Nolan Reimold: "I feel like I'm at a point where I can contribute to the team"

Nolan Reimold was back in the Orioles clubhouse today. It's been a while. He has not played in a game for the Orioles since July 13, 2013, but tonight he'll bat sixth and start in left field against Boston.

"It's been a long, windy road, I guess," Reimold said this afternoon. "But made it back and it's been a goal of mine to get back here for a long time. Made it and it feels good to be here and just really happy that things worked out. I was getting at-bats pretty much every day down at Norfolk, which is what I really needed to do after the last few years.

"I feel like I'm at a point where I can contribute to the team. It's kind of a cliche, help the team win, but I really feel like I'm at a point where I will be able to do that, so, the key for me is to stay on the field and so far I've been able to do that, knock on wood. So, hopefully it goes well."

Then he actually did knock on wood, doing so on his locker.

A second-round draft pick by the Orioles in 2005, Reimold was an ex-Oriole for a while last year. He was claimed on waivers by Toronto on July 6, 2014 and by Arizona on Aug. 28, 2014.

But Reimold signed a minor league deal with the Orioles on February 3 and had a strong major league camp in March. At Triple-A Norfolk, he hit 286/.351/.389 with 12 doubles, two home runs and 13 RBIs in 46 games.

In 14 games since May 22, Reimold has batted .422 (19-for-45) with a .469 on-base percentage. He has six multi-hit games and leads the International League in average and OBP over that stretch.

Was it tougher making it back to the Orioles this time?

"I wouldn't say it's more difficult," Reimold said. "I feel better this year than in years past. In that regard, it was easier to play every day without having any setbacks. The big thing for me was to get the consistent at-bats and then hopefully get here.

"Just getting consistent at-bats and being healthy (has been the key the last few weeks). Really been three years since I've had consistent at-bats. That was big for me. Starting the year in Norfolk was, I think in the long run, a better thing for me.

"I wasn't really thinking about it (a possible call-up,) but it's in the back of your mind. You want that call to come, but I just focused on what I needed to do down there to get back here, and that was playing well."

Reimold was on Orioles' opening day roster three times, but not this year as he had to play his way back to the team. He did that, potentially now rewarding the Orioles for taking another shot with him.

"This is where I wanted to be," he said. "Feel like the organization knows me better and I think they care more. Not too much loyalty in professional sports, but I do feel a sense of loyalty here in Baltimore. I think they care about what happens to me, and that is one of the big reasons why I chose to come back here. I'm not taking it for granted, been a while since I've been here. Really happy."