Vavra’s positional flexibility is asset, though. If there is a deal to be had, second base could see an influx of that cash. Beyond that, we know that Mike Elias is prepared to increase payroll. At the very least, there will be extreme internal competition from the likes of Joey Ortiz, Jordan Westburg, and maybe even Connor Norby for the position. Perhaps they could get that from Vavra, but that is far from a guarantee. If the Orioles are serious about competing next year, second base is going to require a significant upgrade over the production provided by Rougned Odor. If the organization makes the steps forward it expects to this winter, he will need to take his game to another level to maintain his place. However, the unfortunate reality for Vavra is that the role in which he was placed this season is likely his only route to a roster spot for this team in 2023. But if you layer on the filter of being a part-time player in a playoff race while attempting to learn the level, it starts to be fairly admirable. 258/340/.337 with an 11.7% walk rate, 18.4% strikeout rate, two doubles, one triple, and one home run. Over 40 games and 89 at-bats, Vavra slashed. It’s safe to say that 2022 was a big year in the Vavra household. He rewarded that confidence with a nice showing in Game 1, going 2-for-3 with a three-run homer, his first long ball as a big leaguer.Īnd before that, in mid-August, he and his wife welcomed a baby girl into the world. On the final day of the season, the rookie got to start and play the entirety of both games in the doubleheader. That’s not to say Vavra was without his highlights in the season’s dying embers. He did become a more frequent member of the defense as Hyde tried anything he could to rearrange the deck chairs, but to no avail. 210/.286/.274 with two extra base hits, seven walks, and 15 strikeouts over 62 at-bats. From August 12 through the end of the season, he slumped to hitting. As the rest of the Orioles offense faded, so did Vavra. He seemed like a real weapon, whether he came off the bench or not.īut it wouldn’t last. From August 1 through August 11, he went 10-for-24 with a double, a triple, four walks, and four strikeouts. That didn’t stop Vavra from getting off to a hot start. It seemed like Brandon Hyde would do anything to keep him away from his glove. During his first month up, Vavra was often used as a pinch hitter or DH. His first major league appearance came as a pinch runner. An IL stint for Jonathan Araúz opened up a roster spot in Baltimore, and Vavra was selected to fill it on July 26.įrom there, the Orioles treated Vavra just like the utility player he replaced. The power was lacking, but the results were still impressive. Over just 45 games, Vavra put together a. His 2022 season was looking like a rerun as he opened the season on the injured list and wasn’t activated for Triple-A Norfolk until early June. Despite limited time, the organizational newbie showed good control of the strike zone with a 15.8% walk rate, and he did so while spending time at second base, shortstop, and center field. The Orioles’ Vavra was drafted out of the University of Minnesota by the Rockies in 2018, and then came to his current organization, along with Tyler Nevin and Mishael Deson, in a 2020 trade that sent Mychal Givens to Colorado.Ī pair of injuries in 2021 limited Vavra to just 48 games that season, most of which came with Double-A Bowie. Vavra is the son of Joe Vavra, a baseball lifer who most notably served as hitting coach for the Twins from 2006 through 2012, and then filled in various roles on the major league staff before moving to the Tigers organization in 2017. But rookie Terrin Vavra was able to garner the attention of many admirers within the Orioles fan base thanks to his defensive versatility and bat-to-ball skills in what turned out to be a spotty first season in the bigs. It’s difficult to stand out in a field of debutants that includes Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, and DL Hall, among others.
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