Baltimore Orioles' Kevin Millar doing more than hitting

He’s a leader in the clubhouse.

And he plays defense.

Wait.

Millar? Defense?

The first baseman who is known for destroying Yankee pitching —he’s 17-for-50 (.340) with six home runs against the Bronx Bombers this season — also is putting together a solid year with the glove.

Orioles manager Dave Trembley had kind words for his veteran who had not been known for his defensive ability after Sunday’s game, when he made one of his best plays of the season. Millar fielded a ground ball, threw it shortstop to force the runner out at second base before Millar completed the double play by catching the return throw at first.

“Millar’s played Gold Glove first base all year — no doubt,” Trembley said. “Unheralded, underrated. He makes good plays, he scoops out balls. He’s saved a lot of throwing errors. He does his job. He does the thing that you look for. He's complete. When he doesn’t hit, he contributes in the field. He works the count, turns the lineup over. He's a good player.”

Millar, who has made just four errors this season, is a career .995 defender at first base, where he’s played 716 games. He’s played 28 at third base (.940 fielding percentage), 196 in left field (.988), and 170 in right field. (.981).

But Millar has carved out a niche as a first in Baltimore, where he’s played all but three games as a defender during his two-plus seasons with the Orioles.

This season would be just the second in his career that Millar has played just one defensive position, excluding designated hitter. In 2006, Millar played 98 games at first base.

“It’s a position I work hard at,” Millar said. “I got a label early on in my career because of the outfield and speed and arm strength and all that stuff. First base, I’ve always worked hard over there.”

swelsh@baltimoreexaminer.com