By Pete Kerzel

In 52 games through July 12, Robert Andino is hitting .228. (Mitch Stringer/PressBox)

The team player in Robert Andino still chafes at the way he received his long-awaited opportunity to impress. The realist in the utility infielder realizes Cesar Izturis’ misfortune was merely a serendipitous turn of events proving the value of the 25th man on the Orioles roster.

When Izturis needed an emergency appendectomy June 5 in Oakland, robbing the Orioles of the slick fielder who had solidified their infield defense and added another base-stealing threat to the lineup, it was Andino’s name manager Dave Trembley wrote into the lineup.

“He’s done a real good job,” Trembley said of Andino. “We all knew he could field the position. He’s got a reputation as a good glove guy. But he hasn’t embarrassed himself with the bat, either.”

Good fielder, questionable stick with little power, base-stealing threat -- that was the book on Andino when the Orioles acquired him from the Florida Marlins April 1 in what appeared to be a minor transaction. Baltimore wanted a guy with experience playing shortstop to back up Izturis, who had signed a two-year, $5 million free-agent deal to plug a gaping hole.

Trouble was, as spring training neared a conclusion, Izturis was the only one on the roster who could play shortstop with any defensive acumen. There weren’t any candidates in the minors and guys like Oscar Salazar and Ty Wigginton might have been fine for an inning or two, but not for any length of time.

So Andy MacPhail, the Orioles’ president of baseball operations, sent former top prospect Hayden Penn, a right-handed pitcher who was out of options, to the Marlins in exchange for Andino, once a highly-touted minor leaguer whose path was blocked for the foreseeable future by All-Star Hanley Ramirez.

In parts of four seasons, Andino had hit .182 (29-for-159) with Florida, with two homers and 12 RBIs. He knew he wasn’t going to see Land Shark Stadium in Miami as a Marlin, but was surprised when it was the Orioles -- and not Pittsburgh or San Francisco, also rumored to be enamored by him -- who made the deal.

“Hanley ain’t going anywhere for a long while,” said Andino, a 25-year-old Miami native. “I was trying to get out of there since ’06 because I knew the business. I knew he had to play no matter what. You write his name in the lineup every day.

“I knew I was going to get traded, but I didn’t know it would be to the Orioles. I knew they had an interest in me. I knew they’d talked about it. I’d heard the Pirates or San Francisco. When they told me the Orioles, I was just happy to be out, to be honest.”

Given limited opportunities while Izturis got used to his new surroundings, the expectations weren’t high on Andino. Trembley had only one wish for his backup infielder: “Field his position. That’s why we brought him here.”

But when Izturis’ appendectomy put the O's in a potentially disastrous situation, Andino stepped up big-time. In 52 games through July 12 – most of them coming while Izturis was on the shelf – Andino is hitting .228.

“When you come in and see your name in the lineup every day, it’s fun. You’re playing every day, you’re learning more. It makes it a good stretch,” Andino said.

“The more and more you play, the more and more you become comfortable. The more you relax, the more people get to see what you can do.”

Coming to a new team in a new league, Andino felt a need to exhibit his worth. Izturis’ injury presented a platform to accomplish that.

“Nobody had seen me play in the American League, so you have something to prove, but you have to watch out,” Andino said. “You don’t want to try too much, get out of your game and do more than you can do. You just have to go out there and play your game like you know how to play. Just try to relax -- easier said than done -- and try to have some fun.”

While Andino has contributed offensively during Izturis’ absence, it’s his glove work that will keep him in the major leagues. He has good range, instinctively seems to know where a ball is likely to be hit and positions himself correctly. Trembley has been impressed with Andino’s ability to throw on the run, in situations where most shortstops get little arm strength behind their peg.

 “I’m all about defense, that’s what everybody says,” said Andino. “It’s overlooked a little bit, but people know what you can do. That’s baseball. That’s my job. You’ve got some big dogs on this team, so my job is to catch and throw and get on base.”

That job description will change when Izturis returns later this month. That’s fine with Andino, who is content to put the Boy Scout motto, “Be prepared,” into action while readying himself for his next opportunity.

Since Izturis is only signed through 2010, Andino could be in line to take over for his teammate.

“It’s only been (a few) weeks, but I’ve given them a little taste,” he said. “There’s always room to do better, so you think about that. I’m showing what I can do. You hate to get an opportunity when a teammate gets hurt, but that’s why I’m here -- to be ready to step in. You always have to be ready.”

Issue 139: July 2009