Nittoli hoping to stay with Orioles in latest baseball stop

ARLINGTON, Texas – Reliever Vinny Nittoli has become a collector of baseball memorabilia.

He didn’t set out to make it a hobby. His professional career led him to it.

“In my man cave I have probably every hat from every team,” he said yesterday afternoon from the visiting clubhouse at Globe Life Field. “It’s been like 30 with minor leagues and major leagues.”

The Orioles reached agreement with Nittoli, 33, on a minor league contract on July 2 after the Cubs signed the veteran reliever and designated him for assignment the following day. Nittoli refused an outright assignment to Triple-A Iowa and became a free agent.

Nittoli appeared in seven games with the Athletics this season and allowed two runs in eight innings. He appeared in one game with the Mariners in 2021, two with the Phillies in 2022 and three with the Mets last summer.

That’s only scratching the surface.

The Mariners drafted Nittoli in the 25^th round in 2014 out of Xavier University. He played independent ball in 2017-18 and in the Blue Jays and Diamondbacks systems in 2019 before returning to the Mariners.

Other organizations to employ Nittoli include the Twins, Yankees, Blue Jays and Cubs.

The bullpen churn in Baltimore could move Nittoli again, but he tossed two scoreless innings with a pair of strikeouts last Saturday against the Yankees. He had a low-leverage opportunity Friday night with the Orioles leading the Rangers 9-1, but manager Brandon Hyde used Keegan Akin for two innings and Burch Smith in the ninth.

An 8-4 win last night passed without Nittoli pitching. Jacob Webb, Cionel Pérez, Yennier Cano and Craig Kimbrel followed starter Grayson Rodriguez.

Nittoli is happy to be in the majors again, however long he waits between appearances.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “There’s been a lot of teams I’ve been on now, probably a third of the league, but I really am impressed here with the analytics and stuff.”

The Orioles selected Nittoli’s contract last Saturday and optioned rookie Cade Povich, with the All-Star break and upcoming off-day removing the need for a fifth starter. The bags were packed again, but this time to leave the Norfolk Tides.

“It’s a lot,” Nittoli said when asked about being with so many different teams. “It’s really cool, though. You get to meet a bunch of new people, some great organizations. But yeah, it’s a lot, honestly.

“I feel like there’s an opportunity for me here. I’ve been in every role, so it’s nothing that’s new to me. Hopefully, I can fit in and help the team win.”

The sporadic work and periods in between jobs also aren’t unusual. Nittoli knows how to keep himself ready.

“It was two weeks off,” he said. “I did my own stuff. It was good.”

* Cedric Mullins became the sixth Orioles center fielder with at least four consecutive seasons with 10-plus home runs. He joined Adam Jones (10), Brady Anderson (five), Jackie Brandt (five), Mike Devereaux (four) and Fred Lynn (four).

* Ryan O’Hearn tied his career high by reaching base five times. He said afterward that his left knee was fine after being hit.

The home run seemed to prove it, though he appeared to be walking with a slight limp.

* Ramón Urías had his first three-hit game last night since Sept. 6, 2023.