The Orioles today announced that they have invited eight former players to serve as guest coaches at Major League Spring Training in Sarasota, Fla. The list includes ROBINSON CHIRINOS, J.J. HARDY, ADAM JONES, BEN McDONALD, SCOTT McGREGOR, EDDIE MURRAY, BRIAN ROBERTS, and MATT WIETERS. Murray is an Orioles Legend and National Baseball Hall of Famer, and he, along with Hardy, McGregor, and Roberts, are members of the Orioles Hall of Fame. Together, the guest coaches have 22 All-Star selections, 12 Gold Gloves, and five Silver Slugger Awards. A complete list of guest coaches and dates is below: 

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Claimed INF/OF Diego Castillo off waivers from the Philadelphia Phillies.
• Designated INF Livan Soto for assignment.

The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.

The Orioles today announced that they have acquired infielder/outfielder NICK MATON from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for cash considerations.

Maton (pronounced MAY-tahn), 26, slashed .173/.288/.305 (43-for-249) with nine doubles, eight home runs, 29 runs scored, 32 RBI, 38 walks, and one stolen base in 93 games for the Tigers last season. He made the Opening Day roster for the first time in his career and had two stints with Detroit. Maton hit his first career walk-off home run in the 11^th inning on April 14 vs. San Francsico, a three-run blast off Camilo Doval with the Tigers trailing by a run. He’s played in 180 MLB games between the Phillies and Tigers over parts of three seasons since 2021 and made Philadelphia’s World Series roster in 2022 against Houston. 

During his time with Triple-A Toledo in 2023, Maton batted .293/.414/.457 (41-for-140) with 12 doubles, one triple, three homers, 32 runs scored, 27 RBI, 27 walks, and three stolen bases in 38 games, including hitting for the cycle with the Mud Hens on September 6 at Indianapolis (5-for-5, 2-2B, 3B, HR, 2 R, 4 RBI).

He was traded to Detroit along with catcher Donny Sands and infielder/outfielder Matt Vierling from Philadelphia for infielder/outfielder Kody Clemens and left-handed pitcher Gregory Soto on January 7, 2023. Maton was originally selected by the Phillies in the seventh round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of Lincoln Land Community College (IL). His brother, Phil, is a right-handed pitcher and seven-year big leaguer, most recently with the Houston Astros from 2021-23.

The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 39 players.

The Orioles today announced the club’s minor league coaching staffs and player development assignments for the 2024 season. The coaching staffs of Triple-A Norfolk, Double-A Bowie, High-A Aberdeen, and Single-A Delmarva are listed below, along with the Florida Complex League and Dominican Summer League Orioles.

Managers BUCK BRITTON (Norfolk), CHRISTIAN FRIAS (FCL Orioles), and CHRIS MADERA and ELBIS MOREL (DSL Orioles) return to their same posts, ROBERTO MERCADO (Bowie), and FELIPE ROJAS ALOU, JR. (Aberdeen) have been promoted to new affiliates, and COLLIN WOODY (Delmarva) becomes a manager for the first time in his career.

Britton returns for his third season as Manager of the Tides. He guided Norfolk to the Triple-A National Championship and International League Championship in 2023, leading the team to a league-best 90-59 record, while also earning the organization’s Cal Ripken, Sr. Player Development Award. Britton managed No. 1 prospect JACKSON HOLLIDAY, as well as other top prospects COLTON COWSER, HESTON KJERSTAD, COBY MAYO, CHAYCE McDERMOTT, CONNOR NORBY, CADE POVICH, GRAYSON RODRIGUEZ, KYLE STOWERS, and JORDAN WESTBURG. In total, 34 players appeared on both the Tides’ and Orioles’ active rosters during the 2023 season. Britton will be joined once again by Pitching Coach JUSTIN RAMSEY, who enters his sixth season in the organization and third with Norfolk. Ramsey will also serve as Minor League Upper-Level Pitching Coordinator for a third straight year in addition to his position with the Tides. Newcomer and former University of Maryland product MIKE MONTVILLE joins Norfolk as Hitting Coach after serving as Assistant Hitting Coach with Triple-A Worcester (BOS) in 2023. Fundamentals Coach RAMÓN SAMBO and Development Coach JOSHUA RODRIGUES each return in their roles, with Sambo entering his fifth season in Norfolk and 18^th in the Orioles’ system, and Rodrigues entering his third season in the organization. Athletic Trainer ALAN RAIL, ATC and Strength and Conditioning Coach JON MEDICI also return to Norfolk. SETH ELLANSON, ATC has been named Assistant Athletic Trainer after serving as Head Athletic Trainer for the NBA G League Motor City Cruise. ADAM SEHLMEYER returns as Norfolk’s Clubhouse Manager.

