Orioles insider reveals glove-first infielder has better roster chances than everyone thinks

The Baltimore Orioles' bench battle has been fascinating as it has unfolded this spring, particularly for the utility infielder spot. At a certain point in time, it looked like the crowded outfield and insistence on keeping Ryan Mountcastle around would have the club forgoing carrying a traditional utility man.

However, things changed quickly. Injuries to Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg opened several doors. Coby Mayo went from a player enveloped in trade rumors to a guy likely ticketed for Norfolk to the likely Opening Day starter at third base, all in a matter of weeks.

Last year's surprise success story, Jeremiah Jackson, went from being a potential roster bubble victim to now being the presumptive favorite for the final bench spot. But don't write his name in ink just yet.

Orioles insider Jake Rill broke down the roster battles going down in Sarasota, and when it comes to that utility infielder role, it was a surprise to see him give Luis Vasquez a fighting shot.

Luis Vasquez could wind up as a surprise addition to the Orioles' Opening Day roster

Vasquez came over from the Chicago Cubs as a former top prospect who hadn't quite panned out in a minor trade last winter. The bat was a question, with the former 14th round pick having something of an offensive breakout in 2023, cracking 20 dingers and posting an .817 OPS while splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A.

He couldn't quite reach the same heights in 2024, and really struggled in a brief cup of coffee that saw him slash .083/.143/.083 while running a ghastly 42.9% strikeout. The one thing Vasquez could hang his hat on was stellar defense, and that could be the differentiator here.

Vasquez was used sparingly last season, and he still didn't hit over his 53 plate appearances, which yielded a .448 OPS. But, as Rill notes, he spent the winter in his native Puerto Rico playing winter ball and hit six homers with a .701 OPS over 39 games. That'll play for a backup infielder.

But it's the glove that really sets Vasquez apart from his competition. The 26-year-old is a natural shortstop who can really flash the leather. He also has experience at second and the hot corner, rounding out his utility man cred.

The ability to play shortstop at a high level might just be enough to squeak him through, as long as he can show that he isn't a complete zero at the plate. The Orioles don't really have anyone else who can give Gunnar Henderson a breather.

Blaze Alexander is versatile and athletic, but his 138 career innings at short have yielded a putrid minus-eight outs above average. Jackson played some short in the minors, but the Orioles haven't entrusted him to handle the position in the majors. Thairo Estrada hasn't played short since 2023 for a reason.

Having a guy who can play excellent defense across three infield positions on your bench is a nice luxury, and it doesn't hurt that Vasquez is hitting .300/.300/.500 through four spring games. Even if he slows down a bit, he could burst some bubbles and find his way to the big league roster once the regular season begins.