JUPITER, FLA. — For veterans like Wade LeBlanc, who started Wednesday in the Orioles’ 5-3 win over the split-squad Miami Marlins, this time of spring training is mostly about getting ready for the season.
But for those in the position David Hess, the 26-year-old right-hander who is trying to win a spot on the club and show the Orioles that he’s ready for a major league role, every time on the mound is a chance to prove something.
Hess, who began last year as a starter but ended it as a reliever, had another two-inning stint to show the Orioles what he might be able to add to the 2020 club.
Former Oriole Jonathan Villar homered off Hess with a runner on in the fifth inning after a 1-2-3 fourth, the only real blemish on his day. But from a stuff standpoint, he was in the 92-95 mph range with his fastball and working with his curveball and slider as his top secondary pitches.
“That first inning, I told him after the inning, he threw it a bunch of times — loved it,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “I feel like he’s got to be a both-sides-of-the-plate guy, we’ve talked about that a lot. So, his velo is up. Now, it’s just a little bit of being able to throw the ball in and being able to be unpredictable and throw to both sides of the plate. You saw on the home run against Villar, it was a fastball out over [the plate]. It’s what he had troubles with last year. But I think he’s making strides in being able to locate his fastball.”
Hess always relied on his fastball coming up through the minors, but has struggled to have one of his slider, curveball or changeup distinguish itself as a go-to out pitch at the major league level.
Both his changeup and curveball were harder Wednesday against the Marlins, signs that Hess’ arsenal might be changing. Hyde said that he’s seeing better shape to those pitches this year, and when Hess misses with them, he’s missing down instead of leaving them over the plate.
The Orioles still have to decide if it will be a long-relief role or if he’ll continue starting in the majors, or minors, though.
After Hess allowed the home run to Villar, the Orioles bullpen had scoreless innings from Richard Bleier, Shawn Armstrong, Eric Hanhold and Branden Kline to preserve the narrow lead.
Hitters stay hot
The Orioles scored two runs on a throwing error in the second inning, which explains how they ended up with five runs while managing just three hits. One was nonroster utility candidate Pat Valaika’s third home run of the spring, and the other was second baseman Richie Martin’s triple in the seventh inning. Four of Martin’s six hits this spring have been for extra bases.
Mason McCoy added a ninth-inning sacrifice fly.
LeBlanc likes it
LeBlanc, a minor league free agent with plenty of major league experience, struck out four while allowing a run on one hit and a walk in three innings. He said he’s still a few starts away from trying to be sharp enough to pitch in the regular season, but is happy with where he’s at.
“Got the work in, got the pitches up,” LeBlanc said. “Got the three ups, which was the goal. Changeup is still a little behind everything else, which it typically is. That usually comes later in camp. I’m pleased with everything, for the most part.”
Change of plans
Shortstop José Iglesias and catcher Austin Wynns were in the lineup initially, but neither played Wednesday. Iglesias had a cramp in his quadriceps and was held out of the game, while Wynns took a foul ball to the groin Monday and was given an extra day to rest.
Left-hander Tommy Milone stayed back in Sarasota this week instead of making his planned start Tuesday against the Washington Nationals to be cautious about a sore trapezius muscle, but didn’t make his planned simulated game start that day either. Hyde said that they would try again Wednesday.
Other news from the training room includes right-hander Kohl Stewart (biceps) potentially making his first spring start Sunday. Hyde said it would be hard to get him fully prepared to start by Opening Day.