Carlson and Machín hopeful that huge production in camp keeps them with Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. – Dylan Carlson won’t play general manager. He’d prefer holding onto his sanity.

“You lose your mind a little bit,” he said.

Can’t argue with his logic.

Carlson came into Orioles camp and ran into a crowded outfield. The Orioles signed him on Jan. 27 to a one-year deal worth $975,000 with a $25,000 bonus if he reached 200 plate appearances. A week later, the team signed outfielder Ramón Laureano to a one-year contract worth $4 million and including a $6.5 million club option.

Cedric Mullins, Colton Cowser and Tyler O’Neill are going to be introduced on Opening Day in Toronto and Heston Kjerstad is expected to join them. Laureano’s deal and his ability to serve as a right-handed hitting backup in center field pretty much solidified his chances.

Where that left Carlson was to put up impressive spring numbers and let the chips fall like fly balls in the gaps.

“Been around a little bit,” he said. “We can add it up and stuff.”

Carlson entered tonight batting .320 (8-for-25) with a double, two home runs, eight RBIs, 10 walks and a 1.087 OPS. Those stats also can be calculated.

“Ultimately, all you can control is what you do out there, so that’s my main focus,” he said. “A lot of talented guys, a lot of great players, a lot of great people, so it’s been a pleasure working with all of them. And yeah, you’ve got to control what you can control out there.”

The 26-year-old switch-hitter was the 33^rd overall pick of the Cardinals in the 2016 draft and finished third in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 2021, but he split last season between St. Louis and Tampa Bay and batted .209/.287/.277 in 96 games.

A steady decline has led to Carlson batting .237 with a .693 OPS in five seasons over 484 games, but much of the blame falls on failing health. He’s had hamstring, thumb, ankle and AC joint injuries and underwent surgery on the ankle in 2023. He began last season on the injured list.

“I think just ultimately, first healthy off-season in a while, so that’s first things first,” he said. “And then the swing’s been feeling pretty good. Working with the group in there, I like how transparent and clear and how thoughtful I guess everything’s been. I like how I feel right now and just trying to continue that momentum and keep that feel.”

Spring training with the Orioles is like wiping the slate clean and not picking up any splinters.

“I like what I’ve put out there,” he said. “I feel healthy, which is ultimately the most important thing, just what I’ve gone through recently. Yeah, feel healthy, feel strong. Good group of guys here, so really excited.”

Carlson pinch-hit for O’Neill last night and walked in both plate appearances. He has minor league options and the Orioles are expected to use one. But it won’t be due to anything that he’s done wrong.

“Ultimately,” he said, “I just try to control playing the game, what I produce out there on the field and giving myself the best chance.”

“Dylan’s done a really good job in all three spots in the outfield,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “Dylan’s hit in the middle of the order on a playoff team. I know he’s had a down couple of years but he’s really impressed this camp. He might be the best at ABS (the Automated Ball-Strike system) that we have. I think he’s, like, 6-for-6. That’s next year (when Major League Baseball is expected to implement the system in games that count). But he really understands the strike zone. I think he’s taking great at-bats. Yeah, I’ve been very, very impressed.”

Hyde said Carlson and infielder Vimael Machín, who had a run-scoring double last night in the ninth inning and is batting .425 (17-for-40) with four doubles, a home run, 10 RBIs and a 1.065 OPS, have put themselves in position to be depth pieces if they don’t make the club.

“We know that we’re going to use not 26 players this year, but a lot more than that,” Hyde said. “If you’re not on the club and you gave a good showing in front of the front office, the coaching staff, I think that’s very, very important. So both of those guys have put themselves in a very good position.”

Machín, 31, signed a minor league contract on Nov. 13 after he hit .401/.495/.579 with 31 doubles and seven home runs in 85 games in Mexico. His major league experience consists of 112 games with Oakland from 2020-22. Hyde got to know him from their time together with the Cubs, but this isn’t the same player. Machín has closed his stance and adjusted how he holds the bat, tilted more behind his head.

He hasn’t stopped producing scorching line drives since he reported to camp, and the Orioles haven’t stopped playing him. His 21 games rank first, three more than Daz Cameron and Luis Vázquez.

“Honestly, I wouldn’t call it pleased, I’d call it grateful, because the opportunity that the Orioles gave me is something that, I’ve said it before and I keep saying it, every time I wake up I’m grateful to, obviously, God and the opportunity after being in Mexico almost for two years,” he said.

“Coming here and them letting me have playing time and show them that I’m a different player and different hitter, it’s something that I’m grateful for every day.”

Gunnar Henderson could begin the season on the IL with a strained right intercostal. Machín’s best position is second base, which probably puts him behind Livan Soto and Vázquez, but he won’t let the odds creep into his head.

It’s something else that he has in common with Carlson.

“Just day-by-day,” Machín said. “It’s their decision and I respect that. I’m just grateful to be here, man. Even if it’s big leagues or Triple-A, it’s just being here in the States, something that I always wanted after being in Mexico. So whatever they decide, I’ll respect, obviously, as part of the business.

“They have a good group of people up there and know what they want to do, so if that’s the case, I’ll live with it and just keep doing my job down there.”