Ex-Yankees prospect could have bright future with AL East rival

Baltimore Orioles infielder Jorge Mateo hit .280 after being claimed off waivers in August.
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Nowhere to go but up.

That’s what folks in Baltimore are saying after watching the Orioles lose an American League-worst 110 games this season. As a result, the Orioles finished in last place in the American League East, a whopping 48 games behind the 100-win Tampa Bay Rays.

However hope is on the horizon for the Orioles, thanks in part to former New York Yankees prospect Jorge Mateo, who Baltimore claimed off waivers from the San Diego Padres in August. Per the Baltimore Sun:

Of all the rest of the infield depth, waiver claim Jorge Mateo is probably the most interesting. A former top-100 prospect who the Orioles got from the San Diego Padres and let play every day before a back injury ended his season, Mateo was impressive at the plate and defensively and showed himself to be one of the fastest players in the game with the Orioles. ... Both (Ramon) Urías and Mateo showed offensive glimpses and have the defensive versatility to be utility-type players on a team with real playoff aspirations, and that’s nothing to sniff at.

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The Yankees traded Mateo to the Oakland A’s in 2017 along with James Kaprielian in the deal for Sonny Gray.

Three years later, the A’s sent Mateo to the Padres for a player to be named later.

Mateo made his MLB debut last season, playing in 22 games and hitting just .154.

Things didn’t get much better in 2021, hitting .207 in 57 games before being placed on waivers.

But the 26-year-old Mateo flourished in Baltimore, hitting .280 with a pair of home runs and five stolen bases in 32 games.

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Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com.

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