SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles are beefing up the infield competition.

Thairo Estrada signed a minor league contract this morning and will be in camp as a non-roster invite. Estrada celebrated his 30th birthday yesterday.

The gift came a day later.

Estrada appeared in 39 games with the Rockies last season and hit .253/.285/.370. He’s also played for the Yankees and Giants, making him familiar to Orioles manager Craig Albernaz, and is a career .251/.299/.392 hitter with back-to-back 14-homer seasons in 2022 and ’23.

“I was around him in San Francisco,” Albernaz said. “He’s just a grindy, gritty ballplayer. Bat quality, he’s a tough out, has some pop. The thing with Thairo right now, coming in as an NRI, not sure what he’s been doing. You know what I mean? So we want to make sure he gets his feet underneath him, gets his legs underneath him, and then he’ll filter in with the rest of the group.”

President of baseball operations Mike Elias wants to give Albernaz and the club more options as they seek replacements for second baseman Jackson Holliday and infielder Jordan Westburg, who are starting the season on the injured list. Estrada mostly is a second baseman but can move around the infield and also play some outfield.

Estrada brings more major league experience than other utility candidates with his seven seasons, but Albernaz doesn’t think that necessarily creates an advantage.

“We don’t even know what we have yet,” Albernaz said. “We’ve got to see where he’s at and then filter in the rest of the group. There’s no leg up here with the competition or with other guys. When he’s physically ready to go, we’ll mix him in with the rest of the group.”

Holliday had the stitches removed from his right hand and no longer is keeping it wrapped.

Holliday can field ground balls and run, and he’s able to take one-handed swings. The activity is allowed now that he can sweat without the stitches.

Samuel Basallo will begin working out at first base later in camp. Right now, he’s just behind the plate.

Gunnar Henderson is leading off today against the Braves. Tyler O’Neill is batting cleanup and playing right field. Pete Alonso is the designated hitter, trying to homer for the third time in three games.

Dylan Beavers is in center field. Blaze Alexander is the third baseman.

For the Orioles

Gunnar Henderson SS
Adley Rutschman C
Taylor Ward LF
Tyler O’Neill RF
Pete Alonso DH
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Blaze Alexander 3B
Dylan Beavers CF
Luis Vázquez 2B

Cade Povich LHP

Former Orioles infielder Jorge Mateo is leading off for the Braves and Chadwick Tromp is catching.

For the Braves

Jorge Mateo SS
Dominic Smith 1B
Eli White CF
Ben Gamel DH
Nacho Alvarez Jr. 3B
DaShawn Keirsey Jr. RF
Brewer Hicklen LF
Aaron Schunk 2B
Chadwick Tromp C

Garrett Baumann RHP