Manny Machado on his big 2015 season and the excitement of opening day

Coming off a season where he filled up the stat sheet, won another Gold Glove and finished fourth in the American League MVP voting, Orioles third baseman Manny Machado is ready to get the new season started.

"Opening day - this is where it all begins," Machado said this morning in the Orioles clubhouse. "All the hard work we've done in the offseason and in spring training will pay off today."

At 22 last year, Machado played in every game and hit .286 with 30 doubles, a triple, 35 homers, 86 RBIs and an .861 OPS. He was 10th in the league in home runs.

"It was awesome," he said of his 2015 season. "Went out and played every game. Did what I had to do and showed people the player I am.

"I became a smarter hitter. I wasn't chasing pitches out of the zone and was hitting pitches that I could hit. I think that is what you learn being around guys like Adam (Jones) and (Chris) Davis. They go up there with a plan. Not to swing at crazy stuff in the dirt. Go after the pitches that they can handle and that helped me have a good year."

Manager Buck Showalter was asked today what is a reasonable next step for Machado in his progression as a player.

"I'd take last year," he said. "Sometimes people don't pay attention to how driven he is. He's never satisfied. I don't worry about him reaching his potential. What that is, I'm curious to see, too."

Machado is confident the 2016 Orioles can make a run at another American League East title.

"We're good," he said. "We'll find out how good we are, but I think we have a great group and a great clubhouse. A bunch of guys that are here to try to win a title. We all have the mindset of helping each other out, back up each other and do everything we can to win."