Morning leftovers on Akin, Núñez and Maríñez

The Orioles will announce their minor league award winners next month, and the top pitcher, while expected to be Double-A Bowie left-hander Keegan Akin based on his run toward the Eastern League's "Triple Crown," won't be an easy choice.

That's tremendously good news for an organization that absolutely must develop its own pitching, especially through the rebuilding process. Stock the rotation with homegrown arms or stockpile them in order to consummate trades, as so many contenders are wont to do.

Akin struggled in his most recent outing, allowing four earned runs and seven hits in three innings against Erie. However, he's gone 14-7 with a 2.98 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 57 walks, 138 strikeouts and a .217 average-against in 24 starts over 133 innings.

Exactly what the Orioles needed from their second-round pick in 2016 out of Western Michigan. No injuries, no steps backward. He charged ahead after being shut down last August with a strained oblique muscle and a 7-8 record, 4.14 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 21 starts at Single-A Frederick.

"What Akin did this year was pretty special at the Double-A level," said director of player development Brian Graham. "The strides he made were commanding the fastball and being able to throw his off-speed stuff behind in the count for strikes. In addition to him logging innings.

"Last year, he pitched 100 innings during the season and, I think, 16 more in the Fall League. He's going to get up to 130 innings this year, which, for a starting pitcher is a good, solid year in the minor leagues."

The list of pitchers who deserve to enter the awards conversation include Baysox reliever Branden Kline, Single-A Frederick starter Zac Lowther and low Single-A Delmarva left-hander and 2017 first-round pick DL Hall.

Fans screaming for Akin to get a September call-up will have to remain patient. The Orioles kept him at one level this season and don't feel the need to rush him.

"It's called 'development' and it's a process," Graham said. "We have to be patient. Development takes time, it takes patience, it takes a lot of good teaching and coaching and instruction.

"It's hard when you have young players like Cedric Mullins. Giving Cedric Mullins time to develop in the minor leagues was really important. Giving (Ryan) Mountcastle time to develop, giving (Ryan) McKenna time to develop, giving Akin and Lowther and these kids time to develop is really important."

Akin was chosen to the Eastern League's All-Star Team and is trying to become only the sixth pitcher in league history to lead in wins, ERA and strikeouts.

A scout from outside the organization has watched Akin at Bowie and praised his "feel for pitching" and "solid three-piece mix."

"He needs to improve his fastball command," the scout said. "His slider, 81-84 mph, is more of a power curveball and a potential out pitch. His changeup is a work in progress. I see him as a potential back end starting pitcher."

* Renato Núñez hasn't suddenly become a plus defender at third base, but he's showing improvement since those shaky early games after the Orioles selected his contract from Triple-A Norfolk.

Núñez carries a reputation as a decent hitter with some pop who also possesses a strong arm that's lacking in accuracy. You probably noticed in that first series in Toronto after the break how he'd field a ground ball, tap the glove a few times, adjust his feet and throw across the infield. One runner nearly beat it.

The clock seemed to need an adjustment.

Núñez isn't going to win a Gold Glove, but he's been better, and especially making plays to his left. He had two diving stops in one inning in the last trip to Toronto and made a diving stop and throw to get the Yankees' Gleyber Torres in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader.

Last night's game provided another highlight, with Núñez charging a ground ball and firing to first for the out.

Showalter praised Núñez's "attention to understanding." And the continued work that third base coach and infield instructor Bobby Dickerson is doing with him.

"There's two parts to that, too," he said. "Like understanding how important it is and how much it has to be stressed at this level. Not that he didn't, but I think Bobby, I'm sure you've all seen it, it's an everyday thing. There's a program, there's an approach to it with him and Beck (Tim Beckham) and Jonathan (Villar). There's a certain standard and a program and a routine every day that they go through.

"Sometimes, what comes first, realizing how important it is and really applying yourself to be as good as you can be. And the other part is just, it's not that Oakland or whoever else who have had him, two or three clubs, haven't done it. It's just, I've talked to him a couple times about the opportunity he's getting and make sure he covers all the bases. And about giving himself the best chance to present himself for an opportunity down the road. Because he's still a young man with some pop in his bat, and the thing that could really take him to another level is he can defend, like he's done better at here in the last couple weeks, I thought.

"A lot of it is your clock and being able to, simple thing as a lot of people think is a 5-4 feed on a double play. It's a huge play for a third baseman, the ability to do that and throw it in a box and let somebody redirect the ball. It's a big play for a third baseman. A ball, unloading on the move. So, he's improved. Or, I don't know whether he's improved or he's just tapped into what's been there all along."

Núñez had to improve his footwork, which was one of the tasks handed to Norfolk field coach José Hernandez, a former major league infielder.

"We call it 'replacing your feet,'" Showalter said. "If you look at common things that good infielders do. I've said it before, the transfer of the ball. It's one thing to secure the ball and another one to transfer it, and another one is the throw, and all the things that go into that. And I could show you on tape, the ability to replace your feet as you move toward your target and gain momentum. Trying to stay away from a lot of those flat-footed throws that a lot of guys get in trouble with."

* The Orioles will need to clear a spot on the 40-man roster today for left-hander Josh Rogers, who's set to make his major league debut. They could transfer Mark Trumbo to the 60-day disabled list while he contemplates undergoing surgery on his right knee.

Jhan Maríñez also is on the 10-day disabled list, and the Orioles passed on the chance to activate him after he returned to the clubhouse on Sunday.

"I know he's on rehab and talking to Dan (Duquette). He needs to get back and continue his rehab," Showalter said.

I'm not expecting Maríñez to make it back to Baltimore, but I also thought he'd be activated and the plan changed.

"I think in all sports, young players especially, it's like your father a long time ago or whoever asked you if you were hurt or injured. To understand the difference between the two." Showalter said.

"I remember one time I went up for a layup and laid on the floor too long. My dad when I got home said, 'Were you hurt or injured?' I said, 'What do you mean?' And he said, 'If you're hurt, get up and play. If you're injured, let's go to the hospital. Which one is it?' That was a little hard. But I think so many people here at this stage of the season have some issue physically. It's just not a normal thing to do to your body.

"I know Brady (Anderson) and B.J. (Surhoff) and Bordy (Mike Bordick) talk about one of the things they learned when they came up here is, what is something I can and need to play through as opposed to ... I think sometimes we develop too much of that with some of the spas we have in training rooms around sports."

Maríñez sat at his locker yesterday and said he didn't know whether he'd come off the disabled list.

Asked about his hamstring, Maríñez said, "I feel pretty good, I feel pretty good. Ready to go. We'll see."

Maríñez claims that he felt the hamstring tighten while warming up before his second inning in an Aug. 2 game in Texas. Showalter ran out of pitchers and Danny Valencia made his mound debut.

The Orioles made room for Rogers on the 25-man roster by sending down Cody Carroll. Showalter said he didn't want to option Yefry Ramírez following the right-hander's three scoreless relief innings Sunday night.

"I hate to send a guy down after he's pitched well," Showalter said.

Rogers will be the first left-hander to start for the Orioles since Wade Miley and Jayon Aquino last season. Before that duo was Wei-Yin Chen in 2015.