Top Orioles Batting Averages 2018

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Baltimore Orioles 2018 Regular Season Record (47-115 .290)

The Baltimore Orioles have thee, not the, best chance to win the 2019 World Series since they played so badly in 2018 and had the Major League's worst record. This team didn’t even win 50 games!

Although being realistic, this team probably won't win the World Series and will be fortunate if they even make the playoffs. Finishing the season with 81 wins and 81 losses would be a good goal for this group to shoot for in 2019.

The Orioles won 7 games each in September 2017 and September 2018. They scored 83 runs in 2017 and 91 in 2018.

I plan to talk about the Orioles and every Major League Baseball team more during this 2018-2019 offseason. But for now, here is a look at the players with the top ten batting averages from the Baltimore Orioles in 2018:

Manny Machado (Traded to Los Angeles Dodgers on July 18th, 2018)

2018 with BAL: 96 Games, 48 Runs, 115 Hits, 24 HR, 65 RBI, 45 BB, 51 SO, 8 SB, 1 CS

BA .315/OBP .387/SLG .575/ OPS .963

Current Status: Free Agent

Whichever team picks up Manny Machado is going to have to pay him. Machado had better numbers in 2018 than the previous two years in all the major categories except for runs and total bases which were better in 2016. He had the same number of hits and home runs in 2018 as in 2016. Machado also had career highs or tied previous career highs in AVG, OBP, SLG, OPS, Home Runs and RBI’s and walks and intentional walks. It is likely he probably won’t re-sign with the Dodgers and the Orioles aren’t going to bring him back. He is likely going to play shortstop and won’t accept playing third base.

The Miami Marlins might actually sign the Miami native although Derek Jeter will have a say in that. Miami likely won’t sign Machado unless he is willing to take a pay cut and will only pay him what Machado is worth if he meets certain performance goals. He didn’t hustle in 2018, so expect him to be on his A+ game when it comes to effort in 2019.

Breyvic Valera (Acquired by Orioles from Dodgers on July 18th, 2018)

12 Games, 4 Runs, 10 Hits, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 9 SO, 1 SB, 0 CS

BA .286/OBP .325/SLG .343/OPS .668

It’s now or never for the soon-to-be 27-year young player. The Dodgers traded Valera to the Orioles in the Manny Machado trade. His AVG and OBP are down from what he has shown in the Minors. Valera’s SLG and OPS in 2018 are in a better category than his AVG and OBP. It isn’t bad but it could look worse from what he has shown.

Adam Jones 145 Games, 54 Runs, 163 Hits, 15 HR, 63 RBI, 24 BB, 93 SO, 7 SB/1 CS

BA .281/OBP .313/SLG .419/OPS .732

Current Status: Free Agent

Jones had a down year in 2018 but he didn’t strike out as much. He also stole 7 bases for the first time since 2014 when the Orioles made it to the American League Championship Series. Jones scored the fewest runs in a season since being an Oriole and had the fewest runs and RBI’s since 2008, his first season as an Oriole. He had 35 doubles which was tied for his second-best in his career.

The San Diego Padres could use his bat for whatever he has left in the tank. Jones is a San Diego native. Maybe he just needs a change of scenery. However, the Orioles need him more than the Padres because of their awful 2018 season and they know him a lot better than the Padres.

Renato Nunez (Claimed off waivers May 13, 2018 from Texas Rangers)

60 Games, 26 Runs, 55 Hits, 7 HR, 20 RBI, 16 BB, 50 SO, 0 SB/0 CS

BA.275/OBP .336/SLG .445/OPS .781

Nunez a down year with his SLG and OPS. He had his best season in the minors since the 2012 season in AVG and OBP. Nunez just completed his rookie season in 2018. This guy might be part of the Orioles rebuild. If the Orioles get rid of him, I expect another team to sign him.

Craig Gentry 68 Games, 13 Runs, 42 Hits, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 11 BB, 31 SO, 12 SB/3 CS

BA .269/OBP .321/SLG .346/OPS .668

Current Status: Free Agent

Gentry improved in AVG, hits, total bases, triples, stolen bases and caught stealing compared to 2017. He tied in doubles, RBI’s and walks. He will be 35 years of age on November 29th. A desperate team might take a chance on the free agent Gentry in 2019, but his major league career is basically over.

Danny Valencia 78 Games, 28 Runs, 67 Hits, 9 HR, 28 RBI, 22 BB, 53 SO, 1 SB/1 CS

BA .263/OBP .316/SLG .408/OPS .723

Current Status: Free Agent

The 34-year-young player still has something left in the engine. He still has some home run hitting ability in his bat and some team is going to take a chance on him because he isn’t going to cost a lot. The Marlins could take a chance on the Miami (FL) native and college player. Valencia has virtually been the same player the last 2 seasons in terms of AVG, OBP, SLG and OPS.

Mark Trumbo 90 Games, 41 Runs, 86 Hits, 17 HR, 44 RBI, 24 BB, 87 SO, 0 SB/0 CS

BA .261/OBP .313/SLG .452/OPS .764

An injury-plagued season doomed Trumbo to only play in 90 games in 2018. However, his AVG and OBP were the third-best of his career. Trumbo had a fine season. The RBI total of 44 in 2018 compared to 61 RBI’s in 2014 in 88 games with the Arizona Diamondbacks is a little concerning. But

remember the Orioles were a bad team in 2018.

Jonathan Villar (Traded from Milwaukee Brewers to Baltimore Orioles on July 31st, 2018)

54 Games, 28 Runs, 54 Hits, 8 HR, 24 RBI, 22 BB, 58 SO, 21 SB/3 CS

BA.258/OBP .336/SLG .392/OPS .729

Villar had a good season in 2018. The numbers would have been even better, but again, the Orioles were bad in 2018. When he joined the Orioles from the Brewers, he actually improved. The exception was the hits, total bases, and AVG. Villar his third-best season in AVG, OBP, SLG and OPS. The year’s 2016 and 2015 were better for him.

Austin Wynns 42 Games, 16 Runs, 28 Hits, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 5 BB, 25 SO, 0 SB/0 CS

BA.255/OBP .287/SLG .382/OPS .669

He had a down year hitting in Norfolk (AAA) compared to previous minor league seasons in lower levels and the Orioles brought him up anyway. The low numbers at Norfolk though probably were expected for his first season in Triple-A. Wynns’ numbers at Norfolk in 2018 were .230/.288/.345/.633 in 139 at bats. With the Orioles they were .255/.287/.382/.669 in 110 at bats. It paid off for the Orioles in the short-term. Will it pay off for them in 2019 and beyond?

DJ Stewart 17 Games, 8 Runs, 10 Hits, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 4 BB, 12 SO, 2 SB/1 CS

BA.250/OBP .340/SLG .550/OPS .890

Stewart looks like a more-muscular Russell Martin or at least his face does. The numbers for Stewart at AAA Norfolk in 2018 were down compared to 2017 in AA Bowie except for four intentional passes. His numbers in AAA were .235/.329/.387/.716 in 116 games. With the Orioles they were .250/.340/.550/.890 in 17 games. Stewart’s numbers in Baltimore were likely better because he has more resources at the Major League level and pitchers don’t know how to pitch him yet. We’ll see what the Orioles do, but he might be going down to Triple-A to at least guarantee himself some live game at-bats.

Like I said earlier, I make no promises, but I plan to talk about baseball more during the baseball offseason.