4 Orioles players taking advantage of 2024 spring training

In 2023, the Baltimore Orioles set the bar intimidatingly high for themselves in 2024. We'll forget about the postseason sweep for a second to acknowledge the 101-win regular season, the tip-top shape the farm system is in, and the real potential of becoming a dynasty, if it can all come together in late months over the next few years.

In spring training, the Orioles are spoiled for choice. Even without the list of non-roster invitees that's packed with top prospects, their roster was already full of players who could reliably turn out a winning season, even in a division like the AL East.

A good number of Orioles players are secure in their positions this upcoming season, but a few more are making great cases for themselves as standouts who should have eyes on them throughout the rest of camp.

4 Orioles players taking advantage of 2024 spring training

Tyler Nevin

The beginning of 2024 hasn't been kind to Tyler Nevin. His roster spot with the Tigers had already seemed precarious for a long time before they finally let him go in a trade back to Baltimore for cash, where he spent two years from 2020-2022. Tigers fans weren't incredibly fond of him or new Oriole Nick Maton, who also came over from Detroit in the same way, but maybe the bouncing around fueled Nevin, because he's hit .381/.409/.571 with a home run over nine spring training games.

Nevin has some very stiff competition for a bench spot. A number of Orioles top prospects are in camp and are giving even the veterans with everyday jobs a run for their money. It also doesn't help that the Orioles infield is pretty crowded as it is. Nevin could post up at either first or third, but Ryan Mountcastle and Ramón Urías seem to have those locked up.

Still, he's making a case for himself as a player to keep in reserve in the minors for a call-up at a moment's notice (here or elsewhere), which is really the best he can hope for after never really being able to find his footing in the majors.

Colton Cowser

All of the Orioles' top five prospects in 2024 are currently in camp with the major league team, and Colton Cowser has been blowing the others out of the water. Samuel Basallo, No. 2 and the youngest of the bunch, has yet to make an appearance in a game, but Cowser, Jackson Holliday, Heston Kjerstad, and Coby Mayo have all gotten 15-20 at-bats in spring training so far. All but Kjerstad have been performing exceptionally, but Cowser's .400/.550/1.000 line with three home runs and seven RBI has been especially notable.

Cowser is coming off of a disappointing first foray in the majors in 2023, when he appeared in 26 games and hit a paltry .115/.286/.148. Again, the Orioles' infield is crowded, and Cowser is in the same boat as Nevin, having to potentially fight Mountcastle and Urías for time at first and third, but Cowser is certainly raising eyebrows and, at the very least, seems to be incentivizing the team to give him another real chance after last season.

Julio Teherán

Long gone are Julio Teherán's All-Star starter days in Atlanta. His fall from grace has been rough; after only being able to pitch five innings for the Tigers in 2021, a sojourn to the Mexican Leagues in 2022, and a seemingly permanent relegation to the bullpen (to not-so-great effect) and DFA from the Brewers in 2023, he's in Orioles camp as an NRI in 2024.

He made his Orioles debut on Saturday, throwing one spotless, five-pitch inning. Sure, it's the tiniest of all sample sizes and so on and so forth, but Teherán was always going to be a curious case to watch because of his history of greatness. If he can continue to pitch quick, hitless innings throughout spring training and look like he's recovering some of his Atlanta moxie, the Orioles could be inclined to give him a bullpen spot over prospects or NRIs.