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Orioles Notes: Tate, Kimbrel, Norby

By Steve Adams | April 30, 2024 at 12:11pm CDT

The Orioles announced last night that right-hander Dillon Tate has been optioned to Triple-A Norfolk, thus opening a roster spot for lefty Cionel Perez to return from the injured list. Perez missed the past month with an oblique strain.

It’s a somewhat surprising move, if only because Tate hasn’t been optioned to the minors since the 2019 season. The right-hander has been a constant in Baltimore’s bullpen when healthy over the past several seasons, pitching to a combined 3.90 ERA with a sub-par 19% strikeout rate but strong 7.5% walk rate and borderline elite 58.3% ground-ball rate dating back to that 2019 campaign. He’s missed time along the way, including a season-long absence just last year while he battled a flexor strain.

Tate, 29, entered the current season with 4.048 years of big league service time and picked up another 32 days prior to yesterday’s option. He needs to accrue an additional 92 days of service in 2024 to reach five years and remain on track for free agency following the 2025 season. Once he does reach that five-year mark — whenever that may be — he’d also be granted the perk of needing to give his consent to be optioned again in the future.

For now, the O’s can continue to shuttle Tate back and forth if they see fit. He’s gotten out to a solid start in his return effort, pitching to a 2.84 ERA in 12 2/3 innings. Tate’s 12.2% strikeout rate is concerning enough on its own, but when coupled with a matching 12.2% walk rate it’s fair to question how long he can sustain the results he’s generated to date. His 61.1% grounder rate remains outstanding, but Tate’s average sinker velocity is down from 2021’s 95.5 mph peak all the way to 91.9 mph in 2024. Given the concerning K-BB profile and dip in velocity, it’s understandable if the Orioles want him to work on some things in Norfolk. He’d also pitched on consecutive days and was thus likely to be unavailable last night.

Tate’s demotion and Perez’s return shake up what’s been a middle-of-the-pack bullpen overall this season. Baltimore relievers rank 16th in baseball with a 3.88 ERA, although they sit fourth and sixth, respectively, with a 26.1% strikeout rate and 8.2% walk rate. That comes despite the absence of star closer Felix Bautista, who won’t pitch this season after undergoing Tommy John surgery last October. Veteran Craig Kimbrel signed a one-year deal to take over as the closer and has generally pitched well, though he’s run into some troubles of late and is currently day-to-day with back discomfort after exiting his Sunday appearance.

Manager Brandon Hyde said yesterday that Kimbrel was feeling better than on Sunday and that the team remains hopeful he can avoid a trip to the 15-day injured list (X link via MASNsports.com’s Steve Melewski). The 35-year-old allowed just one earned run with a scintillating 17-to-2 K/BB ratio in his first 11 innings this season but has given up three runs on three hits and four walks over his last two appearances — all while recording only two outs. Kimbrel’s velocity held strong, but it’s clear he was struggling with his command over those two outings — quite possibly due to the current back ailment he’s facing. Time will tell whether the O’s make an IL move, but to this point that doesn’t appear to be in the cards.

One other topic weighing on the minds of Orioles fans at the moment is when top prospect Connor Norby might get his first look in the big leagues. Many thought that might’ve been the corresponding move when Jackson Holliday was optioned after his early struggles, but Baltimore instead brought back outfielder Ryan McKenna, who’s also been getting some infield work at second base to expand his versatility.

Norby may not have gotten the call just yet, but “his time is coming,” general manager Mike Elias tells Jacob Calvin Meyer of the Baltimore Sun. Elias notes that Norby, a 2021 second-rounder who’s been ranked among the sport’s top-100 prospects in the past, is still working to refine his defensive skills at both second base and in the outfield corners — the latter of which is newer to his skill set. The O’s played Norby in left field for just 58 innings in 2022 but ramped him up to a combined 258 innings between the outfield corners last season. He’s already logged 144 innings of outfield work this season, compared to just 69 at second base.

