This, that and the other

KANSAS CITY – Having Gunnar Henderson back on the active roster creates a ripple effect that pushes an infielder to the bench.

No one is making waves over it. That’s just how it works with a full-time, All-Star shortstop in the lineup.

Jackson Holliday returned to second base last night in the series opener against the Royals, and Jordan Westburg made the start at third. One of them could sit this afternoon, or both could stay on the field while Ramón Urías and Jorge Mateo remain in reserve roles.

Optioning Dylan Carlson yesterday left the Orioles with four outfielders and seven infielders, the original math expectation before they signed Ramón Laureano. Henderson’s stint on the injured list and Mateo’s ability to get ready for Opening Day changed it.

Urías is hitting like an everyday player but doesn’t receive that kind of treatment. He’s 9-for-21 (.429) with a .976 OPS in six games after collecting two more hits Thursday against the Red Sox. Urías and Westburg began last night tied for the team lead with nine hits.

“He’s such a sneaky good baseball player that nobody ever talks about because he’s a premier defender,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “He has made three or four plays already that he’s made look easy that are not. So he offers you that with the ability to go play second base if you need it as well.

“Just the ability to stay on the baseball and hit the ball the other way, getting big hits for us. He had a really good camp, he came in ready to go and he’s off to a great start this season.”

Why aren’t more people talking about Urías? He generated a smidge of attention in 2022 with his Gold Glove at third base, and he was the club’s hottest hitter last summer at the time that he sprained his right ankle on Aug. 31.

Urías isn’t a former top draft pick who attracts national media attention. He arrived on waivers from the Cardinals in February 2020, a season cut short by the pandemic. He’s quiet. He just goes out and does his job. Few outside of the organization seem to notice.

“It’s because of the bigger names,” Hyde said, offering his own theory. “It’s because of the flashy prospects and the shiny new toys a little bit. He’s a really solid major league player, steady and consistent.”

The kind that teams want on their roster, capable of moving around the field and giving competitive at-bats. Low maintenance with the potential for high reward.

“You want high-profile, exciting-type players, but you also need role type guys that really know how to do their job and know how to win,” Hyde said. “Defense is super important. Ramón saves us runs. Like (Thursday), tough righty, hits a ball into right-center, double.

“He’s putting together a nice little career for himself right now. Guys love him in the clubhouse. He’s not the most talkative guy in the world, but it’s incredibly a consistent person every single day. It’s a total pro.”

* The Orioles are in Kansas City for the second April in two years and the main characters in one of last season’s most memorable and amusing moments aren’t with the team.

Colton Cowser caught a fly ball in left field to seal a 9-7 win, stood with his back to the wall and chucked it over his head and into the ballpark’s fountain.

“I just yeeted it behind me,” he said.

Cowser knew immediately that he made a mistake. Closer Craig Kimbrel had recorded his 422^nd career save, tying Billy Wagner for seventh on the all-time list. Kimbrel kept each baseball as he climbed the chart, but Cowser forgot that little detail.

“Right when I threw it, I said, ‘Craig has a lot of saves, that one might have been important,’” Cowser said that night. “I literally told (Cedric Mullins) right whenever, ‘I might have messed up.’ And it turns out I did.

“We got the ball back, though.”  

That’s another reason why the story became an instant classic. Cowser sprinted out of the clubhouse, past the media, and onto the field as some Royals stadium workers tried to retrieve the souvenir. Two balls sat at the bottom of the fountain, but Kimbrel’s was easy to identify because it was much fresher.

Cowser wrapped the ball in a towel and placed it in Kimbrel’s locker, and it sat in a container of dry rice the following day in an attempt to remove the moisture. The Orioles were performing their own science experiment.

“Apparently, the balls sink after two minutes,” Cowser said.

Consider it a learning moment, and one that reminds us how quickly everything can change. Cowser isn’t with the team after fracturing his left thumb in Toronto. Kimbrel was released in September and signed a minor league contract with the Braves in spring training. But they’ll always have the fountain in Kansas City.

* The Orioles have grounded into nine double plays in the last five games, including a pair last night. For perspective here, they hit into only 71 in 2024, the fewest in any 162-game season in major league history. … Tyler O’Neill doubled in the second inning for his 200th career extra-base hit. Three of his nine hits this season are for extra bases. … Dean Kremer has allowed two earned runs of fewer in six of his last 10 starts since Aug. 14, 2024, during which he’s 5-2 with a 3.60 ERA. … Kremer’s eight hits last night were his most since April 13, 2024 against the Brewers (10). … More Kremer: He threw first-pitch strikes to 18 of 22 batters. … The Orioles suffered their first series-opening loss since Sept. 17, 2024 against the Giants. They had won five consecutive series-opening games.