SARASOTA, Fla. — Every spring training game is different.

Sometimes, it’s in a fun way, like last year when Tyler Wells pitched a fake inning during a fireworks show. Other times, it’s far less enjoyable, like last week when the Orioles gave up nine runs in a never-ending inning against the Atlanta Braves.

Either way this spring, there’s been a common thread through almost every Orioles game: Vimael Machín crushing the baseball.

Machín, a nonroster invitee, is this spring’s standout Orioles player who seemingly came out of nowhere. He signed a minor league contract with the Orioles this offseason out of the Mexican League, and with one week of camp remaining, he’s been Baltimore’s best hitter — yes, even better than the resurgent Adley Rutschman.

“You’re always looking for a surprise,” manager Brandon Hyde said when asked about Machín. “Somebody to kind of catch your eye, a good story, a ‘hey, maybe this guy can help us.’ Those are the things that you’re hoping for, that’s what you’re looking forward to for spring training.”

The top of the Orioles’ OPS leaderboard is composed of some of the club’s best hitters. Rutschman, Colton Cowser, Ryan Mountcastle and Tyler O’Neill have all posted an OPS above 1.000. But Machín’s 1.078 OPS across a small sample of 36 plate appearances ranks first among Baltimore hitters with at least 12 at-bats entering Sunday.

How is Machín, who last played in the majors in 2022, doing this? He says it’s a combination of a “beast mentality,” a swing change over the winter and a desire to get back to the big leagues.

“I would definitely say preparation in the cage, whether it’s early work or [batting practice]. After spending a year and a half in Mexico, I feel like my mentality is just different,” he said. “Every day I wake up and come to the field just grateful and have that beast mentality. It’s been helping me having good at-bats.”

Machín might be an unknown to Orioles fans, but he’s not to Hyde and a few other Latin players in Baltimore’s clubhouse. The 31-year-old was selected in the 10th round of the 2015 draft by the Chicago Cubs. As a minor leaguer, Machín often joined Chicago for spring training games, and Hyde, then a Cubs assistant coach, took a liking to the second baseman.

After five years in the minors with the Cubs, the Phillies claimed Machín off waivers and traded him to the Athletics for cash. He played parts of the next three seasons in the major leagues with Oakland, but the left-handed hitter struggled in limited playing time, batting just .208 with a .551 OPS in 112 games.

He was back with Philadelphia in 2023, but the Phillies’ Triple-A affiliate released him in June. Machín, a Puerto Rico native, then joined the Mexican League and found instant success, hitting .338 with a .955 OPS in the offense-friendly league. His confidence at the plate returned, and the numbers only got better in 2024.

Machín, a contact hitter, posted a whopping .401 with a 1.073 OPS in 85 games for Charros de Jalisco, impressing the Orioles’ scouts enough to earn a minor league contract in November. Early in his professional career, Machín was almost too eager to reach his goals, but his two seasons in Mexico taught him a personality trait that’s critical for any ballplayer: patience.

“I was one of those person that everything I wanted, I just wanted to get it right now,” he said. “I learned after a year and a half in Mexico that if you really be patient and be consistent in everything you do, good things will happen to you.”

But once Machín started playing in the Puerto Rican Winter League, a higher level of competition than in Mexico, he realized he needed to make changes if he was going to succeed against better pitching with the Orioles this spring. As a big leaguer with the A’s and in Mexico, Machín sported an open stance, often used for comfortability and to hit offspeed pitches better. But it was difficult to catch up to higher velocity with it, so he closed his front side to a more traditional stance.

The new setup, suggested to him in the winter league by Rays assistant hitting coach Brady North, helps Machín stay compact and make contact with fastballs, and it’s translated this spring.

“Baseball’s tough now, especially hitting with all the data and all the pitching and velo,” he said. “[North] mentioned to me to try to minimize everything, every movement you make at the plate. My stance obviously changed from being open, now it’s just being everything neutral, being normal in my hitting stance.

“I’m just trying to be short, not trying to do a lot, not trying to swing as hard, obviously, with all the velo.”

The Orioles have made sure to get a long look at Machín’s new swing this spring. No player on the roster has appeared in more games than Machín (18), and Hyde’s been impressed.

“Just all-around really solid baseball player,” Hyde said. “Getting his hits, uses the whole field, he’s smart, he’s been around for a while, he’s played in different countries. He just knows how to play the game. I’ve enjoyed watching him play.”

Machín is a longshot to make the Orioles’ opening day roster, though Gunnar Henderson’s injury gives him a tiny path. It’s unclear if Machín has an opt-out in his deal with the Orioles like most former big leaguers on minor league contracts have. If he does, the Orioles could lose him if he doesn’t make the opening day roster. Otherwise, he’ll likely begin the season as depth in Triple-A Norfolk.

Machín’s simplest path to getting back to the big leagues is via an injury to another Orioles infielder. If Jackson Holliday goes down early in the season, for example, Machín might be a likely replacement as a left-handed hitting second baseman. Machín, who can also play third base, might also be an option if Jordan Westburg or Ramón Urías suffer an injury, especially if prospect Coby Mayo doesn’t start the year strong in Triple-A. And Machín could even join the Orioles if a left-handed slugger like Ryan O’Hearn or Heston Kjerstad land on the injured list, opening a spot for Machín to pinch hit or serve as a designated hitter against righties.

But Machín isn’t thinking about any of that. He’s just focused on barreling up the baseball, hoping that will get him back to the show.

“That’s the plan,” he said. “Just trying to impress the Orioles, obviously, and have another chance up there in the big leagues.”

Have a news tip? Contact Jacob Calvin Meyer at jameyer@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/JCalvinMeyer.