Who's batting leadoff for Orioles?

SARASOTA, Fla. - Tim Beckham led off for the Orioles last night in their split-squad game against the Phillies and nothing can be read into it.

Manager Buck Showalter hasn't decided on a leadoff hitter. He doesn't know whether it will be a regular or if he'll need two depending on the platoon.

Maybe he'll really buy into the theory that a team's best hitters should be stacked at the top. Practice what others preach.

Colby Rasmus has hit first against right-handers. Chris Davis' last appearance before the cortisone injection in his right elbow came as the leadoff hitter so that he could get more at-bats. Craig Gentry and Alex Presley have done it, too.

There's no logical solution because the Orioles don't have a prototypical model. Few of them exist anymore, as Showalter keeps pointing out.

Mickey Rivers, Vince Coleman, Rickey Henderson, Tim Raines and Kenny Lofton aren't walking through that door. Al Bumbry might do it, but only if he's signing autographs on Eutaw Street.

Beckham was under the impression at FanFest that he'd be the leadoff hitter, a role he eventually filled with the Orioles after they acquired him from the Rays at the non-waiver deadline. And it still could happen despite a career .310 on-base percentage and a higher-than-desired strikeout total.

Rasmus has led off in only five games over his nine-year career and is 2-for-20 with a double and home run. He's mostly hit second (241 starts), fifth (215) and sixth (204).

The Orioles aren't afraid to experiment. Just ask Nick Markakis. But he owns a career .358 on-base percentage. He's a contact hitter. They weren't expecting him to lead the league in stolen bases.

Rasmus has crafted a .242/.311/.438 slash line with the Cardinals, Blue Jays, Astros and Rays. He doesn't fit the mold. He's more slugger, a guy who's struck out in 27 percent of his plate appearances.

Gentry and Presley are trying to earn a spot as an extra outfielder. Gentry bats right-handed and could work in a platoon with Rasmus, which would enable him to lead off on occasion. But he has to make the club as a non-roster invitee.

The more he plays, the more his chances improve.

Gentry has a career .334 on-base percentage and he can swipe a bag, but he projects more as a fourth outfielder. He's started 34 games atop the order and batted .231/.292/.286.

Could Showalter go back to Trey Mancini, who started two games as the leadoff hitter last season? The Notre Dame product had no previous experience, but he went 5-for-13 with two home runs, including three other games when he ended up on that slot.

Mancini owns a .339 on-base percentage in 601 major league plate appearances and a .306/.357/.472 slash line in 2,053 plate appearances in the minors. Nothing else about it makes sense, but he could be the most viable option.

And there's nothing wrong with starting out a game with a home run.

Showalter has mentioned Davis a few times. Big, big strikeout totals, but also a lot of walks. He's routinely led the club and was only two behind Markakis in 2014 in 28 fewer games.

If you're going to be unorthodox, may as well do it with gusto.

Manny Machado wanted to play shortstop. Ask if he also wants to be the leadoff hitter. If you're going to make the guy happy ...

Who would you choose?