Will nine scoreless innings lead local kid to opening day roster?

We don't know what the stats say about a couple of Bruce Zimmermann outings in B games and/or on the back fields, but we do know his stats in three spring training games have been close to perfect.

Hard to top a zero ERA over nine innings.

The Baltimore native, 2013 Loyola High School grad and former player at Towson University got his feet wet with two games in the majors late last year. He gave up five runs in three innings in a start against Tampa Bay and allowed one run over four innings in relief at Boston.

For this season, a couple of questions remain about the 26-year-old lefty. Will he make the staff for opening day and will he be in the rotation? He didn't start in any of his three spring games, but he gave up just one hit over nine innings with three walks and 10 strikeouts.

What more could he have done? During a Zoom interview yesterday, he said he had not been told yet if he has made the team.

"Just how the rotation is shaking out right now, obviously they are still stretching out a lot of starters," Zimmermann said. "So I feel really good about how I've come into camp and how I've played so far. I think I've shown what I needed to show and done everything that I could in my power to show that, you know, I've earned a spot on the roster.

"I will keep going about my business and taking care of what I need to take care of day-to-day. It looks like I will probably get one more outing here before the end of camp. So just looking forward to building off what I have done so far and let the chips fall where they may when it comes to a roster decision."

Zimmermann went two scoreless innings on March 4 against Boston, went three innings five days later versus Minnesota and threw four scoreless frames March 14 against Detroit. On March 19, he pitched five innings in a B game, and he said he threw on back fields on Wednesday.

"I went out there with a goal in mind each game of attacking the zone and putting pressure on the hitters," he said. "And being efficient, and I think in all my starts, I was able to keep a very low pitch count. There are a couple of times where I fell behind and worked back through that and put guys away when I could. There are always things to improve on. You know, there's always balls that are hit hard but are caught. Stats are never perfect in that way. But as far as how I've pitched so far, I'm very, very happy with the results.

"Some of the key things I was working on (Wednesday) was really working on changeups and sliders effectively to both sides of the plate. That was a big goal of mine. But also need to continue what I've been doing well, which is attacking the zone and working ahead and being efficient. There is definitely a little less adrenaline in those back-field games, but it doesn't take away from the fact you are getting ready for the season. So you have to go in there with a plan and be committed to it and get your work in for the day."

Zimmermann, acquired by the Orioles July 31, 2018 in a trade with Atlanta, has shown solid life on his fastball this spring. He said he doesn't feel he's added velocity. He said he's throwing about 93.5 mph, as he did in March last year, but a more normal offseason has helped him throw with nice late life. His offseason regimen included long toss, work with weighted balls and hitting the weight room.

"As the arm loosens up and we get to midseason shape with the arm, maybe got one or two more (ticks) in there. But I'm happy where I'm sitting at now in spring training," said Zimmermann.

He's already made his Camden Yards debut. But he hasn't pitched with fans, including family and friends, in those stands. A special outing could be in his near future at Oriole Park.

"It is definitely a big motivator for me, I can't deny that," he said. "It's going to be special to finally hear that Camden "O" with fans in the stands for the first time. Being on the field, instead being one of the ones yelling it ... But being able to possibly be with the team on opening day, in Camden Yards, is definitely going to be a highlight that I will always remember if it's possible."

Hays' hit fest: Austin Hays had a double, a triple and a three-run homer in last night's 10-9 win over Pittsburgh. He also had two outfield assists in the first three innings. Hays has had a huge spring for the Orioles and has looked ready for days.

He is 18-for-44, batting .409/.447/.750 with an OPS of 1.197. Ryan Mountcastle, who also hit a three-run homer last night, leads the club in both homers (four) and RBIs (13). Hays is second in both with three and 11.

It could be a year where Hays hits both at the top of the order some and at other times in the middle of it. That is a versatile hitter.

Is he up for that?

"Yeah, I'm comfortable wherever," he said. "Obviously, if you are hitting in the five-hole, you're probably going to get some more RBI opportunities. Just the nature of the beast. You've got Mounty and Trey (Mancini), who are going to get on base a lot hitting in front of you.

"I don't mind leading off. I led off a lot when I was younger growing up. I was always the table setter, so, I'm kind of comfortable wherever as long as my name is on the lineup card."

I tweeted out a guess at a 14-man pitching staff yesterday. That was before Keegan Akin gave up six runs in 2 1/3 innings. Wonder how much that could have hurt his cause.

One possible 14-man staff -

* Starters: Means, Kremer, Harvey, Akin, Zimmermann
* Long guys: Lopez, Wells
* LHR: Fry, Scott
* RHR: Valdez, Armstrong, Tate, Lakins, Sulser

-- Steve Melewski (@masnSteve) March 25, 2021