Adam Frazier is settling in with his new team, plus other notes

Adam Frazier has proven to be a nice addition to the Orioles through a couple weeks of the new season. He’s providing some veteran leadership for a young clubhouse and his bat has taken a step up from last year through this early stage.

After posting an OPS of just .612 last season with Seattle, he is batting .256/.347/.395/.742 through Saturday with three doubles, two steals, oner homer and five RBIs. He has proven to be an above average contact hitter as his track record shows, with just three strikeouts in 39 at-bats through Friday. And the 6.8 strikeout rate at that point was the third-best in MLB.

“I feel good. Swing is in a good place. Feel like I’ve really been bringing the pitchers into the zone so, yeah, as long as I can stay where I am I’ll be fine,” he said during the recent homestand.

And as for the team’s offensive potential, Frazier said he sees good things.

“I think we’ve seen it a little bit so far. It’s dangerous. Any night we can put up a 10 spot. I think one through nine we really challenge the pitcher. Not like we have any holes. Everybody can put the ball in play and most of these guys can go deep at anytime. Lot of tools," Frazier said. 

Frazier is batting .273 with an OPS of .806 versus right-handed pitching.

Frazier lockers next to Gunnar Henderson in the Baltimore clubhouse. He has seen Henderson get off to a slow start with his batting average while continuing to show a good eye and take 12 walks.

“I think it has tested his confidence for sure,” said Frazier. “Anytime you have some struggles – he’s still 21 – and have probably never struggled in his life much, it will test your confidence. It will test your mental ability. It’s the major leagues, so it’s not easy. There are very few in the game where the game comes easy to them every day. Even those players face tough stretches. He’ll be fine. Still learning. Just those learning curves will come here in the big leagues, instead of the minor leagues. Everyone knows he has the talent. As soon as it clicks, we won’t be talking about it anymore.”

Do veteran players take time now to encourage Henderson, or is it better to just let him play and not draw much attention to his batting stats right now? 

“A little bit of both," Frazier said. "You know if he comes to me for something, I will give him whatever I think he needs. You have to experience it a little bit, but once you experience it, it is good to lean on the guys around you and the coaches around you. Trust them, especially guys that have been through it, on how to navigate the tough times. I’m not worried about him. He’ll be fine." 

The Orioles have made too many mental mistakes on defense to start this new season. One theory from some fans is that they change positions too much and/or didn’t get enough time to play together in spring training. Frazier said he disagrees. 

“I wouldn’t say that, no. That was like any spring, you don’t play back-to-backs until late. Spring training is about getting your legs under you. It is just part of paying attention to details and we just need to do a better job at that. That’s really it," he said. 

O's lost in extras on Saturday: The Orioles' bid to get to three games over .500 came up a run short on Saturday when they lost 7-6 in 10 innings to the White Sox in Chicago.

The Orioles held four different leads in the game and could not hold any of them as they fall to 8-7 on the year, 4-4 on the road and 3-2 in one-run games.

The Baltimore offense scored six runs or more for the second time in this series and eighth time on the season. The Orioles have scored 20 runs the last three games and 41 over the past six.

They play a rubber match game today before Monday's off day with Grayson Rodriguez (0-0, 6.75 ERA) pitching against Dylan Cease (2-0, 1.65 ERA). The Orioles are 0-2 this season in rubber match games.