This story was excerpted from Jake Rill’s Orioles Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
BALTIMORE -- The Orioles’ lineup has become loaded with burgeoning stars and former top prospects. First, there’s a trio of guys who were once No. 1 atop MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 rankings -- Jackson Holliday (No. 1 overall pick in 2022 Draft), Adley Rutschman (No. 1 overall in ’19) and Gunnar Henderson (second-round pick in ’19).
Then, there are other former Top 100 standouts, such as Colton Cowser (fifth overall in 2021), Jordan Westburg (30th overall in ’20) and Coby Mayo (fourth-rounder in ’20).
It has gotten quite easy for a player like Ramón Urías to get overshadowed. But he shouldn’t be. And everybody inside of Baltimore’s clubhouse knows it.
“It’s Jackson and it’s Gunnar and all these young stars that are nationally recognized, and nobody talks about Ramón,” interim manager Tony Mansolino said. “We know how good he is in here. I don’t think the national media understands his value. But certainly, here, we see it every night.”
The 31-year-old Urías is again somewhat quietly having a productive season. Entering Monday, he was hitting .278 with seven doubles, four home runs, 23 RBIs and a .727 OPS in 48 games.
When Westburg returned from a left hamstring strain a week ago, it looked like it would become harder for the O’s to get Urías into the lineup. However, he started four of the six games during the homestand vs. the Tigers and Angels, and he was in the lineup again for Monday’s series opener against the Rays in Tampa.
Urías also played a big role in several recent victories, homering in a 10-1 win over Detroit on Wednesday and going deep again in an 11-2 victory over the Angels on Sunday.
How has Urías gone from a fringe roster player in 2020 and ’21 to a Gold Glove winner at third base in ’22 to still serving in a valuable role every year since?
“Just trying to survive, you know? Got to do it one way or the other,” Urías said. “And just stay focused and stay ready for whenever they need me.”
Born in Magdalena de Kino, Mexico, Urías signed with the Rangers as a 16-year-old in December 2010. However, he ended up back in his native Mexico by ’13, playing in his home country through the ’17 season, seemingly off the radar of MLB teams.
But the Cardinals brought Urías back to the United States in early 2018. He bounced around in the Minors until getting designated for assignment in February ’20, when he was claimed off waivers by the Orioles.
“Talk about coming back from the dead, just to get picked up by affiliated baseball,” Mansolino said. “I mean, he was done. You go to Mexico for six years, even being a native, you’re done in professional baseball, or the American side of it.”
Instead, Urías capitalized on the opportunity in Baltimore. Mansolino, who became the third-base/infield coach prior to the 2021 season, acknowledges that Urías was “probably, truthfully, on his way out at that point” in ’21 amid various roster crunches that year.
Urías never allowed himself to become the odd man out, in part because he’s been willing to play every position on the infield. Nor has he since, continually proving he can carve out a job alongside the bigger stars joining the fray.
He still impresses with his glove -- as he did Wednesday, when he snagged a 105.3 mph liner off the bat of Detroit’s Zach McKinstry in the sixth inning.
“I didn’t even see the ball, and next thing, I turn around and Urí had it in the glove,” said right-hander Zach Eflin, who was pitching at the time. “He’s a ballplayer, man. He’s so much fun, watching him play. Gold Glover, you feel so comfortable with him at the hot corner.”
A similar sentiment has been repeatedly expressed by others in the Orioles’ clubhouse, including those impressed by his offensive performance as well.
“Urí is a good player. We’re lucky to have him on our club,” Westburg said. “I wouldn't want him to be torching us playing for another club. So I'm happy we’ve got him. I think he's overlooked in the grand scheme of things and how big a role he's played since he's been here in Baltimore. So, yeah, I love Urí. Happy for him. Hope he keeps swinging it, because he's helping us out a ton.”