Running through some of the Orioles' biggest steals

The Orioles wisely used their selection in the eighth round of the 2013 draft on Notre Dame first baseman Trey Mancini, who has emerged as their top hitter and someone capable of making the transition to the outfield.

Finding Mancini still available after using earlier picks on outfielder Josh Hart, left-hander Travis Seabrooke, infielder Drew Dosch and catchers Jonah Heim and Alex Murphy was fortuitous. He's going to be a steal if he continues to grow as a player, the heights perhaps including his selection to the All-Star Game this summer in Cleveland.

But is Mancini, who had three more hits last night, the biggest steal on the roster?

It depends on who's in charge of the choosing. There isn't one formula to make the determination. But here are a few other candidates:

* The Orioles announced on April 14, 2017, while I was away from the team and dining in Turf Valley, that they acquired reliever Paul Fry from the Mariners for international bonus slot No. 105, valued at $198,000. They also designated pitcher Parker Bridwell for assignment to create a spot for him.

A pretty shrewd move by former executive Dan Duquette, but at the time I remember thinking between my salad and entrée that Glenn Frey probably would be more useful than this obscure left-hander and that the Orioles would regret parting with Bridwell.

Research done later showed that Fry had registered a 2.78 ERA in 55 innings with Triple-A Tacoma the previous summer and the former 17th-round pick in 2013, the same draft class that produced Mancini, averaged 11 strikeouts per nine innings over five minor league seasons. He surrendered an average of 0.2 home runs per nine innings.

I still didn't know him.

Duquette sent out a text message that read: "Fry has compiled an excellent record in a short time with a deceptive delivery and a good slider. Our staff likes the way he keeps the ball down in the zone and in the park. We look forward to his contributions to the Orioles."

The Orioles acquired reliever Damien Magnifico from the Brewers for another bonus slot less than 24 hours earlier. He didn't live up to his last name, but Fry has sizzled.

Manager Brandon Hyde is using Fry in high-leverage situations, with more of them available while Richard Bleier is on the injured list with left shoulder tendinitis. Fry earned the trust of the old regime last summer and it's carried over in 2019.

* Bleier will go down as one of Duquette's best moves with the Orioles, who got him from the Yankees on Feb. 21, 2017 for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

How many other relievers can brag about posting ERAs under 2.00 in three consecutive major league seasons?

Bleier was involved in the fourth roster move in four days, with Duquette signing outfielder Craig Gentry to a minor league deal, acquiring left-hander Vidal Nuño III from the Dodgers and re-signing outfielder Michael Bourn to a minor league deal. Bleier easily is the pick of the litter.

He just needs to get healthy.

* Renato Núñez came to the Orioles last year via a waiver claim on May 13. They passed him through waivers and outrighted him two days later, as they did last summer with infielder Luis Sardiñas.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Núñez had his contract selected in July while the Orioles dismantled their roster as the first stage of their rebuild. The audition at third base brought mixed results, the bat intriguing and the erratic defense worrisome.

The Orioles found a solution this spring, taking advantage of Núñez's sore right biceps by using him almost exclusively as the designated hitter. He's made three starts at first base, his first career appearances at the position, and none at third.

Núñez slashed .275/.336/.445 last summer in 60 games and was batting .301/.356/.538 with four doubles, six home runs and 18 RBIs before last night.

Hyde is using Núñez in the cleanup spot in the order. Núñez was tied with Mancini for the team lead in home runs and with Dwight Smith Jr. for the lead in RBIs as the Orioles began their series in Minnesota. Smith picked up his 19th last night.

Only Mancini ranked ahead of Núñez in average (.337) and OPS (.997).

* Smith showed up late in camp after the Orioles acquired him from the Blue Jays on March 8 for international signing bonus slot funds. He was viewed as outfield depth, with one minor league option remaining that they figured to use. But he beat out Eric Young Jr. and others and has become the regular left fielder.

"Dwight Smith is a young outfielder with a strong track record of performance and a plus-hit tool from the left side," executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias said in a statement. "We like adding him to what has become a deep and varied outfield mix in camp."

The Blue Jays selected Smith in the first round (53rd overall) in the 2011 draft out of McIntosh (Ga.) High School and he slashed .293/.365/.467 in 47 games over the past two seasons. But Mark Shapiro, introduced as president and CEO in November 2015, had no ties to Smith beyond inheriting him.

Smith had two career home runs before joining the Orioles. He hit five in 19 exhibition games and has five more in the regular season.

* The Winter Meetings will be remembered for news of Hyde's selection as manager breaking a few minutes before the media sat with Elias in his suite at Mandalay Bay. But the club made an important roster move on Dec. 10 by claiming infielder Rio Ruiz off waivers from the Braves.

It didn't seem that important at the time, but Ruiz is playing a solid third base and coming up with some important hits.

Ruiz was supposed to compete with Núñez for the job, perhaps working his way into a platoon arrangement. He has two minor league options remaining and could have been playing for Triple-A Norfolk this month.

Ruiz's .333 on-base percentage ranked fourth on the club before last night. He's been a keeper.

* Elias selected Hanser Alberto off waivers from the Yankees on Jan. 11, lost him to the Giants on Feb. 22 and claimed him again on March 1. Did anyone favor him as the utility infielder on a three-man bench?

Alberto has stuck around and played second base, third base and left field. He also pitched an inning for the first time in his career.

Hyde kept praising Alberto for being a good clubhouse guy. Alberto has turned into a trustworthy player who's been cracking the lineup with more regularity, playing all nine innings in both ends of last Saturday's doubleheader.

Alberto manned third base, left field and second base in Game 2.