At the trade deadline, the Baltimore Orioles traded for struggling star Eloy Jiménez. So far, Jiménez has had a promising start to his Baltimore tenure. Heading into the trade deadline, the Orioles desperately needed a right-handed power bat. Austin Hays got traded, and nobody else had stepped up. So, Mike Elias decided to trade for one of the most accomplished bats on the market, Eloy Jiménez. Despite his struggles with injuries over the last few years, Baltimore decided to give him a shot. And after his first series with the team, Jiménez looks like a guy who can be a key contributor down the stretch.
Eloy Jiménez’s Hot Start with the Orioles
Jiménez’s Tenure In Chicago
During the first two seasons of his career with the Chicago White Sox, Jiménez looked like a bonafide star. He mashed 31 home runs in his rookie season in 2019, and came in fourth place in Rookie of the Year voting. He followed that up with a Silver Slugger in 2020 and led the White Sox to the playoffs. However, his career did not take off to stardom after 2020. Over the next two seasons, he played just 139 games in total but was productive in his short amount of games. In 2023 he played 120 games and had a very strong season, finishing with a .272 batting average.
But in 2024, Jiménez had a very slow start, and a change of scenery was clearly needed, especially because the White Sox were top sellers at the trade deadline. The Orioles proved to be a perfect fit, and Jiménez jumped from the worst team in the MLB to one of the best.
A Hot Start In Baltimore
Eloy Jiménez has said he felt comfortable “right away” in Baltimore, and his stats back it up. He is 5-for-9 to start his Orioles career, including two RBI and a double.
Eloy adds another! pic.twitter.com/bOovD0W9K6
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) August 4, 2024
After the Orioles dropped the first two games of their series against the Cleveland Guardians, Jiménez started the next two games and contributed big time to two wins. One major reason for his hot start could be his relationship with Orioles manager Brandon Hyde.
Eloy Jiménez and Brandon Hyde – The Reunion
As a 16-year-old in the Dominican Republic, Jiménez was heavily scouted. He eventually signed with the Chicago Cubs, who employed Brandon Hyde as their director of player development at the time. Hyde helped Jiménez in the minors, and they became close. This reunion has helped Jiménez immediately fit into his role with the Orioles. Jiménez said when asked about Hyde, that “for me, he is like a dad.” That symbolizes how close their relationship is, and how Hyde has helped Jiménez so much throughout his MLB journey.
What Jiménez Brings Going Forward
In 2023, the Orioles got a strong performance from Aaron Hicks, a veteran who seemed like an afterthought, who helped lead them to the division title. Jiménez can do the same thing. Although he will not start every night, he will get many chances. And based on how his first few games have gone, Jiménez can deliver when needed. Going forward, he will start basically every game against lefties, and a handful against righties. Hyde will only use Jiménez when he thinks he has the best chance of performing. His strong bat and knack for driving in runs will be very important for the Orioles down the stretch. Adding Eloy Jiménez to an already deep roster gives the Orioles an even better chance at a World Series berth.
Photo Credit: © David Dermer-USA TODAY Sports
