Núñez hoping for more opportunities to play defense

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said he expects everyone in camp for Monday's first full-squad workout. No visa issues or unexcused absences.

No unwanted drama.

"Haven't heard of a situation where anybody's not going to show up," he said, "so I think everybody's going to be ready to go tomorrow."

Catcher Pedro Severino took batting practice on the Camden Yards replica field this morning, the surest sign that he finally beat the bug.

Severino has been ill, but he began doing some light work yesterday and progressed to BP today.

Reliever Mychal Givens, who's also been sick, played catch on the field.

"Got a little sweat going and I know he's improving quite a bit," Hyde said. "He should be full-go tomorrow."

The same isn't true with reliever Hunter Harvey, who's fighting a similar illness and didn't make it to the field.

"Hunter's still feeling a little bit under the weather," Hyde said. "With this going around we're just trying to keep guys away that aren't feeling well. He did feel better today than he did yesterday and we're hoping it continues and he'll be out here in the next couple days."

Hyde said "not much" has changed in the way he's been running camp compared to last spring training.

"We're still focused on the same things," he said. "We haven't got going yet, but our fundamentals are going to be stressed, obviously very important. I just think we have an extra year of experience this year, which is really helpful, and guys know what we expect. It's great to see all these guys show up early and work out the last few days.

"I think it's going to be very similar to last year. Try to create a great environment. We're going to work hard when we're on the field. We keep creating a great culture going on in the clubhouse and a great work ethic out there."

Renato Núñez took ground balls at third base on the Earl Weaver Little Field. He's also going to get plenty of reps across the diamond.

Hyde is determined to keep playing Núñez in an attempt to get the same run production out of him. Núñez, in turn, would like to be known as more than a designated hitter, where the fast majority of his at-bats came in 2019.

"Of course I'd like to play more defense," Núñez said, "but as I always say, I'll be ready to play whatever position they want me to play. I'm here only to help the team win and wherever they want me to play, I'll be ready to go over there."

Núñez worked out at the infield corners over the winter, "but whatever (Hyde) wants me to play, I'll be there."

"We're going to do everything we can to work with Nunie on a daily basis in both spots, both corners," Hyde said. "You saw him taking ground balls out here today. Yeah, we're really going to focus on Nunie's defense and we like the improvement that he made last year throughout the season. Where he came from in spring training to where he was at the end of the year was a night and day difference and we're just going to continue to work on it because we love the bat. He's an offensive force and hopefully he can be able to play defense for us."

Though he slashed .244/.311/.460 in 599 plate appearances, Núñez provided a much-needed threat in the middle of the order with 24 doubles, 31 home runs and 90 RBIs. He never totaled more than 236 plate appearances in a season.

"It was great," he said. "The season before I didn't play that much. I went to a couple different teams and last year to be here and play all season with the Orioles and got the chance to really play, it was amazing, of course."

A breakout season for Núñez, who made 21 starts at first base and eight at third, still left plenty of room for improvement.

What exactly?

"Everything," he replied.

"I think I've still got to learn more about hitting, about being a little more selective. Not swing at everything. Try to have a plan going to home plate. Hopefully just do better than last season."

Hanser Alberto has an opportunity to be the everyday second baseman, but Hyde isn't ready to start handing out jobs in the middle of February.

"The great thing about Hanser is he can play multiple spots," Hyde said. "I think right now he'll primarily be at second base quite a bit, but you'll be seeing him at third base in spring training, also. I'm not going to just limit him to one position. Move him around a little bit."

Hyde and his staff also will be busy rotating the utility candidates, which include Richard Ureña, Ramón Urias, Pat Valaika, Dilson Herrera, Stevie Wilkerson and José Rondón.

"It's going to be challenging," Hyde said. "I think that's where sometimes intrasquads and B games and those type of things come into play. I want to give everybody a fair look and we have a lot of utility-type players, especially on the infield side that we want to see, and so it's my job to juggle playing time and make sure everybody gets enough reps."

The 26-man roster allows for an extra position player and Hyde will figure out where to increase his depth.

"Where that's going to come from I'm not sure, whether it's utility or third catcher or whatever it may be," Hyde said, "but I think that it does give us a chance to be creative when we set our roster at the end of spring."

The Orioles worked out Sunday under puffy clouds over the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota, Fla.

Manager Brandon Hyde and general Manager Mike Elias check out a round of batting practice.

Palm trees tower over a walkway at the Ed Smith Stadium complex.