Orioles utility competition keeps changing

SARASOTA, Fla. - Utility competitions generally do not elicit much excitement and drama in a spring training camp. The backup infielder ranks pretty low on the meter. More yawns than yippees.

The Orioles, however, are turning the battles into a game show of sorts - but without the car or jet skis as a grand prize.

Richard Ureña had been deemed a favorite to break camp on March 23 until the Orioles designated him for assignment yesterday. Another mock roster goes into the shredder.

Pat Valaika and Stevie Wilkerson appeared to be on solid footing until the roster rug was pulled out from under them. They remain in camp as invitees, outrighted but not ousted.

Come on down!

Ramón Urías is on the 40-man roster, at least for now, after the Orioles claimed him off waivers from the Cardinals on Feb. 11, which led to Valaika's outright.

José Rondón, Dilson Herrera and Malquin Canelo are still around as non-roster invites. Richie Martin has participated in drills at shortstop, second base and third base just three days into full-squad workouts.

And we have a new contestant.

Please welcome Andrew Velazquez, who snatched Ureña's spot on the 40-man.

So we know he has good hands.

A surprising development only in that Ureña seemed pretty safe and the Orioles appeared to be more focused on pitching. But that's a different game show.

For the love of God, somebody please give me a wheel to spin.

Players have been moving around the infield and to various practice fields this week. Ureña didn't work out with the "main" group yesterday.

Maybe it meant nothing. Or maybe it was an indication that Ureña's days on the 40-man roster had become numbered.

Ureña is out of minor league options. Velazquez is not. The flexibility is beneficial to the Orioles if there isn't much separation talent-wise between the two players.

Velazquez, 25, can play just about anywhere. He hasn't been a first baseman or catcher in the majors, minors or outside the United States. Otherwise, he's got it covered - mostly the middle infield and center field.

The Bronx native is a career .270/.333/.396 hitter in eight minor league seasons, topping out at 12 home runs in 117 games with Triple-A Durham in 2018. The 15 triples in 134 games with Single-A South Bend in 2013 are more impressive.

Can he stay on the roster and win a job?

We'll know more after this commercial break.

The camp roster will swell to 69 players if Ureña clears waivers, is outrighted and becomes an invite.