Mercado will make his Double-A debut after leading High-A Aberdeen the last two seasons. In 2022, he was honored with the organization’s Cal Ripken, Sr. Player Development Award and led the IronBirds to the South Atlantic League championship series. AUSTIN MEINE joins the Baysox as Pitching Coach after serving in the same role with the IronBirds last year. Hitting Coach JOSH BUNSELMEYER makes the jump from Single-A Delmarva. Fundamentals Coach CHASE SEBBY and Development Coach BILLY FACTEAU join Bowie from Aberdeen, Athletic Trainer JULIO IBARRA, ATC jumps from the Shorebirds, and SAM SAUER is back as Strength and Conditioning Coach. JON WEINBERG returns as Clubhouse Manager.

Alou will manage the IronBirds, his third managerial season after spending the last two years with Delmarva and his 17^th overall in the organization. Pitching Coach JORDIE HENRY joins the staff from the FCL Orioles and Hitting Coach ZACH COLE returns to Aberdeen in the same position for a third season. Fundamentals Coach CHARLES BOLDEN joins the organization after serving as head baseball coach at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire for the last three years. Development Coach RYAN GOLL is back at Aberdeen after spending last season with Bowie. He will also serve as Offseason Camp Coordinator. Athletic Trainer TORI ATENCIO, ATC and Strength and Conditioning Coach CHRIS FROSCH are both back with the IronBirds. ROSS STOVALL returns as Aberdeen’s Clubhouse Manager.

The Baltimore Orioles tonight announced that they have acquired right-handed pitcher CORBIN BURNES, a three-time All-Star and 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner, from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for left-handed pitcher DL HALL, infielder JOEY ORTIZ, and a 2024 Competitive Balance Round A pick.

Burnes, 29, went 10-8 with a 3.39 ERA (73 ER/193.2 IP) with 141 hits (22 HR), 77 total runs, 66 walks, and 200 strikeouts in 32 starts for the Brewers last season. He led the NL in WHIP (1.07) and ranked among league leaders in opponent average (2^nd, .200), hits per nine innings (2^nd, 6.55), innings pitched (T-5^th), ERA (6^th), quality starts (6^th, 19), and strikeouts (10^th). Burnes was honored as the NL Pitcher of the Month in July after going 4-1 with a 1.85 ERA (8 ER/39.0 IP) and 47 strikeouts in six starts. He threw 8.0 no-hit innings on September 10 at New York-AL but did not factor in the decision in a 13-inning loss. Burnes finished eighth in the NL Cy Young voting, his fourth straight top-eight finish.

Burnes led the NL with 243 strikeouts in 2022, becoming the first Brewer in franchise history to lead the league. The total ranked second in franchise history. His 33 starts were also tied for the most in the NL. The right-hander is one of five MLB pitchers with at least 200 strikeouts over the last three years, including Chicago-AL’s Dylan Cease, New York-AL’s Gerrit Cole, Philadelphia’s Aaron Nola, and Toronto’s Kevin Gausman. He was also a finalist for a Gold Glove Award for the first time and finished seventh in the Cy Young.

During his Cy Young campaign in 2021, Burnes became the third pitcher in franchise history and the first since the team joined the NL to win the award, along with Pete Vuckovich (1982) and National Baseball Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers (1981). He led MLB in ERA (2.43), strikeout rate (35.6%), FIP (1.63), and home runs per nine innings (0.38) while ranking among NL leaders in WHIP (2^nd, 0.94), walks per nine innings (2^nd, 1.83), strikeouts (3^rd, 234), opponent average (4^th, .201), hits per nine innings (5^th, 6.63), and quality starts (T-10^th, 18). Burnes started the year with 58 strikeouts before issuing a walk, breaking the MLB record to begin a season, and later tied the MLB record by striking out 10 consecutive batters on August 11 at Chicago-NL. He was also part of history on September 11 at Cleveland, tossing the first 8.0 innings as Milwaukee no-hit the Guardians.

