SARASOTA, Fla. -- Most people probably didn’t take note when the Orioles signed Vimael Machín to a Minor League contract on Nov. 13. It was an under-the-radar move, like many other transactions that can occur in the early weeks of the MLB offseason.
Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde noticed, because he already had an affinity for “The Machín.”
Machín, a 31-year-old infielder whose limited big league experience was with the A’s from 2020-22, came up through the Cubs’ Minor League system. The Puerto Rican, who attended Virginia Commonwealth University, was selected by Chicago in the 10th round of the 2015 MLB Draft.
Hyde was a coach on the Cubs’ staff from 2014-18, while Machín played in the organization from 2015-19. He never made it above Triple-A during that time, but his style of play -- a smooth infield defender with hitting potential -- caught Hyde’s eye in multiple Spring Training camps.
“Good baseball player. Just all around, a really solid baseball player,” Hyde said. “He just knows how to play the game.”
This spring, Machín has stood out to Hyde again in O’s camp, where the former Cubs farmhand is proving he could be an option to play in the Majors sometime in 2025.
Grapefruit League stats may not be the most important component of Spring Training, but it’s easy to be wowed by Machín’s numbers. Machín, who went 0-for-1 in Sunday's 12-1 loss to the Phillies, is hitting .412 (14-for-34) with three doubles, one home run, eight RBIs, one stolen base and five runs scored in 18 games.
This is a much better, more mature version of “The Machín” than the one who hit .208 with a .551 OPS in 112 big league games for the A’s earlier this decade.
“I was one of those people that everything I wanted, I just wanted to get it right now," Machín said. "I learned after a year and half in Mexico if you really be patient and be consistent at everything you do, good things will happen to you. Every day I wake up, I come to the field just grateful and have that beast mentality.”
Since mid-2023, Machín had been playing in the independent Mexican League. He hit .338 over 40 games for Mariachis de Guadalajara in ‘23, then batted .401 in 85 games for Charros de Jalisco last year.
But Machín couldn’t stop thinking about eventually making it back to MLB while he was there, something he continued to believe was possible.
“Especially for my age. I saw a lot more veteran guys than me in Mexico,” Machín said. “[Jonathan] Villar, [Jonathan] Schoop, Didi [Gregorious]. So it definitely was one of my plans, just trying to ball out there and get another opportunity here in the States.”
Machín’s Mexico performance was impressive. But his biggest offensive development occurred while playing for Criollos de Caguas in the Puerto Rican Winter League this past offseason.
Only a few games into his most recent winter ball campaign, Machín got a tip from Brady North, a coach there who is also the assistant hitting coach for the Rays.
“Try to minimize everything, every movement you make at the plate,” North told Machín.
That advice resulted in a drastic stance change for the left-handed-hitting Machín. Instead of standing open, he closed off his body by bringing his feet closer together and holding the bat in a more traditional manner behind his head:
“The pitching is way better. They throw harder now. Baseball is tough now, especially hitting, with all the data, all the pitching and velo-wise,” Machín said. “Just trying to be short. Not trying to do a lot. Not trying to swing as hard. ...
“I would say that I can recognize pitches better. It’s working for me, so obviously, I won’t change anything.”
Can’t argue with the results, ones that have also been noticed by Orioles outfielder Ramón Laureano, who played for the A’s during Machín’s entire tenure with the team.
“He knows how to hit, that’s for sure,” Laureano said. “He has a great, compact swing. He has a good feel for bat to ball, something that you don’t see that much nowadays. He’s in better shape, too.”
Even if star shortstop Gunnar Henderson (mild right intercostal strain) begins the season on the injured list, Machín may not make the Orioles’ 26-man Opening Day roster. Utility infielder Livan Soto has built a strong case to be the next man up, while corner infielders Emmanuel Rivera and Coby Mayo (MLB Pipeline’s No. 14 overall prospect) could also be in consideration.
But if Machín carries his hot spring into the start of Triple-A Norfolk’s season, he could force his way into the big league mix.
“You’re always looking for a surprise, somebody to catch your eye. A good story,” Hyde said. “Hopefully, a, ‘Hey, maybe this guy could help us.’”
“The Machín” may be one of those guys.