Mark Trumbo on spring struggles and getting WBC players back

SARASOTA, Fla. - If you are a veteran player and your spot in the lineup is secured, you are probably not too worried about having poor stats in spring training.

That pretty much describes Orioles outfielder Mark Trumbo. A year after batting .256/.316/.533 and career highs with 47 homers (which led the majors) and 108 RBIs, he has struggled during spring training.

Trumbo described his hitting today this spring as "very mediocre." He is 6-for-33 and batting .182/.250/.212. He hasn't homered yet, is 1-for-12 in his last four games and doesn't have an extra-base hit since he got his only one - a double against the Phillies - seven games ago.

"So far the results haven't been very good, but it's nothing new," Trumbo said in the Orioles clubhouse. "I've had good springs, I've had lousy springs. I've always, more or less, figured it out when the season comes around and been able to produce. It is just part of the process.

"There are different points in your career. If you're a young player trying to make the team, it is important. You always want to produce and provide offense for your team. But at this point where I am at, it is not quite as crucial as when I was 23 or 24 and trying to make a team."

Trumbo did have a strong spring last year in Florida in his first season as an Oriole, batting .290/.313/.548 with five homers and 17 RBIs. That preceded a season where he made the All-Star team and won a Silver Slugger Award. That preceded a winter where he was a free agent, stayed on the market longer than expected and then re-signed with the Orioles in January. He got a three-year deal worth $37.5 million.

Trumbo said his poor spring is not because he is working on certain aspects of his swing or his game. He just has not gotten a lot of hits under the Florida sun.

"Once you are up there, you are competing (not working on something specific). There is nowhere near enough time to try and do anything but put an at-bat together. Maybe there have been times when I was a little more selective than I would normally be or a little more aggressive, depending on how I am doing.

"You do try to work on some things, but at the end of the day, these pitchers are getting after it. They are not doing you any favors. You are just trying to get your timing down, lock in more of a feeling than the results. But it is nice to get hits at the same time."

Meanwhile, the Orioles are getting some of their key players back today from the World Baseball Classic. Third baseman Manny Machado and catcher Welington Castillo have been seen by reporters already and second baseman Jonathan Schoop is expected today as well.

Trumbo said the team overall took pride is seeing those players, along with center fielder Adam Jones, do well on the WBC stage.

"Yeah, of course. Those are our teammates and it is natural to support guys that support you," Trumbo said. "Very impressed with what I've seen of everyone of those guys. They look very ready for the regular season. Everyone is in great shape and healthy. All the things that you'd like to see is all there.

"Anybody that follows the Orioles is pretty aware of what these guys do. Maybe they have opened the eyes of some that haven't seen them as much. But they are doing things that we are more than used to. All of them provide similar-ish. Excellent defense. Good hitters in general and they also have power. All the things they are doing to help their WBC teams, we have seen here with us."