September 5: Banuelos cleared waivers and accepted an outright again to Norfolk, the Orioles introduced.
September 2: The Orioles introduced this morning that they’ve chosen the contract of infielder/outfielder Nick Maton. To make room for Maton on the membership’s 40-man and energetic rosters, catcher David Banuelos has been designated for project.
Maton, 27, is again on the Orioles’ energetic roster for the second time this yr. He made a two-inning cameo on protection at second base earlier this yr however didn’t step as much as the plate earlier than being designated for project and outrighted off the 40-man roster again in June. The versatile fielder has been enjoying for the membership’s Triple-A affiliate in Norfolk ever since, and his season there has gone fairly effectively. In 86 video games on the degree this season, Maton has raked to the tune of a .261/.368/.477 slash line with a 13.2% stroll fee and 16 homers in 340 journeys to the plate. Along with that robust exhibiting on the plate, Maton has flashed his versatility by splitting time between all 4 infield spots in addition to each outfielder corners.
Now in his fourth season within the majors, Maton loved success in a part-time function with the Phillies through the first two seasons of his profession as he slashed a strong .254/.330/.434 in 216 journeys to the plate throughout a mixed 86 video games in these years. Maton went on to be traded to the Tigers as a part of the Gregory Soto commerce through the 2022-23 offseason, however his time in Detroit left a lot to be desired. In 93 video games with the Tigers final yr, Maton hit a paltry .173/.288/.305 throughout 293 plate appearances, a tough efficiency that led the infielder to be designated for project over the winter and ultimately swapped to Baltimore in a money deal again in February.
Even regardless of these offensive struggles final yr, Maton’s earlier success in Philadelphia on the large league degree and his robust minor league numbers with the Orioles this yr present some motive for optimism that he could be an efficient bench bat for the membership. A return to kind would make Maton a helpful piece for the Orioles down the stretch, significantly because the membership weathers the losses of Jorge Mateo, Jordan Westburg, and Ramon Urias to the injured record across the infield. Mateo is finished for the yr after present process elbow surgical procedure final week, and whereas there’s optimism that each Westburg and Urias will return to motion earlier than the tip of the season neither has a particular timetable for return up to now. That leaves Maton because the membership’s main backup on the infield behind children Gunnar Henderson at shortstop, Jackson Holliday at second base, and Coby Mayo at third, although Emmanuel Rivera may additionally chip in on the scorching nook every now and then.
As for Banuelos, the catcher was chosen to the large league roster simply yesterday to interchange the injured Urias on the membership’s roster. He didn’t finally make it into yesterday’s recreation earlier than being designated for project, and he figures to move again to the minors with only one large league plate look below his belt from when he pinch hit for Colton Cowser again in April throughout his final cup of espresso on the large league degree. In 22 video games on the Triple-A degree this yr, Banuelos sports activities a .225/.361/.352 slash line throughout 86 journeys to the plate.
