Reimold returns

He was considered a Rookie of the Year candidate late into last season. Nolan Reimold must have figured this year would go a lot differently for him than it has. But today, for the first time since May 11, he is back with the Orioles. "I didn't play well so I got sent down and then I kept not playing well, so I had to stay down there until I got it right. I've been swinging it well lately. I'm glad to get the callup and I'm excited to be back up here. "Of course, I thought there was a shot because I've been swinging the bat better. If you look at my overall numbers, they are not very good but as of late, I've been swinging it better. They are giving me a shot and I'm happy to be here." The surgery to repair his left Achilles left Reimold still hobbled during spring training. Then he was sent back to Triple-A in May, batting just .205-2-10 in 29 games with the Orioles. "It was just kind of a downright spiral. Things just kept getting worse and worse until finally, I got to that point where I had to snap out of it, turn things around, start playing a lot better and finish the year a lot stronger than I started it. "I'm happy to be up here and looking forward to get out there and playing some baseball at Camden Yards. I'm excited to be in the lineup tonight." Reimold could not get untracked when he first got to Norfolk, batting just .122 in his first 14 games there and he was still hitting under .200 as late as mid June. "It was easy to figure out why I was still there. If you look at how I was playing, look at my numbers, that's why I was there. I had to take a step back and take a deep breath and try to start fresh and forget about the past. You can't hit .300 in one swing. It kind of came down to, that's what I was trying to do. I realized that I don't have to do that. I had to step back and get a fresh start." A second-round draft pick from 2005, Reimold has called this the most difficult year of his career. "Difficult yeah, of course. And disappointing. You could certainly say that. But I'm glad that I turned things around and that I'm getting the opportunity to be back up here. I'm looking to make the most of it. "I don't think I'm the player that I was earlier this year. I think how I played as of late, and last year, is more indicative of the type of player that I am. I'm just looking to get up here and show that I can get up here and play again." Reimold hit .249-10-37 overall in 94 Tides games, but batted .320-2-12 in 28 games in August and was batting .288 since the All-Star break. Reimold played some games at first base in his time at Triple-A. "Good. I enjoy first. I like playing there. You are a lot more involved in the game and you can meet a lot of guys at first. It's a lot of fun." Right now, just being back in Baltimore and coming off his best month of the season has been more fun for him.