Akin seeking consistency in 2021

Eight games into his major league career, Keegan Akin has become a go-to guy inside the Orioles clubhouse and on the back fields at their spring training complex.

Eight games make him appear worldly in this environment.

The camp is loaded with players waiting to make their debuts and seeking advice. They gravitate toward experience. Akin is willing to offer his assistance with just 25 2/3 innings of his own.

Akin is paying it forward after John Means mentored him last year.

"It's pretty cool because I got to talk to John like that and I played with him since I was in Double-A, so for me to kind of mentor those guys like (Zac) Lowther and (Michael) Baumann and even (Alexander) Wells when he was over here for a little bit, I've known those guys for a while, so if they've got questions they kind of come to me," Akin said.

"If I don't know, it kind of goes up the totem pole to John and go from there."

Akin was supposed to continue his education at Triple-A Norfolk last year before the minor league season was canceled. He worked out and pitched at the alternate camp site in Bowie, made his major league debut in relief on Aug. 14 and finished with a 4.56 ERA and 1.442 WHIP in eight games, including six starts. He averaged 12.3 strikeouts per nine innings.

Manager Brandon Hyde wants Akin to earn a spot in the rotation this spring. The Orioles can find room for him, leaving behind another tour of Norfolk.

"I would say last year, being in my first big league camp, I was more just trying to get my feet wet, get a feel for things," Akin said. "Now after having a few innings last year in the big leagues and a couple starts, you kind of get the idea of what you need to work on and you take that into the offseason, and then you just come into spring training and compete and hope at the end of the six weeks you've got a job and you're heading north with the team."

Akin earned his first major league win on Sept. 16 against the Braves, when he blanked them on three hits over five innings and struck out nine batters - including six in a row. The masterful performance followed a dud against the Yankees in the Bronx, when he allowed four runs and didn't make it out of the first inning in his first major league loss.

Asked what he needs to work on, Akin replied, "I always say consistency."

He can point to those two starts as solid proof.

"I had some really good outings where I got pretty far into the game last year, and then I had outings (where) I was knocked out pretty early. So consistency's kind of been the key word," he said.

"And then you start looking at other things, what's going to help you be consistent. In my opinion, it's competing in the strike zone with all my pitches rather than just one or two and just trying to get ahead of hitters. When you're ahead of hitters it's a lot easier to pitch."

The failures are stronger motivators than the successes.

"I think everybody in the clubhouse can say you're obviously going to be the hardest on yourself and hold yourself to a higher standard than most people," Akin said, "so it's tough when those outings happen, but you usually can learn a little bit more from those outings than you can from the ones where you go out there and mow them down."

Akin hasn't made his spring debut in 2021. Means starts Tuesday afternoon against the Yankees at Ed Smith Stadium.

Tyler Nevin, 23, gets the start at first base today. He was acquired from the Rockies in the Mychal Givens deadline trade.

"It's my first time seeing him today in game action, but I like his swing, he's got the ability to play multiple positions where he's been playing some first, third, and in the outfield. You'll see him play all three here in camp," Hyde said.

"Colorado people talk very highly about him. He's a former top pick with some tools. So this will be my first game action to see him today, but yeah, I've been impressed with his work so far."