Andrew Stetka: Joey Rickard's big week

As the baseball world focuses on great stories coming out of the first week, a few lesser known rookies have taken center stage. Trevor Story's historic start for the Colorado Rockies would be impossible to go unnoticed, while the Houston Astros' new first baseman Tyler White has caught fire in his first few games. On a lesser known scale nationally, but already beloved in Baltimore, is Joey Rickard.

Just months ago, Rickard was a prospect in the Tampa Bay Rays system looking for a path to break into the big leagues. Despite a strong offensive season on three different levels, Rickard took his game to the Dominican Republican for winter ball. That's when Dan Duquette came into the picture. While playing winter ball, Rickard was selected in the Rule 5 draft by the Orioles, and months later was taking part in his first big league spring training. Fast-forward a few more months and Rickard is hearing "Jo-ey, Jo-ey" chants when he approaches the plate at Camden Yards.

Rickard is the ultimate case of "small sample size" that comes with just about every piece of analysis this early in the season. He's off to a hot start that included a mini curtain call after his first home run last week. But what Orioles fans (or perhaps Rickard himself) may not realize is that they'll need a lot more of it to be successful this season. Rickard proved his worth in spring training and has already shown is value during the first week. Not only has he proven capable with the bat and glove, but he's showing that he can provide depth. With Adam Jones nursing an injury, Rickard has seamlessly stepped into center field. Any player who can play all three outfield positions is important, and one that can hit and provide potential to leadoff is even better.

Rickard's ascension appears to come at the expense of Hyun Soo Kim, who was all but gifted the starting job in left field when he was signed. Kim's situation has been well-documented and continues to evolve, but Rickard surely complicates it. In terms of roster flexibility, the two offer the same - none of it. Rickard is a Rule 5 selection who can't be optioned and would have to be offered back to the Rays, while Kim simply refuses to accept a minor league assignment. With Jones surely locked in at center field when healthy and Mark Trumbo continuing to see at-bats in right field, that leaves left. Nolan Reimold is also in the mix, but as long as Rickard continues to prove his worth, it'd be hard to see him hitting the bench any time soon.

In the past, Duquette and Buck Showalter have had to figure out clever ways to utilize Rule 5 selections. Ryan Flaherty had to be buried on the bench for much of the 2012 season, while T.J. McFarland was stashed in the bullpen for the 2013 campaign. Michael Almanzar was on the disabled list before being offered back to the Red Sox in 2014, but was later acquired by the O's and is now in the system as well. Jason Garcia, like McFarland before him, was hidden in the bullpen last season. None of this may matter with Rickard. The team may not have a need to get sneaky with a Rule 5 pick this time around because he's going to see the field.

Even with Rickard's hot start, it is important for Orioles fans to temper expectations. He's quite obviously not going to hit over .400 this season. He's not going to go out and win the Most Valuable Player award. He's not hitting 50 home runs or providing the Orioles with good defense in both left and right field at the same time.

He is having fun, though. You can see that by the way he approaches the game. He's also giving fans something to be excited about early in the season. Rickard is providing a spark for a team that will need a ton of them to be successful this season. That's something to get behind and root for.