Port Charlotte, Fla. — All spring long, Mike Wright Jr.’s goal has been to make the Orioles roster on Opening Day and remain in the only organization he’s ever known. To do that, he’s hoped to draw on a familiar feeling from the last time he accomplished that.

Wright, 28, has sought all spring to recreate the positive feeling of the 2016 exhibition season, when he pitched his way into the starting rotation despite the team entering camp with five major league starters.

After three innings of one-run, two-hit ball in Wednesday’s 7-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park, he said he’s closing in on that sentiment.

“I definitely feel a very similar vibe,” Wright said. “I’ve put a lot of work in. I’m pretty sure that offseason was the hardest offseason I had worked, and this one is even harder. I came into camp throwing good, and so far, the results are pretty solid. That’s what I’m going to continue trying to do.”

The only real stain on his ledger Wednesday was a fastball over the plate to Rays shortstop prospect Willy Adames that resulted in a home run to right field in the third.

“Command was not what it’s been, but OK,” manager Buck Showalter said. “Mike’s presented himself well here.”

The outing brought Wright’s spring totals to two earned runs on four hits with a pair of walks and four strikeouts in seven Grapefruit League innings over three starts.

That’s far more early-spring success than he had in that meaningful 2016 spring, but plenty has happened since to change the stakes for Wright. He ended that 2016 season with a 5.79 ERA and barely made it two months in the rotation, before not getting a major league start in 2017. Now, he’s out of minor league options. The Orioles (6-6-1) will have to decide whether to keep him on the major league roster or try to pass him through waivers, which will undoubtedly lead to him pitching elsewhere.

Those circumstances add plenty of value to these starts for Wright, even if Showalteris trying to keep his possible major league starters away from divisional opponents such as the Rays. Wright hopes innings like his first will stick out in his manager’s mind.

A one-out bloop single by right fielder Carlos Gómez, a walk to left fielder Denard Span and a wild pitch on a yanked slider put runners on second and third with one out. But Wright then struck out two in a row to strand both.

“Obviously, I’d rather have a clean inning, but to be honest, I think it’s actually positive for me for Buck to see I can get in those situations and get out,” Wright said. “By any means, am I trying to get in those situations? No. But the good thing is I got in it and got out clean. That’s the difference between giving up that one run, and if I gave up two in the first — that’s three innings, three runs. That’s not a good look, so I’m happy with the way the first inning went.”

Showalter said it’s the type of control they’ve often sought from Wright.

“That’s been some of the challenge for Mike. He has so much want-to that he kind of lets his emotions get to him,” Showalter said. “He’s been a really under-control guy, really focused.”

That sentiment extends to his entire Grapefruit League campaign.

“So far, I’ve felt pretty good,” Wright said. “Obviously, there is competition and I’m very happy with where I’m at right now.”

Rule 5 draft pick Jose Mesa followed Wright and allowed a run in two innings before scoreless innings from Perci Garner, Jimmy Yacabonis, Donnie Hart and James Teague.

Hays back in lineup: Outfielder Austin Hays returned to Grapefruit League action after over a week on the sidelines dealing with a shoulder injury, an absence that Showalter said won’t preclude him from competing to make the Opening Day roster.

The more pressing bit of business, however, was getting him through his four at-bats as designated hitter healthy in the game against the Rays.

“Today, he had a good day,” Showalter said. “Yesterday [in a simulated game], I thought for the first day back, he was a little stiff.

“He’s done a lot of work this offseason, and I think some of it is just trying to get all his flexibility back. But today, he had a good day. That was encouraging. Hopefully he’s in there in the near future.”

Before Wednesday, when Hays went 1-for-4 with an RBI single, a pair of strikeouts and a warning-track lineout, he hadn’t played since Feb. 27. His shoulder soreness meant he’s served only as the designated hitter, and after Hays got a cortisone injection last Thursday and threw for the first time Tuesday, Showalter sees a path to get him back into the outfield.

Hays’ defensive abilities in right field could factor into where he starts the season. As it stands, the organization’s top prospect is engaged in a crowded right-field competition that includes Colby Rasmus, Anthony Santander, Alex Presley, Joey Rickard and now Danny Valencia.

Santander, who had a two-run single Wednesday, is batting .333 and turning heads inside and outside the organization, regardless of his Rule 5 roster requirement carryover from last year.

Valencia, a masher against left-handers who was signed to a minor league deal a week ago, drove in three runs with a pair of doubles Wednesday and has five extra-base hits this spring. He played right field Wednesday.

“He certainly has a track record of doing things — and he’s more than just a guy against left-handers — but he gives you some options around the infield and the outfield,” Showalter said. “He’s a veteran, proven hitter.”

Hays’ week-plus away and lack of defensive repetitions aren’t too much of a disadvantage, Showalter said.

“Not yet,” Showalter said. “If he can get back on the field here in the next few days, he should be able to move to that.”

jmeoli@baltsun.com

twitter.com/JonMeoli