Outfielder Austin Hays, the top prospect in the Orioles farm system who hit his way from High-A Frederick to the major leagues in his first full professional season last year, was optioned to Double-A Bowie before Saturday's home Grapefruit League finale.
Hays, who missed almost two weeks of camp with shoulder soreness that required a cortisone shot, hit .300 (9-for-30) with a pair of doubles once he returned from the injury, and ended the spring batting .243.
But the emergence of Rule 5 outfielder Anthony Santander, who was likely going to make the roster anyway but now looks like a contributor, plus the team's spring singings of Craig Gentry and Alex Presley—who are battling for a fifth outfield spot—made Hays surplus to requirements on the Opening Day roster.