Santander: “I think we’re in a great position to compete and go further this postseason”

SARASOTA, Fla. – Anthony Santander was on his own for this morning’s media scrum.

The team interpreter was in a meeting. Santander can handle an interview solo but enjoys having his friend close, just in case he gets crossed up.

You’ve seen him at his locker postgame with his arm around Brandon Quinones’ shoulder. Always smiling. Rarely in need of any assistance.  

“I’ll do my best,” he said.

Santander had spent the last few months in Venezuela and joked that he was out of practice speaking English. But he came through again in the clutch.

The man reports to the complex today, the due date for position players, and already is in midseason form.

Santander made one important adjustment over the winter, hiring a dietitian in Miami to improve his eating habits.

“Good nutrition,” he said. “Keep working on my body to be healthy all season. It’s a long season, so we have to put our body in good position to play every single day, and I think good nutrition is a big part of it.”

The plan was steeped in logic. Eliminate the obvious evils.

“Less sugar, less carbs, more protein, more vegetables. Balance,” he said.

“Don’t eat too much rice, like we normally do as Latin players. I’ve been really consistent with my diet.”

Santander has played in 152 and 153 games over the past two seasons and led the club last year with 41 doubles and 95 RBIs, tied Gunnar Henderson for first with 28 home runs and ranked second with 152 hits and a .472 slugging percentage.

“It’s one of our main run-producers, and the kind of years he’s had the last few years,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “One of the better hitters in the American League, and switch-hits. Does damage from both sides. Gets huge hits for us. It’s been fun watching him grow over the last handful of years, not only the player he is but the person he is, too, and a huge part of our lineup.”

The Rangers swept the Orioles in the Division Series, but Santander went 3-for-11 with a home run and two walks.

“A little tough, but we’re in a new year, we got here with the right mentality to work hard, get better every single day to be in the World Series this year,” Santander said. “That’s our goal for everybody here.”

The Orioles probably don’t need much motivation, but the abrupt ending to their magical season further fuels them.

“Sure,” Santander said. “I think we’re in a great position to compete and go further this postseason.”

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias took a few big steps in that direction by signing closer Craig Kimbrel and trading for No. 1 starter Corbin Burnes.

“I think that’s great,” Santander said. “I think they have the talent and experience to help us this year.”

How good are the Orioles in 2024?

“We’re about to see when the season starts,” he said, smiling. “We’re pretty confident that we’re going to continue working hard and keep improving and just beat everybody.

“People didn’t talk about us last year and look what we’ve done.”

New pitcher Matt Krook also reported this morning after the Orioles acquired him from the Yankees yesterday afternoon for cash considerations.

“I was hoping to be somewhere, and super excited that I ended up with this amazing team, getting to see them from the other side last year,” he said. “Super excited.”

Krook made his major league debut this summer with the Yankees and allowed 11 runs and eight hits with six walks and three strikeouts in four innings over four relief appearances.

“I learned a ton,” he said. “I think the biggest takeaway is off-the-field stuff is a lot different than the minor leagues, so I think just getting comfortable being up there and just trusting myself. I think that was the biggest takeaway is, like, it’s the same game and just got to attack a little better.”

The Triple-A season was much kinder to Krook, except he still had serious bouts of wildness. He posted a 1.32 ERA and 1.059 WHIP in 27 games and striking out 55 batters in 34 innings. He also walked 26.

As for the good part of it, Krook said, “I think it was just consistency, trying to improve command on multiple pitchers and just attacking the zone.”

Krook averages 5.8 walks per nine innings in the minors and much of the blame can be aimed at working deep into counts.

“I think getting ahead is gonna be the biggest thing, and that was a big target for me in the offseason, something to work on,” he said. “I think strike one is going to be huge for me. Huge for everyone, obviously.”

The Orioles brought in Krook to compete for a bullpen spot after trading left-hander DL Hall and likely moving lefty Cole Irvin back into the rotation. He moved into an exclusive relief role last summer after dabbling in the past.

“It was a pretty easy transition for me just because I had been a reliever when I was with Tampa in the minor leagues and I loved it,” he said. “I like pitching more often, so for me it was a good thing.”