Nolan Reimold

The Orioles brought Reimold back to the club on a minor league deal after he split 2014 between the Blue Jays and the Diamondbacks. Neck and back issues nagged at Reimold for years, but he put together a fully healthy season in 2015. Reimold spent the beginning of the season at Triple-A before getting a June promotion and spending most of the rest of the season with the Orioles. The club used Reimold sparingly until giving him more playing time in September after the team faded from contention. Reimold can hit the ball a long way when he gets it in the air, but he has a 1.26 GB/FB for his career. He totaled just eight home runs in more than 400 plate appearances between the Orioles and Triple-A. The Orioles should retain Reimold on the 40-man roster and let him compete for a roster spot and possibly a starting job this spring.

Reimold played for three organizations in 2014, finishing with the Diamondbacks after being designated for assignment by the Orioles in July, and again by the Blue Jays in August. Flashes of pop and the ability to be a passable option in left field off the bench, or part of a DH platoon, have been blocked by a litany of injuries, including the procedure he underwent in 2013 to fuse two vertebrae in his neck. That operation ultimately delayed the start of his 2014 campaign, which put him on the field against pitchers in midseason form after a lengthy layoff, and he went on to strike out in a whopping 41 percent of his plate appearances in a limited role. With just 69 games played at the big league level in the past two seasons combined, Reimold will have to earn a roster spot during spring training.

Reimold again had a large chunk of his season wiped out due to a neck injury. He had surgery in the second half and the Orioles tendered him a contract to give him another opportunity in left field. During the little bit of time he was healthy, Reimold struck out in 29.3% of his at-bats, easily the highest amount of his pro career regardless of level. His injury could have played a part in his poor contact, but there is no way to know for certain whether a healthy Reimold is a safer bet. Reimold has not put together a full season since 2010. If he can get regular at-bats there is power potential, as he had a .313 ISO in an abbreviated run in 2012.

A neck injury cut short Reimold's season for the second year in a row, this time limiting him to just 16 games. Health is a big question mark for Reimold, who has also dealt with leg injuries. He was doing non-baseball workouts in the fall and hoped to get a jump on baseball activities early in December. Reimold's best tool is his power and he had had 11 extra-base hits, including five home runs, before he went down. It's not clear where Reimold will play in 2013 if healthy as the Orioles re-signed Nate McLouth to compete with him in left field. Baltimore has said Reimold isn't an option at first base, but it's also possible he could get significant time at DH.

Reimold made a relatively triumphant return to the big leagues in 2011 after spending 39 games in the minors to start the season. In just 305 MLB plate appearances, Reimold managed 13 home runs, 40 runs, 45 RBI, and seven steals, all numbers that pro-rate well to a full season. It wasn't quite as solid as his 2008 season (15 HR in 411 PA, an .831 OPS), but Reimold appears on track to become an above-average MLB corner outfielder. The makeup of the Orioles' roster heading into the season will ultimately determine if Reimold will have to platoon in left field, or if he will actually get a chance to take 500-plus at-bats.

Reimold was expected to be a breakout player last season, but the Orioles surprisingly sent him to Triple-A to hone his hitting skills. Things did not go well at that level, and Reimold's power even appeared to take a hit. It didn't get much better after he was called up to Baltimore later in the season, but the Orioles still hope he will be a long-term answer in left field. Power is Reimold's upside, but if last year is any indication, he may be an average killer.

Reimold got the call earlier than expected, then took the left field job and ran with it. His raw power translated to the major leagues and he held his strikeouts in check enough to be a serviceable hitter. Reimold's power and OPS lines make him look like an ideal cleanup hitter behind Adam Jones and Nick Markakis. The biggest concern is his history with injuries. An oblique injury nagged through the 2007 season and an Achilles tear cut short his September. Expect Reimold to be a sleeper candidate as he could hit 30 home runs, but consider it a high-risk/high-reward pick given his injury history.

Reimold revived his bona fide prospect status by staying healthy through the entire 2008 season. He offers a world of power potential, hitting 25 home runs in Double-A. Reimold will start the season in Triple-A and could earn a callup during the course of the season if all goes well.

Reimold spent a good amount of time on the DL with an oblique strain, but otherwise had a fantastic year at Double-A Bowie. If not for the glut of fourth and fifth outfielder types on the O's roster, they might be tempted to do what they did with Nick Markakis and start Reimold coming out of spring training. Instead, look for him to get the call in midseason, and when he does, Markakis will likely slide over to center field to make room. The O's wouldn't mind fielding a lineup with Markakis, Reimold and Luke Scott in the outfield.

The Orioles' starting left field job in 2009 is Reimold's to lose. After clubbing 35 homers in 441 at-bats between college, short-season Aberdeen and High-A Frederick in 2005, Reimold cooled down a bit in 2006 by hitting 19 homers in 415 at-bats for Frederick. He also saw his batting average drop to .255, which hurts his cause. What he did do well, however, is walk 76 times, giving him a very good .379 on-base percentage for the season. The 23-year-old will likely start the season at Double-A Bowie, and if he continues to reach base and hit for power, he will continue his speedy progression through the system. If he sees another drop-off in batting average, however, he could languish in the lower levels of the minors.

Reimold slugged an astonishing 35 homers in only 441 at-bats between college, short-season Aberdeen, and High-A Frederick in 2005. While his .265 average at Frederick leaves a lot to be desired, Reimold has yet to fill in his 6-foot-4 frame and should scarily develop even more power as he progresses through the system. If Reimold continues to mash in the low minors in 2006, he could see time in Triple-A later in the season, though he shouldn't catch a sniff of the majors until 2007 at the earliest.