More trends to track in Orioles spring training

I took an early look over the weekend at some possible spring training storylines. The rotation setup behind John Means and Jordan Lyles, catcher Adley Rutschman's chances of breaking camp with the team, second baseman Rougned Odor's chances of avoiding the Yolmer Sánchez treatment,and the composition of the infield's left side.

Just scratching the surface, of course, and I've been itching to share more ideas.

Let's get to it, with four more to consider.

How does Yusniel Diaz look in camp?
Diaz making the opening day roster is as likely to happen as the Orioles changing their name to Baltimore Baseball Team. But this isn't about Diaz competing for a job.

It's about making a favorable impression. It's about the Orioles again hoping that Diaz is able to debut in the majors over the summer.

Exhibition numbers come with the same warning as September stats: Don't fall in love with them. Diaz had a .341 on-base percentage this year before the Orioles optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk. He was 6-for-20 with two triples and a .917 OPS in 2020 and 11-for-36 with three doubles and a home run in 2019.

Injuries inevitably follow. Diaz appeared in only 54 games this summer with Triple-A Norfolk, batting .157/.225/.251, and was shut down in the Arizona Fall League due to a left shoulder strain.

Outfield prospects are passing Diaz as if he's driving in the slow lane with his turn signal on, but he's only 25 and possesses some intriguing tools.

The stats might not matter in Sarasota, Fla., per that warning, but a poor showing or another health crisis will heighten concerns and raise more doubts about whether the jewel of the Manny Machado trade can live up to the hype.

Is Paul Fry throwing strikes?
Command and confidence became unexpected issues for Fry, who was optioned on Aug. 29 and stayed with Norfolk.

Fry posted a 1.78 ERA in his first 26 outings and 11.05 in the next 26. A former trade chip crumbled and the Orioles couldn't put the pieces back together.

They signed Fry to a new contract in 2022 to avoid arbitration. He suggested that he might have been tipping off his pitches, at least to the Rays. His ERA was 34.71 against them and 2.98 against everyone else.

There had to be a reason.

The curiosity over Fry increases with his disappearance from the major league landscape and the media's gaze. He was one of the more dependable relievers in 2020 with his 2.45 ERA and 11.9 strikeouts per nine innings, and manager Brandon Hyde gave him a shot at closing this year.

What version of Fry will show up in Sarasota?

How much did a normal offseason energize Trey Mancini?
By "normal," I'm excluding his engagement and travels around the globe.

Mancini isn't spending the 2021 offseason recovering from chemotherapy treatments and trying to work his body back into baseball shape. He played in 147 games but hit the occasional wall, as you'd expect from a survivor of Stage 3 colon cancer.

Don't be fooled by the three Comeback Player of the Year awards. Mancini had to grind through the season.

Moving further past his last chemotherapy treatment should push Mancini closer to his former self. To the player who was voted Most Valuable Oriole in 2019.

There's also a much-needed return to baseball talk.

Mancini has an important message to share about the importance of early detection, and he wants to spread the word about his foundation. He's an inspiration. Every success, including his runner-up finish in the Home Run Derby, proves that there's life beyond a diagnosis. But he's also eager to move on from it.

To be Trey Mancini the baseball player.

What is Jorge López's role?
Hyde hasn't closed the door on López moving back into the rotation, but is it a realistic option?

López needed a reset in 2021 and he found it in the bullpen, where he allowed two runs and struck out 10 batters in 8 1/3 innings and held opponents to a .194 average. He had a 6.35 ERA and 1.676 WHIP in 25 starts, with teams ambushing him after one time through the order.

Hyde could use López for an inning late in games, bringing the heat to get three important outs. He could use López for coverage in the middle innings. The arm plays in a bunch of scenarios. But the rotation isn't set and there may be a limit to how many rookies are shoved into it.

López will be stretched out in camp to remain an option as a starter. It's an easy switch to relief.

Other factors will be at work, including whether the Orioles bring in more veteran starters to compensate for a lack of experience.

How his role evolves through camp will be interesting to track.

Here's where this topic becomes interactive.

1. What are you expecting from Diaz in camp and the 2022 season?

2. Can Fry be a reliable lefty again?

3. Can Mancini get closer to his 2019 numbers?

4. How will López be used?

5. Does pineapple belong on a pizza?

(Sorry, ignore that last one. Unrelated to the Orioles.)