Ramòn Urías reported to spring training last March without a guaranteed roster spot. Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg were both locks after successful rookie debuts. Top prospect Jackson Holliday was knocking on the door after a remarkable minor league season, and Baltimore extended spring training invitations to several veteran infielders.
Urías and Jorge Mateo both represented quality depth, but it was unclear whether Baltimore would carry multiple utility players. Mateo featured game-changing speed, strong numbers against lefties, and a more recent track record at shortstop.
The Orioles ultimately elected to carry both Urías and Mateo on the big league roster.