Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
The center field competition between Austin Hays and Cedric Mullins won't necessarily push one of them to the bench. Manager Brandon Hyde is willing to put them in the same lineup with their ability to handle all three outfield spots, which would strengthen the defense. The designated hitter role comes with a revolving door now that Renato Núñez has left the organization. On any given day, Ryan Mountcastle or another outfielder could land in that spot. "I think I'm going to move all...

Tyler Nevin on joining Orioles and relationship with father

Tyler Nevin on joining Orioles and relationship with father
Tyler Nevin finished a round of batting practice last month in Orioles camp and caught the eye of executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias, who offered a hint at how the organization viewed him in the field. "I got here and I was hitting and Elias was behind the cage watching," Nevin recounted this morning in his Zoom conference call. "I got out and rolled around the cage and he goes, 'Hey, did you bring all your gloves?' I said, 'Yep,' and he goes, 'OK, you're going to need...

Hyde on Means, Mullins, Rutschman and more

Hyde on Means, Mullins, Rutschman and more
Orioles left-hander John Means was told that he'd pitch two innings today. He had no idea that he would come out of the first early and re-enter the game later. Manager Brandon Hyde had a plan with Means' pitch count rising against the Yankees. He pulled his ace and returned him to the mound in the second. "That's a new rule this year that we have a couple backup pitchers for every game in case a situation like that occurs," Hyde said on his Zoom call after a 4-2, seven-inning loss at Ed...

Kyle Moore on spring training life in the other camp

Kyle Moore on spring training life in the other camp
The reformatted 2021 spring training camp in Sarasota, Fla. has spread out some players to the Twin Lakes side in order for the Orioles to follow health and safety protocols. To avoid overcrowding at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. This is a deviation from the usual minor league setup with the reduction in bodies. Players at Twin Lakes can be summoned to the major league complex. The traffic moves in both directions, but proper spacing will remain the priority. Nothing that's...

Orioles announce spring training invites and camp reserves

Orioles announce spring training invites and camp reserves
The Orioles are opening spring training next week with 10 non-roster invites and 22 players designated as "camp reserves." The restructuring is done in order to more easily execute the proper social distancing during the pandemic. Players will be filtered into the Ed Smith Stadium complex in the same manner as the summer training camp in Bowie. The non-roster invites consist of six pitchers, three catchers and one super-utility player. Pitchers LHP Fernando Abad RHP Marcos Diplán RHP...

Grenier staying on shortstop grid

Grenier staying on shortstop grid
As Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias rattled off the names of shortstop prospects in the system during a recent Zoom conference call, the topic born from a question relating to how the club might fill the position next summer, he made sure to include the 37th overall selection in the 2018 draft. The former teammate of catcher Adley Rutschman at Oregon State University. A product of the final draft under the previous front office and head of scouting. Cadyn Grenier has...

The comparisons will be coming for these shortstops

The comparisons will be coming for these shortstops
Even though anything he does good or bad for the Los Angeles Angels in 2021 won't help or hurt the Orioles, no doubt O's fans will still be quite interested in the performance of former shortstop José Iglesias. After the O's traded Iglesias to the Angels, they signed Freddy Galvis to replace him. So the comparison of the two and how well or not they do this coming season is an obvious one. But it is only a one-season comparison since both players were signed by their respective clubs just...

On the O's farm, versatility will be a real key

On the O's farm, versatility will be a real key
As the Orioles approached their recent instructional league camp, they knew a few things that would be important to consider. One is that building defensive versatility is never a bad thing for a player. If he can play multiple positions, his value to the team and the sport go up. The Orioles also knew they had drafted and acquired seven shortstops via the draft or trade since Mike Elias took over as executive vice president and general manager. So the want-to - to expand defensive resumes for...

Earl Weaver would approve: Keep adding shortstops

Earl Weaver would approve: Keep adding shortstops
With the trade of José Iglesias to the Los Angeles Angels this week, who will play shortstop for the 2021 Orioles is an unanswered question right now. But the future O's shortstop may currently be in the organization. Over his first two drafts, Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias has drafted five shortstops. In 2019, three of his top six picks were shortstops, and in 2020 two of his first four selections were. Elias has also acquired two shortstops the club likes...

This, that and the other

This, that and the other
By the end of the week, the Orioles will be required to make further adjustments to their 40-man roster in order to protect players in the Rule 5 draft. Teams now pay $100,000 to select a player in the major league phase, and he can be offered back to his former organization for half the fee. I remember when it was $50,000 and $25,000, but the last collective bargaining agreement upped the cost. Could also explain my increased alcohol consumption, unless that's COVID related. The Orioles have...

Bevy of shortstops won't bump Henderson from position

Bevy of shortstops won't bump Henderson from position
While the Orioles wait to make official their decision to pick up the option on José Iglesias' contract, the only potential glitch tied to finances, they're in the developmental stages with a handful of shortstop prospects who could vie for the position. Don't bother checking out the fall instructional camp in Sarasota, Fla. because it's closed to the public, but the group of 55 includes Baseball America No. 8 organizational prospect Gunnar Henderson, No. 10 Jordan Westburg, No. 15 Adam...

