each day provides more reps. Those reps provide a chance for more comfort and confidence at the position. Saturday will mark Wilkerson’s 12th start in center for Baltimore.

“It’s so valuable to have a guy that you can stick in the infield and stick in the outfield also,” Hyde said. “He’s just upping the versatility in his game to play for a long time here by playing all different spots. It’s tough to play in the middle of the field in the big leagues. For him to have the ability to do that says a lot.”

Perhaps equally important, the 27-year-old switch-hitter has been having even more success at the plate. Wilkerson's homer on Friday night extended the Orioles’ lead, giving him four homers and an OPS of .839 through his first 21 games of the season.

“[The center field transition] probably happened a little faster than we anticipated,” Hyde said. “But we rolled the dice, took a chance and he’s been playing well.”

Yefry gets the call

At the most basic level, the reasoning for Yefry Ramirez earning the start for the Orioles in Sunday’s series finale with the Indians at Progressive Field is simple.

“Well, we needed a starter,” Hyde quipped with a smile.

On a deeper level, Ramirez’s first big-league start of 2019 runs along the same lines as Hyde’s description of the Orioles being the land of opportunity for young or inexperienced players.

“Yefry is going to get an opportunity,” Hyde said. “Looking forward to watching him make his first start [of the season].”

Since his recall from Triple-A Norfolk on April 29, the right-hander has made three relief appearance for the O’s, allowing four runs in seven innings, walking five and striking out eight. His second-longest relief appearance of his career came on May 3 against the Rays, logging 4 2/3 frames, yielding a pair of runs and recording five strikeouts.

Sunday’s outing will mark his first Major League start since 2018. Last year for Baltimore, the 25-year-old hurler posted a 5.92 ERA and 5.29 FIP in 17 appearances, 12 of which were starts.

Ramirez also made four starts at Triple-A prior to his promotion this season, surrendering just three earned runs in 18 innings, striking out 24 and walking nine.

“I want to see him locate his fastball,” Hyde said. “I like the way his changeup plays. That’s a good matchup for him against these guys.”