SARASOTA – Blaze Alexander is doing his Opening Day homework.

The versatility that he brings apparently includes his ability to research a new team, its ballpark and its traditions.

Alexander is supposed to be a super-utility player for the Orioles after the trade that brought him from Arizona, but he’s expected to be in the March 26 lineup at second or third base. Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg will go on the injured list, and he’s the replacement at one of those positions.

“It’s unbelievable,” Alexander said yesterday about the possibility of starting.

An introduction and loud ovation are coming no matter what plans the Orioles have for him. The bullpen gates will open, and his name will be called. Just don’t trip.

“I’ve heard about the Opening Day ceremonies in Baltimore, the orange carpet that gets pulled out,” he said. “I’ve watched videos and everything, YouTube and all that stuff. That stuff gets me excited, and yeah, I’m really excited, if I am there.

“I’m ready to go to war with this staff, with this group of guys, and it’s gonna be a really good year.”

Alexander got another start in center field yesterday in Dunedin and looked comfortable again, running down a long drive in the gap to record an out and planting his foot on the fence padding. Good jumps, good reads, good routes.

“Just go out there, be an athlete, catch the ball, get the ball in as fast as you can, hit your cutoff,” Alexander explained. “I’m not gonna say it’s easy, but it’s go out there, be an athlete, trust your instincts and good things will happen.”

The Orioles were in the market for a player with Alexander’s skill set, able to back up at pretty much every position. They didn’t have Ramón Urías and Jorge Mateo. And they didn’t know just how much Alexander would become needed until Holliday broke his right hamate bone and Westburg received a platelet-rich plasma injection in his right elbow.

“For me, Blaze has been as advertised, if not better, from my perspective,” said manager Craig Albernaz. “I haven’t really gotten to see him play up close, but the athleticism and the tools really stand out, and it doesn’t happen by accident, what he can bring to the table versatility-wise, with those ingredients. And for us, his ability to play all three spots in the dirt and then go kick out and play center field is gonna be huge for us.”

The position isn’t really important to Alexander.

“You know, that’s not up to me,” he said. “I’m gonna go out there, my name’s in the lineup, I’m gonna play my hardest and give them hell. So wherever. Second, third, outfield somewhere, it doesn’t matter. Put me in the lineup and I’ll be ready to go.”

According to Alexander, the coaches haven’t gone into any details about his potential usage.

“More, love your versatility. Wherever we put you that day, show us what you’ve got. And that’s kind of how it was with Arizona,” Alexander said.

“I didn’t know where until I got that run at third base where I was. It was kind of, hey, my name’s in the lineup. I’m at second base, I’m at third base that day. It’s like, hey, it doesn’t matter. I’m comfortable wherever. I’m cool, collected, and you know, just ready to go, ready to win.”

He thinks the Orioles will do plenty of it.

“Easily a playoff team,” he said. “We haven’t even really played games where we have everyone all together, and I think when we’re in Baltimore, and we kind of look around the locker room, I think we’re gonna be a real confident team, and we’re gonna play our (butts) off.”

Alexander, 26, went 1-for-3 with an RBI yesterday in the Orioles’ 3-2 win over the Blue Jays and is batting .267 with a .353 on-base percentage in 12 games. Unlike so many other players in camp, he isn’t fighting for a spot on the 26-man roster. It’s just a matter of where he plays.

“I think I’ve had a pretty good spring,” he said. “I’ve hit the ball hard. Obviously, you want more hits and stuff, but hopefully save those for the season. But just to kind of come in, not that I was nervous to come in, but just excited, meeting a whole new staff, players and stuff. Just trying to fit in.

“I think from Day 1, I fit in really good. Everyone super accepting. Everyone knows everyone, so I have a bunch of friends who have played with guys on this team and it’s been really easy to come into and kind of be myself in the locker room. Alby and the whole coaching staff treat me like a big leaguer and a wanted big leaguer, and I really appreciate that.”