The Bakersfield, Calif., native is 45-27 with a 3.26 ERA (257 ER/709.1 IP) and 870 strikeouts in 167 career games (106 starts), all with the Brewers, since making his MLB debut in relief on July 10, 2018 at Miami. The righty was originally selected by Milwaukee in the fourth round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Saint Mary’s College of California.

• David Rubenstein leads a diverse investor group that includes Michael Arougheti, Mitchell Goldstein, Michael Smith, and Maryland leaders, philanthropists, and sports legends
• David Rubenstein to become Control Person of the Orioles
• The Angelos family will continue as a major investor, and John Angelos will work with Rubenstein as a senior advisor
• Transaction values the franchise and assets at $1.725 billion

Baltimore, MD – The Angelos family, majority owner of the Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise the Baltimore Orioles, has agreed to sell a control stake in the Orioles to Baltimore native, philanthropist, and investor David M. Rubenstein for $1.725 billion. The Angelos family will continue to hold a sizable investment in the Orioles, and John Angelos will serve as a senior advisor to the organization. The transaction is subject to review and approval by MLB’s Ownership Committee and a full vote of MLB ownership.

Mr. Rubenstein is Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of The Carlyle Group and he will become the controlling owner of the Orioles upon the close of the transaction. 

Mr. Rubenstein is joined in the investment by Michael Arougheti, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ares Management; Mitchell Goldstein and Michael Smith, Co-Heads of the Ares Credit Group; Cal Ripken, Jr., Oriole’s legend and MLB Hall of Famer; Kurt Schmoke, former Baltimore Mayor; Grant Hill, NBA Hall of Famer; Mike Bloomberg, entrepreneur and philanthropist; Michele Kang, business leader; and other investors.

John Angelos said, “When I took on the role of Chair and CEO of the Orioles, we had the objective of restoring the franchise to elite status in major league sports, keeping the team in Baltimore for years to come, and revitalizing our partnership group. This relationship with David Rubenstein and his partners validates that we have not only met but exceeded our goals.”

The Orioles’ major league roster and minor league team are stacked with young talent. For example, in a first in MLB history, the O’s have the #1 prospect in all of pro baseball (Jackson Holliday) for the third year in a row, following Gunnar Henderson (No. 1 in 2023) and Adley Rutschman (No. 1 in 2022), and have five of the top 32 rated prospects in all of professional baseball. In 2023, the Orioles won the American League East for the first time since 2014 and the Orioles had more wins (101) than in any season since 1979.

The Orioles today announced that tickets for all 2024 regular season home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards will go on sale to the general public on Thursday, January 25, at 10 a.m. ET. Tickets can be purchased at Orioles.com/Tickets. The club also announced its 2024 promotional schedule, which features 24 giveaway items and is highlighted by five bobbleheads, multiple t-shirt nights, a City Connect Reversible Floppy Hat, presented by Coors Light, a City Connect Hawaiian Shirt, an Orioles Football Jersey, and an Orioles Soccer Jersey. 

Fans who subscribe to the free Orioles Insider email newsletter will receive an invitation to participate in an online pre-sale opportunity beginning Tuesday, January 23, at 10 a.m., including a limited time special offer for up to 50 percent off all April and May home games. Fans can subscribe online at Orioles.com/Newsletter. This year, due to high demand, tickets for Opening Day on Thursday, March 28, when the Orioles host the Los Angeles Angels at 3:05 p.m. are available exclusively to Birdland Members. For more information, or to purchase a 2024 Birdland Membership, call 888-848-BIRD or visit Orioles.com/Memberships.

The Bird Bath Splash Zone will return to Section 86 for the 2024 season with tickets available to purchase beginning on Tuesday, January 23. Fans who purchase single game tickets in Section 86 may get wet and are encouraged to secure their belongings in waterproof bags before entering the Bird Bath.

The bobblehead giveaways will feature 2023 American League Manager of the Year BRANDON HYDE on Saturday, April 27, Orioles Chief Hydration Officer MR. SPLASH on Friday, May 10, Orioles 2023 co-home run leader ANTHONY SANTANDER on Saturday, June 1, Silver Slugger ADLEY RUTSCHMAN on Sunday, July 28, and 2023 American League Rookie of the Year GUNNAR HENDERSON on Friday, August 23.

Returning this year are popular fan favorites, including the City Connect Hawaiian Shirt on Saturday, June 29, City Connect Reversible Floppy Hat, presented by Coors Light, on Friday, July 26, and Orioles Soccer Jersey on Saturday, August 24. 

