The Orioles’ former silver slugger is off to a hot start.
Eloy Jiménez, a failing star, was acquired by the Baltimore Orioles during the trade deadline. Jiménez’s time in Baltimore has begun brightly thus far. The Orioles were in urgent need of a right-handed power hitter going into the trade deadline. After Austin Hays was traded, no one else took his place. Thus, Mike Elias made the decision to trade for Eloy Jiménez, one of the best batters available. Baltimore chose to give him a chance despite his recent troubles with injuries. Jiménez also appears to be a player who can contribute significantly in the final stages of the game following his debut series with the squad.
Eloy Jiménez’s Rapid Progress with the Orioles and His Stay in Chicago
Jiménez appeared to be a true star in the first two seasons of his Chicago White Sox tenure. In 2019, he finished fourth in the first of the Year voting after smashing 31 home runs in his first season. In 2020, he won a Silver Slugger and guided the White Sox to the postseason. But after 2020, his career did not soar to greatness. He only played 139 games overall over the course of the following two seasons, but he produced well in what little time he did play. He participated in 120 games and had a fantastic season in 2023, completing with a.272 batting average.
An Exciting Beginning in Baltimore
Eloy Jiménez’s statistics support his claim that he felt at ease “right away” in Baltimore. With two RBI and a double thus far in his Orioles career, he is 5-for-9.
Jiménez started the following two games and made a significant contribution to both wins after the Orioles lost the first two of their series against the Cleveland Guardians. His close bond with Orioles manager Brandon Hyde may be a contributing factor to his rapid rise to prominence.
The Reunion of Eloy Jiménez and Brandon Hyde
In the Dominican Republic, Jiménez was extensively scouted when he was sixteen years old. After a while, he signed with the Chicago Cubs, who at the time had Brandon Hyde working as their director of player development. Jiménez was aided by Hyde in the minors, and the two grew friends. Jiménez has adapted to his job with the Orioles with ease because to this reunion. When questioned about Hyde, Jiménez remarked, “For me, he is like a dad.” That represents the closeness of their friendship and the extent to which Hyde has supported Jiménez over his MLB career.
What Jiménez Offers for the Future
The veteran who appeared to be an afterthought, Aaron Hicks, gave the Orioles a solid performance in 2023 that helped them win the division. Jiménez has the same capability. He won’t start every night, but he will have plenty of opportunities. In addition, Jiménez can perform when called upon, judging by the results of his first few games. He will start nearly all of the games going forward vs lefties and only a few against righties. Jiménez will only be used by Hyde when he believes he has the highest possibility of succeeding. His ability to drive in runs and his powerful bat will be crucial as the Orioles approach the end of the season.
