SARASOTA, Fla. -- In the end, all the talk of outfield competition in Orioles camp turned out to be exactly that.

By including Austin Hays and Anthony Santander in their latest round of roster moves prior to an afternoon game against the Yankees, the Orioles brought a surprising end to one of the stiffest positional battles of spring and all but ensured the club will head north without two of its hottest hitters.

"It's important to prioritize the individual development for players who will be the centerpieces of our future here," general manager and executive vice president Mike Elias said. "By no means are the guys who were sent out today off the radar screen."

Hays and Santander were among six players optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, where right-handers Cody Carroll, Branden Kline and Yefry Ramirez, and utility man Stevie Wilkerson will also begin the season. Infielder Christopher Bostick and righty Gabriel Ynoa were reassigned to Minor League camp. All are candidates to contribute at the big league level at some point this summer.

But Hays and Santander are the headliners, after both emerged from a glut of outfield candidates via dynamic showings in Grapefruit League play. Hays, the club's No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was particularly impressive, leading the Orioles in home runs (5), RBIs (13) and total bases (33) while hitting .351 this spring. He also opened eyes with his baserunning and defense in center field, and, if nothing else, proved healthy following ankle surgery last September.

"This is exactly what we were hoping for," Elias said of Hays. "We felt it was important to get him a baseline of production, get his feet under him literally and go from there."

Though he said Hays had "statistically the best camp here," Elias again downplayed those metrics compared to predictive value of "real, full-season Minor League statistics," noting Hays' resume in that department is mixed. Baltimore's third-round Draft pick in 2016, Hays reached the Majors 15 months later after tearing up Double-A Bowie, only to struggle there during an injury-rattled 2018. He has never appeared at Triple-A.

"In no way do we want to jeopardize any part of their development just to have a pure tryout based on Spring Training at-bats," Elias said. "I don't think 'competition' is limited to 'lets see who puts up the best stats in Spring Training.'"

Still, it's something of a curious stance after weeks of characterizing camp as a showcase with a gaggle of jobs up for grabs. Hays instead leaves having outshone, but not uprooted, projected center fielder Cedric Mullins, who lugged a .139 Grapefruit League average into Sunday.

Santander hit .333 with a .697 OPS in 18 games, with eight of his 11 hits going for extra bases.

"I don't think the message was mixed," Hyde said. "These are decisions organizations have to make. When they know and trust we're doing it for the best interest of them, then it comes across the right way. I firmly believe that. We're doing what's best for them and their development."

When asked how much service time played into the club's decision regarding Hays and Santander, Elias said "zero," adding "it's not even relevant" given that the service-time clocks for both have already started. Santander exhausted his rookie status in 2018; Hays played in 20 big league games in '17. Baltimore can still retain an extra year of club control if both spend most of April and May in the Minors this spring.

Their paths were likely more complicated, though, by more imminent roster realities. The Orioles are preparing for Mark Trumbo (knee surgery) to be ready for Opening Day, and they have three Rule 5 Draft players -- Pedro Araujo, Richie Martin and Drew Jackson -- to factor into the plans as well.

Jackson, an infielder by trade, has made appearances in center field recently and could absorb fourth-outfielder duties should he make the club in a super-utility role. Sunday's cuts make recently acquired Dwight Smith Jr. and non-roster invite Eric Young Jr. the only full-time outfielders left in camp besides projected starters Trey Mancini (left), Mullins (center) and Joey Rickard (right).

"We're always going to do what's best for the player," Hyde said. "When it's a prospect-type player, their development is the most important thing. Some of those guys, in our eyes, haven't quite finished their development. They're so close to knocking on this door."

Up next
Another round of roster trimming behind them, the Orioles will take six pitchers with legit shots at cracking the Opening Day roster to Lakeland on Monday to face the Tigers. Andrew Cashner will oppose Jordan Zimmermann in the 1:05 p.m. ET game.