Urías could become latest Gold Glove winner to change positions

The Orioles won’t open the 2023 season until March 30 in Boston. The first exhibition game is Feb. 25 in Sarasota. The date for pitchers and catchers reporting to camp hasn’t been announced, but the middle of the month usually is a safe projection.

Plenty of time remains before the Orioles are required to set their 26-man roster. Accuracy isn’t a prerequisite today for posting an Opening Day lineup.

Most of the starters appear set unless there’s a trade, but second base is unsettled and the designated hitter could come from outside the organization – maybe the left-handed bat that remains on the shopping list.

Or not. It’s still early.

I don’t know who’s starting for the Red Sox in the opener, but let’s not overthink it.

Austin Hays is penciled in for left field again, with Cedric Mullins in center and Anthony Santander in right. Adley Rutschman is catching. Gunnar Henderson seems to be the favorite to start at third base, with Jorge Mateo at shortstop and Ryan Mountcastle at first.

Ramón Urías is the current favorite to play second base. Kyle Stowers can be the designated hitter and then step aside for someone else, assuming that nothing happens in camp to jeopardize his roster spot.

Urías would join the list of players who won a Gold Glove, in his case third base, and moved to a different position the following season. It isn't as unusual as I thought.

Gold Gloves were awarded to outfielders without individual spots designated until 2011. Adam Duvall was honored in 2021 for his work in right field and made most of his starts this year in center. Joey Gallo finished first among right fielders in 2021 and moved to left this year.

Cody Bellinger and Gerardo Parra moved from a corner spot to center in 2020 and 2012, respectively.

According to STATS Research, the last infielder to change positions was Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who won it at third base in 2020 and switched to shortstop the following season. Yolmer Sánchez received a Gold Glove at second base in 2019 and made the bulk of his appearances at third base in 2020, though only five.

Perhaps the most surprising example for me was future Hall of Famer Frank Robinson winning a Gold Glove in the outfield in 1958 and becoming the Reds’ first baseman in 1959.

Robinson made 75 starts at first base and 50 in left field in 1960. He didn’t make another start at first base until 1966 with the Orioles, and it was only three.

Rafael Palmeiro is the oddest case. He won a Gold Glove at first base with the Orioles in 1998 and with the Rangers in 1999, the year he made only 28 starts at the position and was used as the designated hitter in 128 games. No idea how that happened.

Alex Rodriguez is a high-profile example with his move from shortstop to third base after joining the Yankees prior to the 2004 season. Derek Jeter wasn’t budging.

I don’t recall Mike Schmidt switching from third base to first in 1985 to make room for future Oriole Rick Schu. Or Bobby Grich going from second base to shortstop in 1977 after leaving the Orioles as a free agent and signing with the Angels.

A painful day for many Baltimore fans.

Here are other examples. See how many you recall:

Ruben Amaro from shortstop in 1964 to first base in ’65.

Joe Pepitone from first base in 1969 to the outfield in ’70.

Carl Yastrzemski from the outfield in 1969 to first base in ’70.

Joe Rudi from the outfield in 1974 to first base in ’75.

Former Linthicum resident Jim Spencer from first base in 1977 to designated hitter in ’78.

Pokey Reese from second base in 2000 to shortstop in ’01.

Michael Young from shortstop in 2008 to third base in ’09.

Placido Polanco from second base in 2009 to third base in ’10.

The Orioles wouldn’t be doing anything unusual with Urías, and he wouldn’t be lost at a different position.

Urías made 36 starts and 48 appearances at shortstop in 2021, and 27 starts and 32 appearances at second base. He was the primary starter at third base this season, but also made 19 starts and 21 appearances at second.

The Orioles like his glove at any position. He could be headed to a regular role at second next year.