Mateo moving fast into Orioles' future plans

The freedom to expand their roster by two players on Wednesday also is going to increase the Orioles' level of health. Lowering the chances of the bench running out of available bodies.

Anthony Santander is playing with a sore ankle. Ramón Urías is dealing with soreness in his upper right leg and groin area. Jorge Mateo was unavailable for a few days with discomfort in his lower back. DJ Stewart had a sore knee that kept him on the bench. Pedro Severino also was restricted by a sore knee and has been taking a beating behind the plate.

Others are dinged up, too, which is common as a season progresses through the summer.

The Orioles didn't have an extra infielder while Mateo received treatment on his back, the injury forcing him out of Tuesday's game. The bench was down to two players and manager Brandon Hyde would have needed to do more experimenting. And a lot more sweating.

Mateo has collected 24 hits in 19 games with the Orioles, including his first home run yesterday, a two-run shot into the bullpen off reliever Josh Fleming.

The power tool isn't going to attract as much attention as the elite speed that he's put to good use in Baltimore.

Mateo reached twice on infield hits Tuesday but jarred his back while crossing first base in his second at-bat. He had another infield single in his first plate appearance Saturday night after returning to the lineup.

"I think hitting a popup or a fly ball doesn't do him any good," Hyde said, smiling, before Mateo homered. "Like (Saturday) night, he wasn't running 100 percent and his 75-80 percent is well above the majority of guys at 100 percent. By him putting the ball on the ground, hitting line drives and hard ground balls, it's going to put pressure on the defense."

Mateo's back was tested again Saturday when he stole second base, coming out of his slide early and hopping around the attempted tag after the throw easily beat him to the bag. He bent at the waist after ruled safe but stayed in the game and singled again.

"Now I can do that," he said yesterday morning after receiving hot and cold treatments in the training room.

"It's feeling better. Really solid right now. Thank God for that."

Mateo never experienced back pain until last week.

"I think we're going to be OK," he said. "It was the way I hit the bag. I tried to run and felt it a little bit, but right now it's way better."

The Orioles want to keep playing Mateo at shortstop while Jahmai Jones is evaluated at second base. Mateo can move to second when Urías goes to short.

He can pretty much move anywhere. He's played five positions with the Orioles.

"Jorge's getting an opportunity here and it's probably something that he's been waiting for for a while," Hyde said. "He's never had consistent at-bats in the big leagues and got a little bit of a taste in the big leagues but hasn't played regularly, and we're going to continue to give him an opportunity because he's super athletic and he's strong. You saw the power today. Obviously, he's got a ton of speed, he plays both spots in the middle, can play the outfield, so there's a lot to like.

"I like the way he's playing the game and happy he's taking advantage of the opportunity we're giving him."

The Orioles claimed Mateo off waivers Aug. 5, intrigued by his skill set and high ceiling but also knowing that he slashed .195/.235/.310 in 121 plate appearances with the Padres - playing below his tools, as one scout termed it. He's batting .353/.380/.515 in 19 games with the Orioles.

Mateo said he hasn't changed his offensive approach with the Orioles. The hitting coaches aren't tweaking him.

"It's just something that's happened," he said. "I'm working hard every day and the work has been showing on the field. That's great for me, too, to get that kind of result.

"Just trying to put the ball in play. Been doing it forever."

His presence in a daily lineup isn't a repeat. Mateo is a three-time top 100 prospect who had sporadic at-bats with the Padres and now plays for his fourth organization.

"Yeah, that's something different, too," he said. "I'm getting an opportunity here every day to play and I'm feeling better, better, better every day."

It looks like he's getting faster and faster, though it's probably just an illusion. Statcast data ranks him as the third-fastest player in baseball. So yes, it would make sense to keep the ball on the ground despite his third major league home run yesterday.

"Just my father told me that," he said, laughing. "I don't try to do it. Just throw a strike and try to put the ball in play, hit it hard."

Softer also works for him, like the three straight infield singles.

"Sometimes you have a day when you hit it hard and the team makes a good play," he said. "You take the infield hit. That was great."

Teammates are obsessed with his times to first base and around the bases and they keep joking about it in the dugout and clubhouse. Orange and black is now green with envy.

"Every time, every time," he said. "They say, 'Hey, give me your speed, bro. We'll take it.' Or something like that. That was funny."

Meanwhile, two pitchers must be added to the roster before tonight's series opener against the Blue Jays in Toronto - not Dunedin or Buffalo. The Orioles optioned Spenser Watkins and Paul Fry after yesterday's game.

Alexander Wells is likely to be one of the corresponding moves since he was in Baltimore yesterday, along with reliever Zack Burdi, claimed off waivers from the White Sox on Aug. 18, and outfielder Ryan McKenna. The Orioles will have a taxi squad on the trip.

Dean Kremer started for Triple-A Norfolk yesterday and held Jacksonville to one run and four hits with no walks and three strikeouts in four innings. Kyle Bradish took the loss after allowing three runs and six hits in three innings.

Adley Rutschman went 2-for-4 with a double and is batting .371 with a .943 OPS with the Tides.

Will Monday bring more minor league movement? That seems to be the pattern. I know fans, media and lots of people in the industry are waiting for pitcher Grayson Rodriguez to be promoted from Double-A Bowie to Norfolk.

Outfielder Kyle Stowers hit his 14th home run yesterday with the Baysox. He's really taking off. And Garrett Stallings earned the win after allowing two runs in four relief innings with no walks and three strikeouts.

Single-A Aberdeen's Jake Prizina picked up the win after allowing only one run and two hits in five innings and striking out five batters.

If you're tracking Ty Blach's injury rehab assignment, he tossed a scoreless and hitless inning with Single-A Delmarva.