SARASOTA, Fla. -- At the beginning of the offseason, it appeared a path might be opening up for Orioles first baseman Christian Walker, but then the club re-signed Chris Davis to a seven-year contract, traded for Mark Trumbo and signed Pedro Alvarez. Meanwhile, the organization's reigning Player of the Year and current No. 6 prospect, Trey Mancini, also calls first base home.
Given that crowded picture, the Orioles had tossed around the idea this spring of seeing what Walker can do in the outfield. And so it was that a player with no professional experience beyond first base found himself starting in left field on Tuesday afternoon in Dunedin, Fla.