Sean Coyle Makes Most Of His Shot With Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla.—Sean Coyle has learned that being assigned to the minor league camp doesn’t exclude a player from contributing to the Orioles and earning points with manager Buck Showalter.

Coyle became a regular presence on the travel roster and the list of extra players brought to Ed Smith Stadium, and he responded with two doubles and two home runs in his first 12 at-bats.

The Orioles were being no-hit for eight innings of a March 16 game against the Phillies until Chris Dickerson singled off Michael Mariot with one out in the ninth and Coyle followed with a two-run shot.

Munching on a slice of pizza afterward while surrounded by reporters, Coyle seemed right at home in a major league clubhouse.

“It’s been awesome just being over on this side, getting to know these guys and getting to know the big league staff, getting some opportunities and getting in some games to show what I can do,” he said. “I worked hard this offseason, so it’s really cool to get an opportunity.”

The Orioles signed Coyle from the Red Sox organization over the winter. The third-round pick in 2010 out of Germantown Academy in Pennsylvania hit 16 home runs at Double-A Portland in 2014, but injuries the past two seasons tarnished his prospect status. He batted .193 in 2015 and .181 in 2016, both years playing at three levels of the farm system.

“Coyle’s had some really good at-bats down here,” Showalter said. “I was talking to him walking up to the right field corner in Port Charlotte and I said, ‘Where have you been the last two years?’ The year before he had a big year and hit 16 home runs. He’s been hurt the last two years, shoulder issues and stuff. He said it’s the first time he’s been healthy in a long time.

“He’s a guy they drafted pretty high, thought he was going to be (Dustin) Pedroia. Pedroia’s gotten a lot of short, scrappy guys drafted.”

BIRD SEED

• The Orioles signed pitcher Andrew Bellatti to a minor league deal. Bellatti, 25, made his major league debut with the Rays in 2015 and went 3-1, 2.31 in 17 relief appearances.

• The Orioles optioned lefthander Chris Lee to Triple-A Norfolk, but they still regard him as a candidate for the fifth starter’s job. They don’t need one until April 15.

— Roch Kubatko covers the Orioles for MASNSports.com