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Mark Trumbo powering Orioles - and slowly gaining control of his destiny

BALTIMORE -  Starting anew is nothing new for slugger Mark Trumbo, who has bounced around four teams in as many years.

BALTIMORE -  Starting anew is nothing new for slugger Mark Trumbo, who has bounced around four teams in as many years.

 

It’s a curious odyssey: Trumbo seems well-liked wherever he goes, plays hard and possesses one of the rarest commodities in baseball: Right-handed power.

Little wonder, then, that the Baltimore Orioles eagerly snapped him up, and they are reaping the benefits. Acquired from Seattle for reserve catcher Steve Clevenger, Trumbo entered Wednesday’s games with 11 home runs, tied with teammate Manny Machado for third in the American League, and his team-leading 28 RBI rank 10th in the AL.

From the Angels to the Diamondbacks to the Mariners, Trumbo has grown accustomed to acclimating.

It’s not his preference, but he’s managed to flourish despite the flux.

“All that stuff that people take for granted, it can really give you a lot of peace of mind,” the 6-foot-4, 225-pound right fielder said. “If you’re feeling good off the field and kind of feel like you have a home settled in, you’re probably going to play a lot better.”

If that’s what it takes for Trumbo to excel, his stats through nearly a quarter of the season suggest he’s already feeling comfortable.

Hitting .299 this season — up from .262 in 2015 in Arizona and Seattle — he boasts a .576 slugging percentage, a 157-point increase from last season. He also has half as many home runs in six weeks as he accumulated throughout all last season.

Batting second and fifth, respectively, Machado and Trumbo are a big reason the Orioles have the best record in the AL and have won nine of their last 13 games.

 

Trumbo said he’s not doing anything differently with his new team, but his timing has improved, leading to more consistent and better contact.

Acquired by the Orioles in December with a one-year, $9.15 million contract, Trumbo is doing exactly what general manager Dan Duquette wanted: improving the team’s offensive production from the outfield. Trumbo also was a back-up plan in case the Orioles didn’t re-sign Chris Davis, he said, and provided the team options with his ability to fill in at first base, as well as designated hitter.

“This is a good ballpark for him,” Duquette said of Camden Yards. “He adds some depth to our lineup, and he gives us a right-handed power threat in the middle of the lineup. He works hard, and he’s ready to do his best every day.”

Despite this season’s surge in batting stats, Trumbo said he’s not chasing any number — whether it’s his career-high 34 home runs during his final season with the Angels in 2013, or the nearly 50 he’s currently on pace to hit.

Analyzing every at-bat too much leads to unnecessary pressure, he said, and as long as he and the team maintain their consistency, he’s not going to change how he operates.

“If you’re in a good frame of mind, I think you’re going to play better,” Trumbo said. “As far as putting any numerical goals on things, it can just create that extra tension of chasing results when the process is really far more important.”

Trading Trumbo for the second time — first in 2013 from the Angels to the Diamondbacks — Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said he needed to create payroll flexibility in Seattle in the off-season and knew Trumbo’s swing was “built for Baltimore.”

“When Mark gets hot, he can carry the middle of a lineup,” Dipoto said. “No one has more majestic right-handed power in baseball. You’ve got Giancarlo Stanton and Mark Trumbo. It’s a short list, but he’s on it. He also gives you the flexibility of trying him in different positions, particularly with an AL team.”

Trumbo meshed with the team from the first day of spring training, Jones said, adding a noticeable “thump” to the lineup. But while Trumbo is known for his hitting, the Orioles’ center fielder said he’s impressed with Trumbo’s dedication to improving his fielding.

 

Although Trumbo still is looking to read the ball off the bat better and charge a little more fluidly, Jones said the difference in fielding was clear from day one.

“I’ve seen him put aside his offensive mindset — that is the reason why he’s here anyway — and take it upon himself to understand how this team is,” Jones said. “Because we’re a defensive-minded team first, and especially the outfield with how it’s changed and shifted, he’s taken it upon himself to really understand both sides of the ball even more.”

That should only increase his marketability when Trumbo finally controls his own destiny - he’s a free agent after this season. Trumbo said he’s avoided the distraction of thinking about that, though Jones notes his strong start has increased his value in the clubhouse.

It’s not the first time that’s happened, and probably not the last. 

”As I told him when we traded him,” says Dipoto, “’You know I love you.’”

Contributing: Bob Nightengale

 

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