Machado reached out to Ventura family
After Royals right-hander’s death, Orioles All-Star puts 2016 incident behind him
SARASOTA, FLA. — Orioles third baseman had his beef with Kansas City Royals pitcher
last season, but when a member of the baseball fraternity dies suddenly, all of that on-field animosity was quickly squashed.
That’s why Machado, who brawled with the Kansas City right-hander last season, reached out to Ventura’s family in the days after the pitcher’s death in the Dominican Republic.
On June 7 against the Royals at Camden Yards, Machado charged the mound after Ventura drilled Machado in the back with a pitch. That prompted a benchesclearing brawl and a continuation of bad blood between the Orioles and Royals that was born when the teams met in the American League Championship Series in 2014.
But when the game was rocked by last month’s death of the 25-year-old Ventura, a gifted flame-thrower who had a promising future if he could harness his talent, Machado was among those who reached out to Royals players and Ventura’s family.
“I was just trying to reach out to the family and see if they needed anything,” Machado said. “I wanted to send some stuff out. It’s just sad to see a great guy like that and a great baseball player who had a bright future ahead go down like that.”
Machado said his history with Ventura no longer mattered.
“It’s sad what happened,” Machado said before Saturday’s workout. “My condolences go to the family and I know they’re still grieving. I know it just sucks. I know we had our altercations on the field, but you know what? You leave stuff on the field. Once you step between those lines, it’s [the] gridiron. We’re out there grinding, playing for each other, playing for our team, playing for the name across our chests. You know, once you step [off ] the field, those are things you don’t [ever] want to happen.” Gentry signs minor league deal with Orioles: The Orioles added defensiveminded outfielder on Saturday, signing the veteran 33-year-old to a minor league contract.
Gentry is a career .261/.335/.333 hitter over parts of eight major league seasons with the Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels.
“I feel like my speed and defense can pretty much help a lot of teams,” Gentry said. “Plus, I knew a lot of guys here. I’ve played with a lot of guys, I know a lot of the coaching staff, so it just seemed like a great fit. They were interested and that late in the offseason you’re kind of scrambling around. So, they were interested and I thought it would be a great opportunity.”
His best season came in 2012, when he hit .304/.367/.392 in 122 games with the Rangers, including a .343/.425/.434 mark in 115 plate appearances against left-handed pitching. That season, Gentry also posted 16 defensive runs saved in 114 games in center field.
“He’s a guy who for a couple years was considered probably one of the premier fourth outfielders,” Orioles manager
said. “Plus runner, plus defender, wore out left-hand pitching.”
The Orioles are still looking to upgrade their corner outfield defense, and the addition of Gentry gives the club another right-handed-hitting option with speed in the outfield. Gentry has dealt with injuries over the past two seasons, missing most of last season with a back injury. He played just 14 major league games with the Angels in 2016, hitting .147/.237/.176. He also dealt with a lumbar strain and was released in August.
Since 2013, he has also missed time with a broken left hand, a broken right hand, a lower back strain and concussion symptoms.
“I was dealing with quite a few things the last few years, but physically everything is good,” Gentry said. “Just glad to be back and just trying to come out here and prove something because the last couple of years have obviously not been up to standards. I’m just glad that I got an opportunity.”
Gentry enters an Orioles clubhouse with plenty of familiar faces. He is good friends with first baseman — they were both drafted by the Rangers in 2006, came up through the minor leagues together, were in each other’s weddings and Gentry met his wife at Davis’ wedding. Several Orioles coaches, including first base coach hitting coach and infield coordinator coached him in the Rangers organization, and Coolbaugh suggested him to Showalter. Orioles receive encouraging news on Hardy: The last of three tests performed on Orioles shortstop ailing back came back negative. So Showalter remains confident that Hardy could make his first spring training game appearance around March 10, which would keep him on pace to be ready by Opening Day.
Results of an MRI and a CT scan were encouraging, and a bone scan on Hardy’s back — which in part was done to reveal the degree of inflammation — gave the Orioles optimism that the injury isn’t serious.
“You can tell just being around him he’s pretty upbeat about it,” Showalter said. “I think we talked about dates [Friday]. I expect him to be playing, if we don’t have any setbacks, March 10, which means he’ll be doing a full workout March 4 or 5. It could be before that, but I’m not going to push it.”
Hardy began feeling lower back spasms about three weeks ago while doing an offseason workout. He let his back rest, but when it didn’t recover he became concerned and told the team.
Showalter said Hardy has begun taking anti-inflammatory medication to help speed up the recovery process.
“The thing we were worrying about were tears,” Showalter said. “There’s nothing there. … Just got to calm down the irritation.” Around the horn: All four World Baseball Classic-bound Orioles position players — Machado, and — will play Tuesday in the club’s first instrasquad game of the spring. … Machado said there has been no recent extension talks. … Machado added that while he believes he will remain the starting shortstop for the Dominican Republic WBC team, even though starting third baseman of the Rangers might not play, he’s prepared to play shortstop, third base or even first base if asked. … Showalter said right-handers
and will be stretched out as starters this spring.