Hyde: "I'm excited about the mix of middle infielders we have"

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles aren't suffering from a shortage of infielders in camp. Major league and minor league deals.

Guys come off the 40-man roster, clear waivers and receive invites.

Bringing in Alcides Escobar raises the infield total to 14 and most of them can man the middle. No one has been anointed as the starter at third base, shortstop or second base.

"I think it keeps the competition going in camp," said manager Brandon Hyde. "I'm excited about the mix of middle infielders we have. It's a guy who's been there and has got nine-plus years in of playing defense in the middle of the field at the big league level. And to add competition is always a good thing."

Jonathan Villar reported to camp today is likely to start at second, but he also provides an option at short. Chris Davis has played third but again is ticketed for first. Ryan Mountcastle no longer is a shortstop after moving to third.

Escobar made 104 starts at shortstop last season with the Royals, 27 at third base, two at second base and six in center field. He's also played left and right field in the majors.

"I don't know where the exact fit is," Hyde said. "I'm looking forward to him coming in here. I never met him, so I'm looking forward to meeting him and watching him play and we'll make decisions as we go along."

Escobar has appeared in 162 games in three of the last five seasons, but the workload can lessen on a rebuilding club that's evaluating younger talent.

"I'm not promising anything to really anybody at this point," Hyde said. "For me, this is a competition. We've created a competitive feel here in camp and that's what it's going to be for the next six weeks or so. But I know a lot of people in Kansas City and have talked to some of the people who have been with him. Rave reviews of the kind of person he is, the kind of player he is, so I'm excited for him to get in the building and get out here.

"Hopefully, he comes in here with a ton of energy and lights everybody up and we'll go from there."

Does Hyde view players in terms of specific positions or regions on the field where they've got experience?

"I think the more versatility you have, the better off you are," he replied. "They did a great job the way our roster was built in Chicago. We had multiple guys that could play multiple positions and Joe (Maddon) utilized that. Guys were playing different spots all the time. And that was competitive advantage for us. I think teams have done that more often.

"I think Ben Zobrist-type players are out there because it just gives you so much versatility in your lineup, in your roster, when you don't have to cookie-cutter a guy in one position. The more positions that guys can play gives you so much more versatility as a player."

Rather than wear labels, Hyde wants his guys to come into camp thinking they're "baseball players."

"That's the bottom line," he said. "We'll figure it out as we go along. But we have so much uncertainty that right now that I have no idea what our roster is going to look like a month from now, you know? I think we're going to put the pieces of the puzzle together as we go along, see what fits and go from there.

"I think it's the situation that we're in a little bit. We brought a lot of players in here to compete for jobs and have opportunities. Like I told those guys, what else could you want as a player? It's an open competition to see who comes out on top. It's only going to raise the energy level and the effort level in camp and the preparation. The more guys you have in here who are able to do certain things with a little bit of a track record or some young Rule 5 guys that maybe are ready to knock on the door. I think it's a great mix and a great blend.

"The more positions the guy can play, you factor that into your roster for sure. You see where things fit. Where are we short? If this guy goes down, are we comfortable with this guy playing there? I think all those kinds of decisions happen in late March."

Steve Wilkerson, who reported to camp this morning, is the guy with all the gloves. He can cover the entire infield and outfield and also worked out as a catcher last year while serving his 50-game suspension for testing positive for an amphetamine.

Is it true that he's carrying nine gloves?

"I think 10," he said, smiling. "No, a lot. A couple outfield gloves, a few infield gloves, a first baseman's mitt, a catcher's mitt maybe. I've got them all covered."

How can he break in all of them quickly?

"With help," he said.

With versatility comes an expanded workout routine which Wilkerson enhances in ways that keep him interested and entertained.

"I get my work in at every position almost every day," he said. "I work on the abnormal plays and the web gems. That's one of my favorite things to do is dive for a ball and work on making a play that might get me on TV or something."

The main goal now is getting on the team.

Wilkerson's primary utility competition comes from Escobar, Jace Peterson, Hanser Alberto, Chris Bostick, Jack Reinheimer, Zach Vincej, and Rule 5 infielders Richie Martin and Drew Jackson.

"I don't think too much of it at all, really," Wilkerson said. "I think you bring in as many good players as you can and you pick the best team out of those good players and that's it.

"Got a lot of guys down here, a lot of new faces and I'm looking forward to competing."

For what?

"I really have no idea," he said. "Hopefully, we'll have some meetings over the next couple of days and get a better idea of how to go about my work at different positions and kind of what they're thinking. But as of right now, nothing's in mind.

"I think it's kind of to be determined. I haven't solidified myself as anything, so I think that time will tell, I guess."

Wilkerson, 27, appeared in 16 games with the Orioles, a trip to the disabled list necessary after straining his oblique, and went 8-for-46 with three doubles and three RBIs. He made eight starts at second base and four at third and played two innings at shortstop.

"It's not like I had a bunch of success up there, but I did a few things well and I think with the element of doubt eliminated and coming into the season kind of having seen Triple-A, seen the big leagues, it's comforting," he said. "I think it was very beneficial."

* The camp roster is complete beyond Escobar, catcher Jesús Sucre (visa) and pitcher Gregory Infante (illness).

* Davis took batting practice and fielded ground balls. He's full-go in camp after having the flu and bronchitis.

"He looked great," Hyde said.

* Hyde isn't ready to name his opening day starter. It's too soon.

"I'm not in any hurry to name one guy over the other at this point," he said.

* Having Escobar and outfielder Eric Young Jr. on the camp roster gives the Orioles more opportunities to be aggressive on the basepaths - whether it's steals, going from first to third or scoring on a single.

"Pushing the envelope with our baserunning and making it a real priority here in camp," Hyde said. "E.Y.'s got a lot of experience and has always been a good baserunner, so that's a big add, and Escobar has been in big situations and been at the top of the lineup in World Series moments.

"I think part of our identity is going to be an aggressive baserunning team. I don't know if it's going to be an aggressive basestealing team, per se, but we want to take advantage of opportunities on the bases."