With Opening Day only a few days away, we’ll take a look at a member of the 2016 Orioles every day as they try to return to the playoffs for the third time in five years this season.
March 1 – Adam Jones
March 2 – Chris Tillman
March 3 – Jonathan Schoop
March 4 – Brad Brach
March 5 – Nolan Reimold
March 6 – Yovani Gallardo
March 7 – Matt Wieters
March 8 – T.J. McFarland
March 9 – Dariel Alvarez
March 10 – Brian Matusz
March 11 – J.J. Hardy
March 12 – Mychal Givens
March 13 – Ryan Flaherty
March 14 – Ubaldo Jimenez
March 15 – Mark Trumbo
March 16 – Darren O’Day
March 18 – Pedro Alvarez
March 19 – Oliver Drake
March 20 – Mike Wright
March 21 – Zach Britton
March 22 – Caleb Joseph
March 23 – Dylan Bundy
March 24 – Christian Walker
March 25 – Chaz Roe
March 27 – Manny Machado
March 28 – Chris Davis
March 29 – Miguel Gonzalez (placed on release waivers on Wednesday)
March 30 – Kevin Gausman
March 31 – Joey Rickard
SP/RP Tyler Wilson
Age: 26
Contract status: Under club control through the 2021 season
2015 stats: 2-2, 3.50 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 3.3 K/IP, 2.8 BB/IP, 1 HR, 36 innings
Why to be impressed: The right-hander posted a 3.40 ERA at Triple-A Norfolk in 164 1/3 innings over the last two seasons and was able to carry over that success in nine appearances (five starts) with the Orioles last year. He earned an Opening Day roster spot and remains in contention for the No. 5 starter job after posting a 2.60 ERA in 17 1/3 innings this spring.
Why to be concerned: Wilson averaged 7.1 strikeouts per nine innings at Triple A, but his strikeout rate was very low in the majors last year and he punched out an underwhelming 5.2 per nine innings this spring. He has been the classic overachiever in the minors with a fastball that only hovers around 90 miles per hour, but it’s unclear whether he can succeed with less-than-stellar stuff in the majors.
2016 outlook: The injury to Kevin Gausman has opened the door for Wilson to begin the season in the starting rotation, but he would seem to be a better fit as a long reliever. It’s hard to imagine him repeating his home run rate of 0.2 per nine innings in the majors last year and he will need to miss more bats if he’s to make it at this level, but Wilson is a competitor who will do whatever he can to succeed.
2016 not-so-scientific projections: 5-4, 4.32 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 5.6 K/IP, 2.6 BB/IP, 8 HR, 71 innings
