3 Orioles players who are proving their spring training stats were a fluke

Although the All Star break is considered the official midpoint of the season, the Orioles are at 73 games played this season, eight away from the actual midpoint, that being 81 games out of the 162 in the regular season. Almost everything has clicked for the Orioles, in possession of one of baseball's best records.

Spring training feels like an eternity ago, doesn't it? It was three months ago that we were speculating who was going to make the roster and who wouldn't. Since the actual midpoint is close by, let's see which players currently on the roster are proving that their performances in spring training were a fluke.

All stats are prior to beginning of play June 21

Which Orioles are proving that their spring training statistics were a fluke?

Tyler Wells, SP

In Spring Training, Wells was right in the thick of the starting rotation battle, and ended up winning a spot over Grayson Rodriguez. Wells had a shaky spring, authoring a 5.74 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, and a .290 opponent average, allowing 10 runs in 15 2/3 innings over five games, four of which were starts.

Much like Austin Hays, Wells is having a standout season in the Orioles rotation, proving the Orioles right for choosing him. He leads the league in WHIP with a 0.857 mark and has a 3.20 ERA. He averages 1.8 walks per nine innings and nine strikeouts per nine over 81 2/3 innings. Wells is also someone who has deserved some consideration for the All Star Game.

Kyle Bradish, SP

Like Wells, Bradish also had a rough spring. In five games and 16 1/3 innings, Bradish authored a 1.10 WHIP and .226 opponent batting average to go with an inflated 6.61 ERA. He walked four hitters and allowed two home runs as part of his 17 runs allowed over the course of the spring.

Bradish has evened everything out in the regular season. His ERA is down to 3.88, and his FIP is a little below that at 3.65. His 1.262 WHIP is a little high, and his average of 8.3 strikeouts per nine is a little low, but over 13 starts and 65 innings, Bradish has been a solid starter in the middle of the rotation.

Anthony Santander, OF

Santander had a sub-optimal spring training in Sarasota. Over 25 at bats, he had five total hits, one of which was a home run and one being a double. He drove in five runs and walked five times, with the walks standing out as a positive. He had a .200/.355/.360 slash line in the spring.

Despite a slow start to the season, it's been liftoff ever since the calendar turned to May. All season, Santander has whacked 11 home runs and driven in 42, hitting 20 doubles and adding one triple. He has a .264/.332/.475 slash line, good for a .807 OPS and 123 OPS+.

He's also walking a little more, with 26 walks drawn at this time of the season. For context, he had 23 in all of 2021 and 55 in 2022. Additionally, while getting plenty of reps in right field and some at DH, he's added first base to his game this season, adding to the all-important versatility that teams covet.