Elias didn’t place a specific timetable on Norby’s potential ascension to the big leagues. However, the 23-year-old is out to a nice .274/.346/.487 slash this season in Norfolk, having connected on six homers and six doubles to go along with a pair of steals. This year’s 29.1% strikeout rate is a bit concerning and possibly another contributing factor to Norby remaining in the minors; he fanned at just a 21.6% clip in 633 plate appearances there last season. Meyer chatted with both Elias and Norby’s former (and presumably future) teammate Colton Cowser about the promising prospect’s work ethic and long-term outlook, which O’s fans will want to check out in full.

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Baltimore Orioles Cionel Perez Connor Norby Craig Kimbrel Dillon Tate

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19 Comments

  1. MagicOriole

    1 year ago

    If I had to make a prediction on this, it would be that Connor Norby never plays an inning as an Oriole.

    Reply
    • thejmann7

      1 year ago

      What about Mayo? He’s who should be next imo

      3
      Reply
      • MagicOriole

        1 year ago

        Agreed. I hope his 3B defense is good enough to take over there soon because that is the only thing standing in his way.

        Reply
        • sad tormented neglected mariners fan

          1 year ago

          What if the O’s want Holliday at SS? Henderson would then be planted at 3rd, then it would be mayo vs Samuel at 1B and westburg vs norby at 2nd
          If Holliday is the 2B, then mayo could fit at 3B, Samuel at 1st and still be westburg vs norby
          Norby would be the first to be voted off O’s prospect island

          Reply
        • cantonjester

          1 year ago

          Holliday’s arm (currently) isn’t strong enough for SS.

          Reply
        • paosfan

          1 year ago

          Are you kidding me? That’s not why he’s playing 2nd

          Reply
    • sultan of swat

      1 year ago

      I wonder if they see Norby as a super utility guy. Hence, the learning the corner OF spots. Maybe to increase his trade value?He’s not taking Holiday’s or Westburg’s spot or else he’d be up already. Good problem to have I guess but he can’t stay in the minors forever.

      Reply
      • MacGromit

        1 year ago

        if the O’s find a taker for Ramon Urias, then Norby might be able to take Urias’ utility spot but he’s still not have a lot of PA’s. I hate it for Norby as he’s a local guy (to me here in NC) and I’d love to see him succeed. while the team is currently in 1st, my biggest concern is mostly how the bullpen can improve given it’s lack of optionable pieces and Kimbrell’s recent injury/struggles.

        1
        Reply
    • tuck 2

      1 year ago

      Well fortunately you don’t.

      Reply
  2. LordD99

    1 year ago

    Perhaps they simply want another lefty option for earlier in the game in they plan to use Coulombe as one of the closer options until the Kimbrel situation is clearer?

    Reply
  3. Deleted Userr

    1 year ago

    Wouldn’t need as many relievers if they had a fairly recent Cy Young winner with a proven ability to pitch deep into games making the league minimum in their rotation. *wink*

    1
    Reply
    • Os1995

      1 year ago

      The Orioles already have a fairly recent Cy Young winner with a proven ability to pitch deep into games in their rotation.

      4
      Reply
      • Deleted Userr

        1 year ago

        What’s he making?

        Reply
        • Os1995

          1 year ago

          How does his pay influence the need for relievers?

          1
          Reply
    • C Yards Jeff

      1 year ago

      Like “*wink*”

      Reply
  4. sultan of swat

    1 year ago

    Go in on Hader. Kimbrel is not the answer to close this year. Let him be a set up guy. Trading a guy outside ur top 15 might get it done. Astros probably happy to unload his contract.

    Reply
  5. dano62

    1 year ago

    Meanwhile Kjerstad is like, “Hey, over here!”

    Reply
  6. tuck 2

    1 year ago

    Everyone realizes this has nothing to do w Tate right? He had pitched back to back games heading into an important series. He has options so the math works. He’ll be back soon. Elias just has to decide who gets DFA’d

    2
    Reply
    • paosfan

      1 year ago

      Agree he wasn’t going to pitch for a few days. Swap him up later. Should be interesting when bradish, means and wells are all back. Not much option flexibility. Pitch good or get dropped.

      1
      Reply

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