Austin Wynns Takes Setback In Stride

SARASOTA, Fla.—Catcher Austin Wynns finally made it to big league camp after an ankle injury he sustained playing winter ball delayed his arrival.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter finally gets to see what all the fuss is about.

“I can see why so many people like him,” Showalter said after Wynns caught the late innings of a game against the Twins.

Wynns, 26, played at three levels of the system last season, including eight games at Triple-A Norfolk. He hit .287/.336/.416 with six home runs in 80 games.

The Orioles invited Wynns, who they drafted in 2013 in the 10th round out of Fresno State, to big league camp, but they replaced him with catcher Yermin Mercedes and sent Wynns to their minor league complex.

“It’s awesome the first time being (in big league camp),” Wynns said. “Yeah, the ankle injury (shortened my stay), but I’m still glad that I’m here to see everybody and see how they act and stuff like that. I feel blessed.”

Wynns must have felt cursed in the Dominican League, where his chances of joining the big club early fell apart.

“I just did something not smart,” he said. “I was on second base, with the bases loaded, when on a line drive back to the pitcher, I took one step right and then leaped back with the same (right) foot . . . It happens. I rolled it two years ago, too.

“As soon as it happened, of course I was bummed. I was like, ‘First invite and now I’m not going anymore.’ But I’m here now. Here and 100 percent and ready to go.”

Fortunately for Wynns, he was greeted upon his return by positive scouting reports from Showalter.

“That was awesome,” Wynns said. “I don’t look at much of those things. I stay away from all of that, but that’s great to hear. Whenever I get in there, I’ll do the best that I can and be the type of person who I am. And hopefully he likes it.”

BIRD SEED

• Cuban outfielder Dariel Alvarez agreed to become a righthanded pitcher, and the Orioles optioned him to minor league camp to begin the process. He will DH on the days he isn’t on the mound, but they want him working as a reliever and most likely will assign him to a Class A affiliate.

• The Orioles signed 24-year-old first baseman Michael Katz to a minor league deal. The Mets released him last fall.

— Roch Kubatko covers the Orioles for MASNsports.com