After slump, Joey Rickard's batting average is on the rise again

It looks like Orioles outfielder Joey Rickard has weathered the storm - and not one of the many the Orioles have dealt with this year that have caused delays and postponements.

It is the one where he struggled at the plate and his average took a dip. It is on the rise again. Rickard was batting .350 on April 21 and then saw his average drop to .267.

But over his past five games with an at-bat, Rickard is 7-for-21 (.333) with a double, homer, two RBIs and three walks. He had drawn just six walks over his first 27 games. Now his average is up to .280 over 33 games.

So just how did a big league rookie get through a tough stretch?

"It was just a stay aggressive approach," he said. "You don't try to change too many things through the good and the bad. You know playing this game for a long time that those things will happen."

Rickard has had plenty of clubhouse support throughout his time as an Oriole. That was important for him as he went through his first true struggles at the big league level.

"That is probably the biggest part," Rickard said. "All these guys have been through it a lot longer than I have. Just seeing them go about their business through tough times can set an example for me."

It appears that Rickard is playing more small ball lately. We've seen him drop a few bunts, for instance.

"It is one of those things against certain opponents and in certain situations I can use that a little more," he said. "It has worked out so far and I want to take what I have done so far and run with it."

He has also made several fine defensive plays lately. He took no credit for that, saying scouting reports had him positioned properly. Pretty sure he had something to do with that.

Rickard has certainly enjoyed hitting at Camden Yards. In 19 home games, he is batting .375 with two homers, five RBIs, a .500 slugging percentage and a .917 OPS.

He has certainly learned a lot, he said, in on-the-job big league training over 33 games.

"It is still the big leagues and I'm still young so I'm taking everything in," Rickard said. "But my heart beat has kind of slowed just a tick. Just being around these guys for five or six weeks now, it has helped me kind of learn to slow the game down some."