3 recent Orioles additions who are making noise on fringes of roster

New Baltimore Orioles Tyler Nevin, Daniel Johnson and Diego Castillo are on a mission this spring to prove they're here to stay.

For Nevin, this offseason's movement represented the second time he was traded to Baltimore. For Johnson, this year's O's are the fifth major league parent club he has been with since 2018. And, for Castillo, Baltimore represents the fourth team that signed him off waivers in less than two months.

All three players were acquired by the Orioles in January and February. The intent appeared to be that they would add depth to Brandon Hyde's roster, if injuries should plague his squad. Now, each one is performing well in the Orioles' spring training action, which could bring them closer to a coveted roster spot.

3 recently-added Orioles have a chance to make Opening Day roster

Tyler Nevin

Nevin first joined Birdland in 2020 as part of the trade that sent Mychal Givens to the Colorado Rockies. It was an uneventful stint, and ended with him being traded to the Detroit Tigers for cash in 2022. The Orioles traded back for the infielder -- along with more cash -- in January.

In seven games so far, Nevin has eight hits to boast in only 18 at-bats. He leads the O's in both of the latter two categories. The 26-year-old has also slapped a double and home run, while only striking out twice. If he maintains this level of play, he could convince Hyde to put him on the Opening Day roster.

Daniel Johnson

A center fielder who was part of the 2019 All-Star Futures Game, Johnson had previously been in the minor-league systems of four other MLB teams before joining Baltimore in January. His previous stats do not impress, but he has been working hard to secure a role with the program these past weeks.

Johnson is batting .353 and playing errorless baseball this spring. He is one of two O's who have played in nine games so far. Of his six hits, four of them are for extra-bases. Hyde could end up calling on the former New Mexico State player.

Diego Castillo

Castillo was claimed off of waivers twice by Baltimore in a six-week period. He has spent time with the Yankees, Pirates and Diamondbacks. As a shortstop/second-baseman, his road to the Opening Day roster is very narrow, but that does not seem to be holding him back.

Currently batting .333 through six outings, Castillo is also unblemished in the field. A continued impressive output would at least continue his career at Norfolk, as well as present himself as a future option to Hyde if injuries demand it.

Small sample size and tough competition for Orioles roster spots

Birdland has not seen enough of the three players to know if their current form is a sign of things to come. Baltimore has plenty of spring training games left, and Nevin, Johnson and Castillo will need to be playing their best baseball to have a chance at impressing the decision makers.

Ultimately, the field could be too crowded for any of them to make the Opening Day roster. The Orioles are a ballclub with extraordinary depth and talent. A later call-up date is more likely for the three, if their time at Bowie and Norfolk bears fruit.