Good morning, Camden Chatters.
Spring training is winding down and the Orioles are inching toward their season-opening roster. And with the World Baseball Classic now finished, that roster is looking close to complete, as the Orioles’ WBC-participating players have rejoined the team for the final stretch of Grapefruit League games. The last to return to camp was Gunnar Henderson, fresh off a stint with Team USA in which he performed great but was painfully under-utilized. That won’t be a problem for him with the Orioles.
With Gunnar back in the fold, the Orioles unveiled a very Opening Day-ish kind of lineup in the first of their two split-squad games yesterday. That group fared decently against Yankees ace Max Fried, with nearly every starter reaching base at least once, but one change I’d like to see before the actual Opening Day is Samuel Basallo being included in that lineup. Basallo proved why in the second split-squad game, powering two home runs off the Pirates as part of a 3-for-3 day. Samuel is OPS’ing 1.225 this spring. I think he’s ready for the season to start.
Orioles starting pitchers, too, continue to look sharp this spring. Dean Kremer held the Yankees to one run in 4.1 innings, striking out eight, and Trevor Rogers struck out seven Pirates in 5.1 innings in the late game. In six days, Rogers will take the mound for the Opening Day assignment against the Twins. It’s gonna be fun.
What’s also gonna be fun is tonight’s Spring Breakout game, featuring a team of Orioles prospects taking on Red Sox prospects in Sarasota. The Birds’ squad consists of most of the club’s top prospects who aren’t in big league camp, including Enrique Bradfield Jr., Nate George, Trey Gibson, Aron Estrada, Ike Irish, and Wehiwa Aloy. The game will air on MASN. And the big league Orioles will be in action a half hour later, again playing the Yankees, with a local broadcast on WBAL Radio. So if you’d like, you can get more than your fill of spring training action tonight.
Links
Basallo keeps bashing in exhibition games, homers twice and goes 3-for-3 in Orioles’ 5-2 win – School of Roch
Asked about his hitting success, Basallo said he’s trying not to hit like “a crazy chicken.” I mean, that’s just good strategy.
Jac Caglianone, Shane Baz and other breakout MLB candidates for 2026 – The Athletic
Keith Law is practically glowing about the Orioles, saying he’s “pretty bullish” about their 2026 outlook and including both Baz and Coby Mayo on his list of breakout candidates. Not bad for a noted Orioles hater!
To be ‘an elite Grant Wolfram,’ the Orioles reliever studies video of himself at his best – The Baltimore Banner
Grant Wolfram already has an elite name. Maybe someday he’ll have the performance to match.
Does moving positions hurt Orioles’ players? | MAILBAG – BaltimoreBaseball.com
A reader theorizes that some O’s hitters are struggling because they keep getting moved around to different positions, including guys who are literally utility players. Defensive versatility is not a bad thing, buddy.
Grayson Rodriguez May Begin Season On Injured List – MLB Trade Rumors
Poor Grayson’s Angels career is starting the same way his Orioles career ended. Will this guy ever catch a break?
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! And happy 26th birthday to the Orioles’ starting center fielder, Colton Cowser. Because it’s his birthday, I won’t mention how he’s been doing at spring training, and we’ll just have to hope his 2026 season will be more like his 2024 Rookie of the Year runner-up campaign.
Happy birthday also to Orioles Hall of Famer Chris Hoiles, the best-hitting catcher in O’s history, who turns 61. Other former Orioles born on March 20 include infielder Manny Alexander (55), left-hander Paul Mirabella (72), and the late outfielder Mike Young (b. 1960, d. 2023).
On this date in 1995, the Orioles canceled the remainder of their spring training games after refusing to field replacement players. Owner Peter Angelos had long been adamant that the O’s wouldn’t follow the lead of the rest of baseball by using replacement players during the MLBPA strike, and, in one of the rare bright spots on his ownership, he followed through on that promise. MLB’s replacement-player plan was ultimately scuttled as the strike ended and a shortened season began April 26.
Read the full article here
