Notes from Day 3 of Orioles' spring workouts

SARASOTA, Fla. – Rain is in the Sarasota forecast beginning later this afternoon and continuing through Sunday. The Orioles’ workout schedule is going to be impacted.

Head indoors and shorten the day.

Corbin Burnes threw live batting practice this morning, with Adley Rutschman, Ryan Mountcastle and Ryan O’Hearn among the batters he faced. Rutschman lined a loud single up the middle against reliever Bryan Baker.

Jackson Holliday finished his workouts and stopped by a group of fans to sign autographs. He could have stood there all day. No one is more popular among players.

No one else is currently the No. 1 prospect in baseball.

“He’s been here for quite a while now. A lot of those guys have been here for 10-12 days,” said manager Brandon Hyde.

“Just like last year, I thought he fit right in last year. He’s gotten a little bigger, a little stronger, and taking ground balls every day. He looks great.”

The maturity always stands out. Holliday turned 20 in December, but “he doesn’t act that way,” Hyde said.

“I don’t know what a 20-year-old is supposed to act like, but he’s very mature for his age. But he’s young. He looks young. He doesn’t play the game that way.”

Hyde’s exposure to Jackson beyond workouts is a handful of Grapefruit League games.

“He doesn’t seem nervous when he’s playing,” Hyde said. “He seems really comfortable. He seems comfortable working out with the guys and taking ground balls with them. I think the batting practice, he falls right in line. I didn’t think he was overmatched at the plate last year in major league spring training. So, all of that’s unbelievably impressive for his age.”

Holliday is taking ground balls at shortstop and second base. The Orioles won't try him at third.

“He’s way more comfortable at shortstop than second base at this point,” Hyde said, “so we want to make sure he’s getting as comfortable as he can at second, as well, so we’re putting a lot of work there.”

* Tyler Nevin returned to the Orioles on Jan. 22 in a cash transaction with the Tigers. He’s trying to win a bench job as a backup in the corner infield and outfield.

“Versatility, right-handed bat, a guy that can play four positions,” Hyde said. “Possibly a bench-utility type of right-handed bench bat or spot start or that type of thing. A major league player. It’s nice to have your extra players have some major league experience and Nev has major league experience. If something happens, I feel like he could fill in.”

Nevin described his reaction to the trade as “excitement.”

“I saw what this team was doing from afar last year, and I know the kind of room this team has, and it looked like a lot of fun to be a part of,” he said. “I’m glad I’m back to be a part of it.”

Surprised?

“I’ve thrown expectations out a while ago,” he said, smiling. “I was just excited and I’m welcoming it, for sure.”

Nevin could be labeled a long shot to make the club without an injury, but he’s out of options and should get an extended opportunity in camp.

“I’ve tried not to look too far ahead,” he said. “Just kind of stay doing my own business. I know what kind of player I can be and that’s all I’m focused on right now.”

Nevin’s former Tigers teammate, infielder Nick Maton, arrived Feb. 7 in another cash move.

“He texted me and he’s like, ‘Hey, you’ve got to be kidding me. Seriously? We’re both coming over here?’” Maton said. “It was pretty crazy. It’s how baseball works.

“He likes it. He told me it’s good people surrounding everybody. Everyone’s looking to help you out. I’ve been here for, what, four days? And I already pretty much know everybody and it feels like I’m in the right spot and all the hitting guys are good people. Infield guys, good people. I’m just happy to be here.”

Maton is more versatile with his ability to handle shortstop and second base, the two positions he’s most comfortable. Twenty-three of his 24 career starts at third came last summer. But he’s stepping into the same crowded infield and also is out of options.

“I think I can bring a lot of energy,” he said. “I can play pretty much anywhere in the infield. I can help out in that aspect. And just any way I can help out this team, I can do it.

“If you didn’t have any competition, that wouldn’t really set you forth to be a good squad if everyone was just set in stone, you know? I think competition brings out the best in people.”

Like Nevin, Maton said he was “excited” by the news of his trade.

“It’s always good to have a fresh start anywhere, especially in an organization like this,” he said. “They had a heck of a year last year and there’s a lot of good people in this clubhouse and a lot of good people up top helping everybody out.”

Maton’s brother, Phil, signed with the Rays three days ago, putting them in the same division. Nick said he usually doesn’t get mistaken for his sibling.

“That’s just because he’s a pitcher and I’m an infielder,” Nick said. “If we were both the same thing, there would be a lot of that.”

* Position players are due to report on Monday, but most of them already made it to the Ed Smith Stadium complex.

Anthony Santander, Jorge Mateo, Peyton Burdick and Diego Castillo are marked absent. The Orioles claimed Castillo off waivers yesterday.

“I feel like we already started full-squad workouts, there are so many guys here,” Hyde said. “If you came here a week ago, I think we had almost half our camp here already. Our guys seem excited to get this thing going.

"It makes you a little nervous because we’re trying to keep guys healthy throughout the course of this month, but it just shows you that they’re really excited for the season to start.”