The Orioles today announced that they have opened the 2023-24 International Signing Period with 19 contract agreements. Highlighting the Orioles’ 2023-24 international signing class are: shortstop EMILIO SÁNCHEZ, outfielder STIVEN MARTÍNEZ, shortstop ELVIN GARCÍA, shortstop JEMONE NUEL, right-handed pitcher YAKI MONDESIR, outfielder ÁNGEL GARCÍA, and right-handed pitcher ESTEBAN MEJÍA. Of the 19 total agreements, 13 are from the Dominican Republic and six are from Venezuela. The signing class includes seven infielders, six outfielders, four pitchers, and two catchers.

Sánchez, 16, was born in San Juan De La Maguana, Dominican Republic. He is ranked as the No. 30 international prospect by MLB Pipeline and No. 31 by Baseball America. He has the chance to be a solid, everyday type of player who is capable of plus offense with average defense. He carries a solid approach at the plate and has a loose swing with good extension and bat speed. The bat stays in the hitting zone for a long time. He possesses good balance and feel for the barrel. Defensively, he will start his career at shortstop but could move to third base as he physically matures and gets stronger.

Martínez, 16, is an outfielder from the Dominican Republic who has the potential to be a five-tool player. He is ranked as the No. 28 international prospect by MLB Pipeline and No. 42 by Baseball America. He carries a plus arm and possesses plenty of raw power for his age as one of the youngest players in his class. He has the ability to hit to all fields as the ball jumps off the bat. Defensively, Martínez has a very strong arm with proper mechanics and an on-line carry. He is viewed as one of the best projects in this class.

García, 16, a native of Mao, Dominican Republic, has the chance to be an everyday shortstop. He has a large frame with a lot of space to fill out, making for excellent body projection. Offensively, he has a short swing with bat speed and carries a good approach at the plate. He is a line-drive type of hitter with the ability to hit the ball to the opposite field. On the dirt, he has a chance to stay at shortstop due to his good hands and feet. He maintains fluid and effortless actions with plenty of body control. He is a smart player who understands his role well.

Nuel, 16, is a shortstop out of the Dominican Republic, with Jamaican descent, who profiles best as an everyday player. He is a solid hitter who possesses great bat-to-ball skills, shows good feel for the barrel, and sees spin well. He is an advanced hitter for his age and has line-drive power that will help him hit a lot of extra-base hits. On defense, he projects as someone who will remain in the middle of the infield. He is a plus runner who is aggressive on the bases. Nuel will be fun to watch as someone who plays the game with good energy.

The Orioles today announced their 2024 Major League staff, led by 2023 American League Manager of the Year BRANDON HYDE. The club has named DREW FRENCH Pitching Coach, MITCH PLASSMEYER Assistant Pitching Coach, and GRANT ANDERS Major League Development Coach. All other coaches remain in their same positions: CODY ASCHE as Offensive Strategy Coach, MATT BORGSCHULTE and RYAN FULLER as Co-Hitting Coaches, TIM COSSINS as Major League Field Coordinator/Catching Instructor, FREDI GONZÁLEZ as Bench Coach, JOSÉ HERNÁNDEZ as Major League Coach, RYAN KLIMEK as Pitching Strategy Coach, TONY MANSOLINO as Third Base Coach, and ANTHONY SANDERS as First Base Coach.

French, 39, joins the Orioles from the Atlanta Braves, where he spent the past three seasons as the Bullpen Coach, including on the 2021 World Series champion team. Prior to his first Major League coaching role with the Braves, he spent five seasons (2016-20) as a Pitching Coach in the Houston Astros organization. In 2020, he worked as one of two Pitching Coaches at Houston’s Alternate Training Site. He then joined the Astros for the end of the regular season and playoffs as the Pitching Coach for the club’s Major League taxi squad. In 2019, he served as Triple-A Round Rock’s Pitching Coach. Under his guidance, Express pitchers set a franchise record with 1,265 strikeouts and posted 12 shutout victories, the most in the Pacific Coast League. He joined the Astros in 2016 as the Pitching Coach for Short-Season A Tri-City. In the following two seasons, he helped teams win championship titles, first as Pitching Coach for the 2017 Midwest League Champion Quad City River Bandits (A), and then as Pitching Coach for the 2018 Carolina League Champion Buies Creek Astros (A+). Before coaching in professional baseball, French spent nine seasons in similar roles with four different universities. He graduated from Concordia University (TX) in 2006 with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Minor in Communication.