Looking at some prospects that could make O's player pool

Looking at some prospects that could make O's player pool
This Sunday at 4 p.m. ET is the expected deadline for teams to submit their player pool of 60 names for the 2020 season. It is from this group of 60 that 30 players will be active on opening day. The active roster will be reduced to 28 after two weeks and to 26 after four weeks. It's safe to assume that some teams will include several of their top prospects among the pool of 60 players, and that some will wind up on taxi squads when play begins. Teams will put some players on their taxi squads...

O's use draft to fortify shortstop position on farm

O's use draft to fortify shortstop position on farm
Last winter, the Orioles signed free agent shortstop José Iglesias to a one-year contract with a club option for 2021. At a position where you want to have a plus defender, he will be that for the Orioles when we see baseball again. He posted a career-high 1.4 Defensive Wins Above Replacement last season and leads all major league shortstops in fielding percentage since 2015. But the Orioles hope the long-term future of the position is currently on the farm, where in recent years, the club...

How it might look in 2020: O's infield

How it might look in 2020: O's infield
Over the next few weeks, let's take a look at some aspects of the Orioles and how they were shaping up at the time that spring training was halted. Today, a look at the infield. Earlier, I made my projection for the five-man rotation in this entry. While we may see rosters larger than 26 players when baseball does start this year, we are going with a roster of 26 for this exercise. Under that roster size, I'm going with seven infielders, one of which can also play in the outfield, where later...

More on Harvey's wild eighth inning and Mountcastle's MVP

More on Harvey's wild eighth inning and Mountcastle's MVP
WASHINGTON - On a night the Orioles shut out a hot-hitting Washington Nationals team and starter Aaron Brooks did the heavy lifting for six innings, right-hander Hunter Harvey's eighth inning will be the one remembered around Birdland for a while. Pitching in just his fourth big league game, the kid was called on to protect a 2-0 lead on the road in the eighth. And against a team that was 15-4 in its last 19 games scoring 143 runs. Harvey threw a couple of 98 mph fastballs to pinch-hitter...

Orioles lineup vs. Nationals (Mountcastle honored)

Orioles lineup vs. Nationals (Mountcastle honored)
Hanser Alberto has been cleared to play tonight and is starting at third base in D.C. Alberto left Sunday's game with a head contusion and cervical neck strain. Renato Núñez was removed from the same game with discomfort behind his left knee. In the hamstring "area." But he's starting at first base tonight. The off-day worked wonders. Anthony Santander is left field and Stevie Wilkerson is in center. Jonathan Villar, who just joined the 20/20 club, is playing second base. Aaron Brooks...

Hunter Harvey on bullpen role: "I hope I stay there"

Hunter Harvey on bullpen role: "I hope I stay there"
Orioles right-hander Hunter Harvey can admit it now. There was a time during all his injury issues - including Tommy John surgery in 2016 - that he wondered if he would continue to play the game. Making the majors seemed a long, long way off. "With all the injuries and stuff, I had some negative thoughts go through my mind," he said in the O's clubhouse yesterday before the game. "Will I ever make it? In '15 and '16 I had thoughts, 'Will I ever pitch anymore? What is going to happen?'...

This deep into year, Delmarva's Grayson Rodriguez still bringing the heat

This deep into year, Delmarva's Grayson Rodriguez still bringing the heat
Single-A Delmarva Shorebirds right-hander Grayson Rodriguez seems to be getting better, if that's possible, as the season gets longer. And for someone at age 19 in his first full season of pro ball, that is beyond impressive. His stamina has been solid through 83 1/3 innings. Over his past two starts, he's thrown eight no-hit innings with 16 strikeouts. During a visit to Camden Yards yesterday with teammates Drew Rom and Adam Hall, Rodriguez said hard work from last winter is paying off for...

Orioles and Royals lineups

Orioles and Royals lineups
Pedro Severino is catching tonight in the series opener against the Royals with Chance Sisco possibly unavailable to the Orioles due to injury. No word on a roster move. I've heard that Austin Wynns is in Baltimore, which likely puts him on the taxi squad. Chris Davis also is out of the lineup. Trey Mancini is playing first base and DJ Stewart is in right. Jace Peterson continues to get starts in left field. Rio Ruiz is playing third base. Left-hander John Means will try to lower his...

Futures Game O's, the Friday farm and a very noteworthy win

Futures Game O's, the Friday farm and a very noteworthy win
It must be pretty exciting for the organization that the two Orioles pitching prospects to make the All-Star Futures Game are among the youngest players on either the American League or National League rosters. The rosters for the game on July 7 in Cleveland were announced Friday. Single-A Delmarva right-hander Grayson Rodriguez makes the roster at age 19 and Single-A Frederick lefty DL Hall joins him on the AL roster at 20. There are six players among the 50 players on both rosters that are 19...