WASHINGTON – The Orioles selected the contract of utility infielder Steve Wilkerson on Tuesday and cut designated hitter Pedro Álvarez, a move that could signal the beginning of a roster overhaul for the team.

Wilkerson, 26, went into the offseason with the opportunity to earn a roster spot this year, but he opened this season serving a 50-game suspension for the stimulant amphetamine. Since returning, he hit .290/.362/.500 with four doubles, three homers and nine RBIs in 16 games with Triple-A Norfolk. He has also played five positions during that time — second base (eight starts), third base (two starts), shortstop (two starts), left field (three starts) and right field (one start).

“This is a very special moment,” Wilkerson said. “Regardless of how my season started, I’m very happy and very fortunate to be here right now and I’m really looking [forward] to it. … It was a very difficult time. The last few months of the offseason and spring training and the first few months of the season were difficult and I made the decision at that time to try to put my best foot forward and go about it in a way that I was continuing to prepare myself as best I could for when I got the opportunity to play.”

Before his reinstatement, Wilkerson was limited to playing in extended spring training games through late May while he served his suspension.

“He’s played a lot of games since the season started, just not with paying customers,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “He’s played first, second, short, third, left, right. He’s caught some. He took the time and used it very wisely. He’s in as good of shape as he’s been. He was off to a great start down there [in Norfolk]. … I’m going to be surprised if he’s not a contributor with us and it doesn’t hurt that it’s a couple of National League series.”

Wilkerson has long been well regarded within the organization, and his quick rise was stunted only by his suspension. The 2014 eighth-round draft pick broke out last season with High-A Frederick and Double-A Bowie, hitting .305/.375/.423 while playing four positions. He had a .317/.396/.512 slash line in 23 games in the Arizona Fall League.

His addition will provide Showalter with more flexibility on the bench, which could have added importance since the Orioles played the first of six straight interleague games in NL parks with pitchers hitting Tuesday night.

Álvarez, who made the Opening Day roster as a nonroster invitee, saw his role reduced since Mark Trumbo returned from the disabled list in May. Álvarez hit .320/.485/.640 in his first 13 games, but is just .140/.213/.349 over his past 32. He hit eight homers with 18 RBIs in 45 games overall.

Álvarez, 31, made just two starts since May 29, going 1-for-11 with seven strikeouts. Designating him made space on the 25-man and 40-man rosters.

Showalter said he hoped Álvarez would remain in the organization, saying Álvarez had a “previous agreement” in the minor league deal he signed with the club during spring training.

The Orioles also officially called up catcher Caleb Joseph after optioning catcher Chance Sisco to Norfolk on Sunday.

Machado increases vote lead: The Orioles’ Manny Machado continues to lead the American League All-Star voting at shortstop and has increased his hold on the top spot from a week ago in voting results released Tuesday by Major League Baseball.

Machado has an advantage of 671,133 to 458,367 over the Houston Astros’ Carlos Correa. Correa moved into second place ahead of the Cleveland Indians’ Francisco Lindor over the past week. Machado had about a 110,000-vote lead last week.

No other Orioles are among the leaders at their positions.

Still no word on Davis’ return: Although there’s no clear timetable for slumping slugger Davis to return to the Orioles lineup, Showalter said “it’s getting close.”

“He didn’t have an off day yesterday, trust me,” Showalter said of Davis. “He worked on a lot of things. He worked at Camden Yards. They have some pretty detailed workouts there.”

eencina@baltsun.com

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