During spring training, several Orioles told me privately that there was no way they could envision infielder Jimmy Paredes being left off the 25-man roster.
The 26-year-old was out of options, so the only way the club could send him to the minors was to pass him through waivers. And there was no way he would clear based on how well he hit this spring and last year in 18 games with the Orioles (.302 average).
Paredes ended up not making the final cut – only because he was sidelined with a lower back strain. He's back now, and has been tremendous in his first eight games.
In a span of 35 at-bats since being activated from the disabled list on April 18, Paredes is hitting .429 with four doubles, a triple, three homers and nine RBIs. He has an .857 slugging percentage.
"I think every player needs to have zero options left when they go into spring training because every player from [Zach] Britton and everyone has been lights out in their out-of-option year," said Orioles outfielder Delmon Young.
Paredes, primarily a designated hitter, is a defensive liability at third base and second. He made a ninth-inning throwing error in his first chance at third base on Sunday. But by then he had had three hits, including a triple.
He's hit in seven of his eight games this season and had multiple hits four times.
At this rate, and because he is a switch-hitter, he's not going to be out of the lineup for an extended period any time soon.