One of the many terrific events that occur during All-Star Game week is the Futures Game, an annual exhibition consisting of the top prospects in baseball. The Futures Game began in 1999 and the rosters consist of a team of prospects from the United States against a team of players from other countries. Major League Baseball, MLB.com and Baseball America decide the teams and the Nationals will be represented by infielders Carter Kieboom and Luis Garcia on Sunday. I wrote about Kieboom a few...

Yesterday on Twitter, the Orioles shared one of my favorite moments from Camden Yards history. It's hard to believe, but 25 years ago Ken Griffey Jr. hit the Warehouse during the Home Run Derby in Baltimore. It's one of my favorite moments in the ballpark's history and one that hasn't been duplicated all these years later. Griffey's shot traveled 465 feet into right field perfectly smacking the bottom of the Warehouse on the fly. "Wind blown," the young Griffey laughed when talking about...

Up-and-coming country artist Renee Blair is coming to Oriole Park, and she's bringing a new single with her! The Orioles' Friday Fireworks & Music at America's Ballpark series continues on July 13 with a special performance by Blair, an independent country recording artist from Nashville. In 2016, Blair signed a publishing and production deal with Nashville-based company SMACKSongs and has now been busy writing and recording. She has an EP in the works, which is being executive produced...

There were a number of deserving players left off the All-Star Game rosters, and perhaps none more than Anthony Rendon, who was not even given the Final Vote treatment that teammate Trea Turner received. It feels like we say this about Rendon every year around the All-Star break, but he always plays fantastic baseball and nobody ever gives him the time of day or recognizes his accomplishments on the diamond. It's no stretch to say that Rendon is worthy of a nod. Maybe not the most overwhelming...

Manager: Gabe Kapler (1st season) Record: 51-40 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: CF Odúbel Herrera (16 HR, 52 RBIs), 1B Carlos Santana (14 HR, 51 RBIs), LF Rhys Hoskins (14 HR, 56 RBIs), 3B Maikel Franco (.274), RHP Seranthony Domínguez (8 SV) Season series vs. Orioles: 3-0 Pitching probables: 7-3 July 12: RHP Nick Pivetta (5-7) vs. RHP Kevin Gausman (4-6), 6:05 p.m., MASN2 Inside the Phillies: The Phillies split their four-game series with the Mets after allowing a walk-off homer to the...

Manager: Mickey Callaway (1st season) Record: 37-53 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: 2B Asdrúbal Cabrera (.280 with 16 HR, 51 RBIs), CF Brandon Nimmo (13 HR), LHP Steven Matz (3.31 ERA), RHP Jeurys Familia (16 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 4-2 Pitching probables: July 12: RHP Max Scherzer (11-5) vs. LHP Steven Matz (4-6), 7:10 p.m., MASNJuly 13: RHP Tanner Roark (3-11) vs. RHP Noah Syndergaard (4-1), 7:10 p.m., MASNJuly 14: TBA vs. RHP Zack Wheeler (2-6), 4:10., MASNJuly 15: RHP...

No Orioles minor league player has risen more this season in terms of general O's fans knowing about him than outfielder Ryan McKenna. His performance this year has skyrocketed him into the limelight and he is hitting his stride at the plate with the Double-A Bowie Baysox in July. McKenna, 21, was drafted by the Orioles in the fourth round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in New Hampshire. The 5-foot-11, 185-lb. right-handed hitting outfielder had three...

You might not play for the Orioles, but you can still lace up your running shoes and take the field at Oriole Park this Saturday, July 9. Casey Cares and the Orioles are hosting the ninth annual Annual 5K Run/Walk, which benefits Casey Cares! Proceeds from the race go toward supporting programs for families with critically ill children. The 3.1-mile run/walk begins and ends at Oriole Park at Camden Yards and includes post-race refreshments. Registration for the race is open through July 14. You...

Now that the starting lineups have been announced and the rosters filled, Washington is abuzz about the 89th Major League Baseball All-Star game. Many historians will tell you will that the July 17 game will be the fifth All-Star meeting in the nation's capital, the first since 1969, and they'd be technically correct. However, each summer from 1982 to 1987, Washington baseball fans saw something arguably better come to RFK Stadium. The Cracker Jack Old Timers Baseball Classic featured lineups...

Manager: Clint Hurdle (8th season) Record: 41-48 Last 10 games: 4-6 Who to watch: CF Starling Marte (.278 with 10 HR, 22 SB); LF Corey Dickerson (.308 with 92 hits, 19 2B); 1B Josh Bell (76 hits, 42 RBIs); RHP Trevor Williams (6-7, 4.60 ERA); RHP Ivan Nova (4-6, 4.48 ERA); LHP Felipe Vázquez (3.38 ERA, 18 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: 0-4 Pitching probables: July 9: RHP Erick Fedde (1-3) vs. RHP Ivan Nova (4-6); 7:00 p.m., MASN2July 10: RHP Jeremy Hellickson (2-1) vs. RHP Joe Musgrove...

