JUPITER, Fla. -- His teammates still call him Screech, a reference to the slight and nerdy character in the popular 1990s sitcom Saved by the Bell. However, Orioles outfielder Jeff Fiorentino no longer bears such a striking resemblance to that character, aside from his curly coif.
The wide-eyed expression he wore for three weeks last May has been replaced by a confident smile, and his physique has been strengthened by 12 pounds of muscle. After his surprise promotion last year, Fiorentino looked more like a visitor who had wandered into the Orioles' clubhouse and stayed for three weeks. Those days, however, are gone.
"I know what it takes," said Fiorentino, who hit a two-run double on Thursday in the Orioles' exhibition season-opening loss to the Florida Marlins, and was 0-for-1 with a walk in a 5-4 loss to the Marlins yesterday.
"I know the level that these guys play at, so I know where I have to get to. Before it was really sort of up in the air. I imagined or pictured what it would take to play at the major league level. Now that I have been there, I know what it is going to take for me to get back."
Entering his first spring training in a major league camp, Fiorentino, 22, is realistic about his chances of making the Orioles' Opening Day roster. The Orioles have a glut of veteran outfielders, and his close friend, Nick Markakis, is ahead of Fiorentino in the club's prospect pecking order.
Fiorentino is likely headed to Double-A, where he'll probably be the Bowie Baysox's starting center fielder.
"It's going to be a long shot for me to be with the team this year, but I'm not worried about it," said Fiorentino, the Orioles' third-round selection in the 2004 draft and the first position player from that draft to reach the majors. "I'm 22 years old. I still have my best years ahead of me. If they don't believe I'm ready this year, I'll be ready for them next year."
Fiorentino was called up from Single-A Frederick on May 11 last year. The Orioles had lost Luis Matos to an injury, and manager Lee Mazzilli wanted to bring in a good defensive outfielder from the farm system. Fiorentino got the call.
In his first major league at-bat, the left-handed hitter singled off All-Star Jon Garland. He wound up getting hits in his first four trips to the plate, but as time wore on, it became clear that Fiorentino was overmatched.
