Hyde must figure out how to back up center field

ARLINGTON, Texas - If a player doesn't show up on the Orioles roster with a diverse background in defense, the club is going to make it happen through trials and extreme patience.

The organization is weighed down by corner outfielders, first basemen and designated hitters. And Mark Trumbo is getting closer to being reinstated from the 60-day injured list, his rehab assignment taking him to first base last night with Triple-A Norfolk.

Trumbo went 0-for-3 with a strikeout before leaving the game.

Renato Núñez can play the infield corners but is below-average in the field and best suited to crush baseballs as the designated hitter. Trey Mancini shifted from left field to right this season, but is a natural at first base.

The Orioles recalled DJ Stewart and plugged him into right while Mancini moved to first for the injured Chris Davis, who was reinstated yesterday from the 10-day injured list and went 0-for-4. Stewart is most comfortable in right, with four appearances in the minors in center that didn't convince anyone to remove him from the corner.

Everybody puts DJ in the corner.

Manager Brandon Hyde will trust his own eyes and learn whether Stewart can back up Keon Broxton.

Somebody has to do it.

Stevie Wilkerson is back down at Triple-A after taking part in another experiment - utility infielder turned outfielder. He held his own, but was squeezed by a roster crunch.

Hyde praised Wilkerson again yesterday and said, "I think we'll see Stevie up here shortly." Which could have been little more than encouraging parting words or a hint about an upcoming transaction.

Who else can back up in center field?

Dwight Smith Jr. played one game in center with the Blue Jays in 2017. The minor league resume is more expansive, with 115 starts, but few since 2014 at Single-A Dunedin.

Smith has stated to Hyde that he's most comfortable in left, which made the Mancini move to right more of a no-brainer.

Hanser Alberto's experience in the outfield consists of one start in right field this season and one appearance in left. Rule 5 pick Richie Martin is a shortstop whose speed and athleticism could tempt Hyde to try him in center field.

A three-man bench continues to challenge Hyde, but the Orioles aren't ready to cut off a bullpen arm. Otherwise, Wilkerson or Joey Rickard could stay.

Cedric Mullins is batting .211 with Norfolk and should be playing every day rather than getting sporadic opportunities with the Orioles. Not good for his development.

Hyde needs a fourth reserve. He needs at least eight relievers. He needs a bigger roster, but baseball won't allow it in 2019.

* Pedro Severino produced the first three-homer game by a catcher in Orioles history.

Severino amassed nine home runs in 138 career games before last night. Per STATS, the last American League player with a three-homer game after entering the night with fewer than 10 in his career over 125-plus games was Baltimore native Al Kaline of the Tigers, on April 17, 1955.

"You know, I don't want to say I don't have power. I have power," Severino said.

"Not because I hit the three homers today, but because when I used to be a young guy, when I hit one homer I'd just try to hit every ball out. I've just learned right now that every time I hit one ball out right now, I stay through the middle and try to get a base hit, and all the homers are coming by themselves."