Machado, Wieters among O's hoping for bounce-back seasons
Davis, Jimenez also looking to rebound for AL East champs
BALTIMORE -- With Spring Training approaching, there will be no shortage of storylines from Orioles camp. Particularly on the injury front as Baltimore will closely be watching All-Stars Manny Machado and Matt Wieters following their season-ending surgeries in 2014.
But Machado and Wieters aren't the only ones hoping to bounce back. Here's a look at several O's looking to rebound for various reasons this spring:
3B Machado: Expected to be a full go in Spring Training, Machado is a huge piece of Baltimore's future, and one that will be watched closely as he returns from his second consecutive season-ending knee operation. Machado was limited to just 82 games last year.
C Wieters: Coming off of Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery, Wieters will be brought along slowly this spring and isn't expected to catch a lot of early games. Still, if everything goes as planned, he could be ready for Opening Day or not long thereafter. Prior to being shut down last year, Wieters was having a career year at the plate. This will be his final season under team control.
Video: Outlook: Wieters should reach double-digit HRs in '15
1B Chris Davis: He will be sidelined Opening Day, serving the last of a 25-game suspension handed down last season. Even when in the lineup, though, the slugger struggled to follow up a historic 2013 run, a slump that he mostly attributed to an early injury. Davis hit .196/.300/.404 in 127 games last year.
Video: Outlook: Davis looking for redemption after poor '14
RHP Ubaldo Jimenez: In the first year of a four-year contract, Jimenez didn't have the year the Orioles had hoped. Instead, he struggled with his mechanics and consistency, going 6-9 with a 4.81 ERA in 25 games (22 starts).