More from Sanders on outfielders at minicamp and one who wasn't

The three-day minicamp earlier this month in Sarasota, Fla., was designed for evaluation purposes and to provide needed work in the offseason prior to the start of spring training. For Orioles who aren't natural outfielders and others who want to get better at it.

DJ Stewart wasn't just a participant. He was a driving force behind the idea.

"The first thing I can say is this guy will work harder than anybody else we have out there," said first base coach and outfield instructor Anthony Sanders, who ran the camp with minor league coaches Matt Packer and Anthony Villa.

"He's putting the time in. He's one of the guys who kind of pushed to have this camp and work on some stuff that he knows he needs to. He just needs to continue to slow the game down. In practice and everything he's done a great job. He had a great minicamp. And it's a big year for DJ. The way he finished off last year and the adversity he had when he struggled at the beginning and how he finished was awesome to see.

"DJ, for a bigger guy, he's more athletic than people think he is."

If the season started today, Stewart likely would be on the bench or in the designated hitter spot while Ryan Mountcastle played left, Austin Hays center and Anthony Santander right. Cedric Mullins is an option anywhere.

Yusniel Diaz is knocking on the door and Ryan McKenna could walk in behind him.

"It's exciting. The core of guys we have, the young outfielders, I think the future's bright," Sanders said. "With Hays, Santander and Mullins, I'm not too worried about those guys out there. They're real solid. But again, they're all young and still have to continue to work and not be satisfied."

Sanders could include last year's top draft pick, Heston Kjerstad, but he's waiting to work with the kid. Kjerstad wasn't able to dive into the 60-man pool or participate in the fall instructional league in Sarasota due to his undisclosed, non-sports medical issue.

If the spring training setup holds, Kjerstad won't report until the Orioles and Triple-A players have left Florida.

"I've kept a good communication with (director of player development) Matt Blood and after I got back from Sarasota, I told him, 'We definitely have to do this (camp) with the young guys, with Kjerstad and some of the younger prospects,' " Sanders said.

"Hopefully, that's in the plans for the future when the COVID numbers go down. I'm excited to see what he has. I've read all the stuff and heard from all the scouts and I'd like to see it for myself at some point, too."

Stevie Wilkerson was at the minicamp to continue his outfield work as a super-utility candidate who signed another minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.

Wilkerson is a natural infielder who increased in value with his ability to play the outfield. The Orioles are hopeful that it won't be necessary in 2021, but he's going to get more reps over the next few months.

"He knows his role," Sanders said. "I think he needs to take a lot more reps in the infield if you're Wilky because it would be easier for him to move to the outfield if he has no issues. We'll definitely keep that going in spring training and any opportunity he gets to get him in the outfield. But he can go to center field as well, so just a lot of options to give (Brandon) Hyde."

Sanders is back with a coaching staff that's adding newcomer Tony Mansolino, who's headed to the third base box and also tasked with infield instruction since leaving the Indians organization.

"No history with him," Sanders said. "Called him the first day he got hired and introduced myself. Obviously, in the baseball world, we end up knowing a lot of the same people. He seems like a worker is excited to get an opportunity."