Valera hopes he's in consideration for next year

A player trying to impress in the final month of the season and convince his new team that he deserves a roster spot in 2019 needs to do more than hit and field his position. He has to stay healthy.

Breyvic Valera provided a reminder to manager Buck Showalter that he owned a career .299 average in the minors. Not that Showalter needed it. One of baseball's most prepared men already perused the stats and recited them to the media after the Manny Machado trade to the Dodgers that brought Valera to the Orioles.

Showalter was still getting his arms around Valera's reliability in the field, needing a more extensive look at him. Valera made a tremendous catch of a popup near the right field line and had the instincts to make a throw to first base and try to double off the runner. He also committed three errors in 11 games at second base, and this doesn't include double plays that weren't turned.

More innings and reps would have benefited Valera and the team, which brings us to the part about staying healthy.

Valera tried to score on Jonathan Villar's ground ball to first base in the fifth inning of a Sept. 23 game at Yankee Stadium and thought it would be a good idea to dive into the plate. It isn't headfirst when your arms are extended. It also isn't the safest method.

Gary Sánchez applied the tag while Valera jammed his left hand into the catcher's knee and fractured his index finger. The initial announcement in the press box called the injury a contusion, which seemed odd given how Valera was writhing in pain. An X-ray revealed a fracture of the second metacarpal.

"It's unfortunate," he said via translator Ramón Alarcón. "It's one of those things that happens in the game. I feel very sad about the whole situation, but at the same time, I have to move on, get ready for next season."

The idea of a contusion never crossed Valera's mind. He needed only to look down at his hand.

"At the beginning, it looked weird and it felt really weird," he said. "I was in a lot of pain, but hopefully it's not as bad as I thought it was. Hopefully, I'll be back soon rather than later."

Perhaps with instructions to slide feet first the next time he tries to score.

The Orioles checked the video and determined that Sanchez wasn't illegally blocking the plate.

"Given the recent changes where catchers give you a little bit of lane at home plate, I thought I may have an opportunity if I slide headfirst the way I did," said Valera, who was 10-for-35 in 12 games with the Orioles. "Unfortunately, that didn't work out for me, so I'm going to take this as an experience, something to learn from and something to consider in another opportunity."

The Orioles didn't have a true utility player on their roster on opening day, settling on Danny Valencia - which meant they didn't have a true utility player on their roster. Finding one over the winter and spring proved to be a fruitless endeavor. They weren't able to sign Ryan Flaherty or Ryan Goins to minor league deals. They failed in earlier attempts to acquire Valera, who could join Jace Peterson and Steve Wilkerson in a super utility competition in camp.

Of course, someone needs to start at second base if Villar moves to shortstop.

"I wish I could have played more games," Valera said. "Unfortunately, that didn't happen. I do believe that in the games that I've played I played with everything I've got, with all my heart, and showed what I can do for a team. So hopefully they take me into consideration for next year."

Note: Adam Jones is the Orioles' nominee for the Hank Aaron Award, established in 1999, that goes to the top offensive performer in both leagues. Fans can cast their votes until Oct. 8 on MLB.com or the individual club sites.

Today's question: Peterson appeared in 93 games with the Orioles to have the same-size edge and played third base, second base, shortstop, left field and right field. He also pitched an inning.

Wilkerson got a late start due to his suspension and twice went on the disabled list with oblique and hamstring injuries. He appeared in 16 games, made starts at second and third base, and played one inning at shortstop.

Valera made 10 starts and 11 appearances at second base and one start and two appearances at shortstop. Showalter wanted to give him some reps at third base, but he ran out of time.

If you had to choose a utility player for opening day, is it Peterson, Wilkerson, Valera or none of the above?