Welcome to another edition of the Orioles Beat newsletter. With only 11 days remaining in Spring Training, the competition for roster spots remains fierce. This week, we’re taking a closer look at one player who is emerging as a dark horse to potentially break camp with the team ...

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Josh Lester believes he made personal history in the Orioles’ 7-6 Grapefruit League win over the Pirates on Tuesday afternoon.

The 28-year-old infielder/outfielder began his day by tripling to left-center field -- a play aided by the ball deflecting off the glove of Pirates center fielder Jack Suwinski and rolling through the outfield grass to left. Lester later gave Baltimore the lead with … another triple. On that one, the ball caromed off a wall in foul territory down the right-field line, allowing Lester to again race to third.

“I don’t know that I’ve had two triples in a game in my entire life,” said Lester, who had two triples in 145 games with Triple-A Toledo last year.

Lester had never had a two-triple game over his first seven professional seasons, all spent in the Tigers’ system after he was selected in the 13th round out of Missouri in the 2015 MLB Draft. It isn’t surprising he accomplished the feat this week, though. Not with how much he’s been raking in Florida.

Entering Friday, Lester owned a seven-game Grapefruit League hitting streak. Over that span, he went 12-for-20 with four extra-base hits (including a double and a homer), eight RBIs and three runs scored. Lester's torrid stretch has followed a cold start in which he went 1-for-12 in his first seven contests.

What’s changed?

“There’s some stuff I’ve been working on in the cage, obviously. That’s a daily progression and routine,” Lester said. “But other than that, I think it’s mostly some timing and just getting comfortable again.”

Some Orioles fans may not be too familiar with Lester. His signing went a bit under the radar during the Winter Meetings, when he inked a Minor League deal on Dec. 6.

Now, the noise being made by Lester’s bat is making him impossible to ignore. His triples on Tuesday had exit velocities of 105.5 and 105.2 mph, per Statcast, both ranking among the five hardest-hit balls of that game. Even his single (102.4 mph) and flyout (103.7 mph) came off the bat hard.

“Wow,” manager Brandon Hyde said postgame Tuesday. “I mean, he’s hitting every ball on the nose. Love his at-bats he takes. I love the balanced approach, the way he uses the whole field. ... He’s squaring up almost everything right now, and it’s fun to watch him. Love the competition that’s going on with those guys for the last few spots on our roster.”

It’s been a heated battle thus far. Franchy Cordero, Lewin Díaz and Ryan O’Hearn are also all left-handed-hitting non-roster players with experience at first base, and they’ve each impressed at times as well. Terrin Vavra is the likely frontrunner for the final bench spot at this point, due to his hot bat and defensive versatility.

But Lester can move around the diamond as well, with the ability to play first, third and corner outfield. He’s even made appearances at second base and shortstop in the Minors.

Lester knows he’s going up against strong competition, referring to the other bench candidates as “all great dudes and great baseball players.” His goal is the same as the others’ -- to force his way onto the team.

“In my mind, we’re trying to make it as hard as we can on Hyder and the staff to make those decisions,” Lester said. “I think that’s a good problem for us and a good problem for them, making tough decisions, because they know what they’re getting when the season gets rolling. And then they know that if something happens, we’re all ready to come whenever.”

Lester believes his left-handed power -- which has been evident during his hot streak -- and positional flexibility can give him the edge.

“I just think that those two things together can bring some value and hopefully help them win some baseball games,” Lester said.

Who is the oldest Opening Day starting pitcher in Orioles history?

• Venezuela went 4-0 in Pool D play, and Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander was a big reason for the team’s success at loanDepot park in Miami. The 28-year-old played in all four games, going 6-for-13 with a double, a triple, two home runs, five RBIs and four runs scored.

Team Venezuela (the Pool D winner) is scheduled to play Team USA (the Pool C runner-up) in the quarterfinals on Saturday in Miami at 7 p.m. ET on FOX.

• Cedric Mullins has played in three games for the U.S., which went 3-1 in Pool C play and finished second to Mexico (3-1) via tiebreaker. The 28-year-old outfielder went 1-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. His lone hit was a run-scoring triple in Team USA's 12-1 win over Canada at Chase Field in Phoenix on Monday.

The winner of Saturday’s Venezuela-United States quarterfinal will advance to face Cuba in a semifinal matchup scheduled for Sunday in Miami at 7 p.m. ET on FS1.

• Israel went 1-3 in the first round, finishing fourth in Pool D and getting eliminated. Its lone win came in its opener vs. Nicaragua last Sunday, with Orioles right-hander Dean Kremer contributing to the victory. The 27-year-old started that game and struck out four over four scoreless innings.

Kremer has since returned to Sarasota and was scheduled to start Baltimore’s Friday road game vs. Minnesota.

• What will the Orioles’ roster look like on Opening Day in Boston? Check out our latest updated projection. Read here >>

• Jackson Holliday may have been reassigned to Minor League camp on Tuesday, but the 19-year-old shortstop had a lengthy stay on the big league side this spring. We talked to him about the experience shortly before it ended. Read here >>

• Holliday is far from the only talented infield prospect in Baltimore’s system. MLB Pipeline’s Sam Dykstra broke down the farm in his O’s Spring Training prospect report. Read here >>

D.) Rick Sutcliffe

Sutcliffe was 36 when he took the mound for the Orioles’ 1993 opener vs. the Rangers at home. The right-hander started each of the first two Opening Days at Camden Yards for Baltimore (‘92 and ‘93).

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