The Orioles are in the midst of an historically bad season, that much is clear. They are likely going to challenge the 1988 team for the worst record in franchise history. That squad finished 54-107 for a .335 win percentage after starting the season with an major league-record 0-21 mark. Neither this year's team or the 1988 squad were tanking, but that word has come up a bunch in recent baseball memory. Some point to the Astros or Cubs as examples of teams that tanked for a few years in order...

After years of hype and anticipation, the 2018 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Washington, D.C., is only 11 days away. The fan vote concluded Thursday and on Sunday, the American and National League will announce 31 of the 32 members of the 2018 All-Star Game rosters. It would be a travesty if Trea Turner is not selected. Somewhat lost amid this peculiar season for the Nationals has been Turner's development as perhaps the best shortstop in the NL and one of the best in the majors. The...

On every Orioles road trip this season, I wonder if Manny Machado will return home with the rest of the club. Was Sunday's 8-2 victory over the Angels the last time Machado played in front of the home crowd at Camden Yards as an Oriole or will we see him suit up again on Monday against the Yankees? We'll see what happens over the next three days as the Birds take on the Twins in Minnesota. Like many in Birdland, I've got my eyes glued to Twitter, waiting for that breaking news about an...

The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher Jefry Rodriguez from Triple-A Syracuse and placed righthanded pitcher Erick Fedde on the 10-day disabled list with right shoulder inflammation on Thursday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Rodriguez, 24, joins the Nationals for his fourth Major League stint of the season. He has appeared in three games (two starts), pitching to a 5.93 ERA (9 ER/13.2 IP) with 12 strikeouts....

Manager: Don Mattingly (3rd season) Record: 36-52 Last 10 games: 5-5 Who to watch: C J.T. Realmuto (.306), 1B Justin Bour (13 HR, 37 RBIs), RF Brian Anderson (41 RBIs), 2B Starlin Castro (.292, .340, .397) RHP Kyle Barraclough (8 saves, 1.17 ERA) Season series vs. Nationals: 0-3 Pitching probables: July 5: RHP Pablo López (1-0) vs. RHP Jeremy Hellickson (2-1), 7:05 p.m., MASNJuly 6: RHP Dan Straily (3-4) vs. LHP Gio Gonzalez (6-5), 7:05 p.m., MASNJuly 7: LHP Wei-Yin Chen (2-5) vs. RHP Max...

The last month or so of Nationals baseball has been a little bit rough. It's been tough for the team and tough for fans, and at times it's been hard to watch. They keep finding new ways to lose, and it seems like there are never enough runs scored, they can't get that big hit and there are always runners left on base. It's frustrating. But we can't wallow in misery. If we only talk about failures and what the team isn't doing right, we're going to drive ourselves crazy. Yeah, things...

A very happy Independence Day to everyone out there as we celebrate this great country that we live in! If you do not already have plans for this evening and want to see some fantastic fireworks and great baseball, there are two Orioles minor league affiliates that have you covered. While the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, high Single-A Frederick Keys and short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds are on the road, the Double-A Bowie Baysox and low Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds are at home this...

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden's baseball roots aren't in Washington, but she knows the sense of pride that baseball fans in the nation's capital feel toward their team and national pastime. "They represent the capital, and the team in the capital, and this is the all-American game," she said, previewing the Library of Congress' new exhibit, "Baseball Americana," which opened Friday amid the buildup to the 89th All-Star Game on July 17 at Nationals Park. Washington baseball fans can...

Manager: Alex Cora (1st season) Record: 56-29 Last 10 games: 7-3 Who to watch: RF Mookie Betts (.339 with 20 HR, 41 RBIs); DH J.D. Martinez (.324 with 25 HR, 100 hits); 3B Rafael Devers (78 hits, 47 RBIs); LF Andrew Benintendi (.284 with 20 2B, 53 RBIs); LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (9-3, 4.11 ERA); RHP Rick Porcello (9-3, 3.60 ERA); RHP Craig Kimbrel (2.16 ERA, 24 saves) Season series vs. Nationals: First meeting (2-1 in 2015) Pitching probables: July 2: RHP Rick Porcello (9-3) vs. RHP Max Scherzer...

It feels like a yearly rite of passage for me at this point. Writing something about my admiration for Adam Jones has become commonplace. I guess in a way, I'm making fun of myself a bit for being so obsessed with the captain of the Orioles. But who can blame me at this point? He's been a transcendental figure on and off the field for the team in an important era. In fact, he has kind of defined an entire era of this franchise. Since signing a six-year extension with the Orioles as a...