3 Baltimore Orioles who surmounted expectations in April

Tyler Nevin

Don’t shoot the messenger if this whole thing fails, but right now through just three games, Tyler Nevin has been an awesome addition to the ball club. Yes, one series is nearly enough time to digest and know just who he is, but in sample sized increments, Nevin has looked all of who the Baltimore Orioles needed.

After being snubbed out the gate and not making the opening day roster, Tyler Nevin just needed sometime, and some other players ahead of him to squander their chances (I.E. Gutierrez, Owings, etc.). After killing it at the Triple-A level for the first month, it was no surprise that he got the call up as soon as he did.

Remember when I said sample size? Well, in just nine at bats, he only has one hit, giving him a .111 batting average. Certainly not someone who you would think would be on this list, but given the inconsistencies around him, he has performed well.

3 Baltimore Orioles who surmounted expectations in April

His batting hasn’t been the best, no, but his defensive skills have been electric so far. With a 1.000 fielding percentage, eleven put outs, and two double plays, you could say his weekend against the Boston Red Sox was a busy one. Between his quick reaction at third and diving acrobatics at first, Nevin has been just what the O’s needed.

First base is pretty full in Baltimore with both Ryan Mountcastle and Trey Mancini becoming the regulars, but third can be a solid home for the young righty. In this writers opinion, Ramon Urias is best suited at SS, so with Nevin already making strides, that is one more questionable position locked down.

The thing that is similar with all three of our choices for surprises of the new campaign, is longevity and consistency. Nevin, Lopez, and Watkins are all young in their Orioles careers and we have yet to see their “prime.”

The month of May and into the summer will have a lot to tell us about what the future holds, but for now, these three have certainly shown up though the opening month of baseball.