Even in an Orioles organization that will find any way it can to keep a Rule 5 draft pick as long as possible, there's still a baseline that needs to be met in terms of major league production and value that player needs to meet in order to justify a 25-man roster spot.
In his third start of the Grapefruit League on Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays, left-hander Nestor Cortes Jr. showed what could ultimately hold him back from reaching that Opening Day roster goal.
The Blue Jays had two hits and a run in each of Cortes' three innings at Ed Smith Stadium, with the rhythm-based pitcher never finding one and putting the Orioles in an early hole.