Baltimore Orioles: These Three Hitters Enjoyed The Dog Days Of Summer

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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 11: Jonathan Villar #2 of the Baltimore Orioles watches his three run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the seventh inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 11, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. The home run was the 6,106th in the majors, breaking the MLB record for most home runs in a single season. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

Jonathan Villar‘s future with the Baltimore Orioles is up in the air, but he’s had a fantastic 2019 campaign.

The Jonathan Villar we saw during the first half of the season was another start to a typical Villar season. A decent average (.259), some pop (10 home runs), speed (17 stolen bases), and producing right around league average (95 wRC+). His aggressive nature on the basepaths which led to a number of unnecessary outs has been well documented, but Villar was producing in a variety of different ways and making positive contributions to the ballclub.

Mike Elias wasn’t offered the type of return he wanted at the deadline, leaving Villar in Baltimore to finish out the regular season with the Orioles. After a tremendous second half of the season, it will now be interesting to see if teams up their offer for Villar or if the Orioles decide to keep his bat in the lineup for a bit longer. He’s arbitration-eligible and there is the option of the Orioles parting ways with Villar this offseason, if they rather not pay and use a rookie like Bannon or Mason McCoy instead in 2020.

What we do know is that Villar has put up some of the better numbers in the American League since the All-Star break and has many fans thinking he could have been the Most Valuable Oriole of the 2019 season. My vote would have gone to the eventual winner, Trey Mancini, but Villar made a solid case.

Since the break, the 28-year-old switch hitter is slashing .293/.359/.500 with 13 home runs, 11 doubles, three triples, and 32 RBI in 67 games. He’s also swiped 21 bags while being caught just three times. That’s a near 40 point increase in batting average and on-base percentage and a jump in wRC+ from 95 to 123.

Overall, Villar is having a career-year with the Orioles. He’s played in every game up this point and has been worth 3.7 Wins Above Replacement, according to Fangraphs. That’s nearly double his combined fWAR with the Brewers and Orioles (2.0). Villar has also posted career-highs in home runs (23), runs scored (106), RBI (69), and ISO (.182).

I still don’t think another team offers enough for Mike Elias to say yes to a trade. To be honest, knowing that 2020 isn’t going to be much better than 2019, I wouldn’t mind seeing the Orioles keep Villar around. If he can produce at a high level for another half a season, maybe then someone pays up at next year’s trade deadline.

Last but not least, we look at one final Orioles infielder who has seen a big improvement at the plate since the All-Star break.

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