The Orioles introduced this morning that they’ve chosen the contract of infielder/outfielder Nick Maton. To make room for Maton on the membership’s 40-man and lively rosters, catcher David Banuelos has been designated for task.
Maton, 27, is again on the Orioles’ lively roster for the second time this 12 months. He made a two-inning cameo on protection at second base earlier this 12 months however didn’t step as much as the plate earlier than being designated for task and outrighted off the 40-man roster again in June. The versatile fielder has been enjoying for the membership’s Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk ever since, and his season there has gone fairly nicely. In 86 video games on the degree this season, Maton has raked to the tune of a .261/.368/.477 slash line with a 13.2% stroll fee and 16 homers in 340 journeys to the plate. Along with that robust exhibiting on the plate, Maton has flashed his versatility by splitting time between all 4 infield spots in addition to each outfielder corners.
Now in his fourth season within the majors, Maton loved success in a part-time function with the Phillies throughout the first two seasons of his profession as he slashed a strong .254/.330/.434 in 216 journeys to the plate throughout a mixed 86 video games in these years. Maton went on to be traded to the Tigers as a part of the Gregory Soto commerce throughout the 2022-23 offseason, however his time in Detroit left a lot to be desired. In 93 video games with the Tigers final 12 months, Maton hit a paltry .173/.288/.305 throughout 293 plate appearances, a tough efficiency that led the infielder to be designated for task over the winter and ultimately swapped to Baltimore in a money deal again in February.
Even despite these offensive struggles final 12 months, Maton’s earlier success in Philadelphia on the massive league degree and his robust minor league numbers with the Orioles this 12 months present some purpose for optimism that he might be an efficient bench bat for the membership. A return to kind would make Maton a beneficial piece for the Orioles down the stretch, significantly because the membership weathers the losses of Jorge Mateo, Jordan Westburg, and Ramon Urias to the injured listing across the infield. Mateo is finished for the 12 months after present process elbow surgical procedure final week, and whereas there’s optimism that each Westburg and Urias will return to motion earlier than the tip of the season neither has a particular timetable for return so far. That leaves Maton because the membership’s main backup on the infield behind kids Gunnar Henderson at shortstop, Jackson Holliday at second base, and Coby Mayo at third, although Emmanuel Rivera might additionally chip in on the sizzling nook once in a while.
As for Banuelos, the catcher was chosen to the massive league roster simply yesterday to interchange the injured Urias on the membership’s roster. He didn’t in the end make it into yesterday’s recreation earlier than being designated for task, and he figures to move again to the minors with only one massive league plate look below his belt from when he pinch hit for Colton Cowser again in April throughout his final cup of espresso on the massive league degree. In 22 video games on the Triple-A degree this 12 months, Banuelos sports activities a .225/.361/.352 slash line throughout 86 journeys to the plate.