Plassmeyer, 28, was promoted from Minor League Pitching Coordinator, a role he had held since May 2022. Prior to joining the Orioles, he worked at the University of Missouri-Columbia as Pitching Coach (2022) and Director of Player Development - Baseball (2021-22). He began his coaching career at Premier Pitching and Performance (P3) in Missouri, where he served as Pitching Trainer (2019-22), Director of Remote Pitching (2019-21), and Director of Pitching (2021). Plassmeyer pitched three seasons at Bradley University (IL), where he received his Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Leadership from the Foster College of Business in 2019.

Anders, 27, was promoted from Major League Player Development Analyst, a role he had held since December 2021. He joined the Orioles organization as Double-A Bowie’s Development Coach in November of 2019, serving in that capacity through the 2021 season. Prior to joining the Orioles, Anders spent the 2019 season as a Baseball Operations Trainee with the Cincinnati Reds and the 2017-18 seasons as a Minor League Video Intern in the Kansas City Royals organization. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Radford University (VA), where he served as the Director of Player Development for the Radford Highlanders baseball team from 2015-18. He earned his Master of Sports Law and Business from Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University in 2019.

Hyde enters his sixth season as Manager after being named to the post prior to the 2019 campaign. In 2023, he led the Orioles to an AL-best 101-61 record, the first time since 1997 that the Orioles claimed the top seed in the AL. The 2023 season saw the O’s clinch their 10^th AL East title and first since 2014, as well as their first playoff berth since the 2016 AL Wild Card. Hyde guided the Orioles to their first 100-win season since 1980, joining EARL WEAVER as the only O’s skippers to manage a team to a 100-win campaign. He has now led the Birds to their first back-to-back winning seasons since 2013-14. He was voted the Baseball Writers’ Association of America AL Manager of the Year, becoming the fourth Orioles skipper to win the award. He was also voted the Sporting News AL Manager of the Year by fellow American League managers for the second consecutive year. 

The Baltimore Orioles today announced that they will host an opening ceremony for their new, state-of-the-art training academy in Guerra, Dominican Republic on Tuesday, January 16, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. AST. Several dignitaries are scheduled to attend the event, including Dominican Republic President LUIS ABINADER, Dominican Republic Vice Minister of Sports ELVIS DUARTE, and Dominican Republic Commissioner of Baseball JUNIOR NOBOA, along with Orioles Executive Vice President and General Manager MIKE ELIAS, and Orioles Vice President of International Scouting and Operations KOBY PEREZ.

“This academy is the culmination of years of hard work by so many people, and I am grateful to everyone who made this a reality,” said Elias. “For the last several years, one of the main goals of our partnership group and front office has been to excel in Latin America, and I am very pleased by what we as an organization, led by Koby Perez, have accomplished in this sector. This grand opening marks another major milestone in scouting and player development that will keep our minor league pipeline flowing and preserve winning baseball in Baltimore for years to come.”

The 22.5-acre complex is home to the Orioles’ regional facility for Caribbean, Central, and South American player development operations, and includes three full fields, a sports turf agility field, batting and pitching tunnels, administrative buildings, dormitories, and educational facilities. The complex will house more than 100 players, coaches, and staff, providing dormitory-style rooms and entertainment spaces and includes three classrooms and a computer lab, which will provide on-site learning and an education plan for each player, as well as a dining room that will offer daily nutritious meals.

“I am incredibly proud to say that the Baltimore Orioles now have one of finest training facilities in the Dominican Republic,” said Perez. “The impact this complex will have on the future success of the Orioles, and the young players that we recruit and sign, is immeasurable. Having a state-of-the-art facility will not only allow us to continue to attract top international talent to the organization but will also allow us to teach them valuable life skills off the field that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.”

The project was led by landowner and developer BRIAN MEJIA of Brison SRL. The Orioles were represented by renowned Dominican academy architect JOSÉ MELLA, who is considered one of the foremost training facility architects in the Dominican Republic, having designed around half of the current academies in the DR today.

The Orioles today announced the return of the club’s ‘Birdland Caravan,’ a three-day winter tour, that will take place from Thursday, January 25, through Saturday, January 27, at multiple locations throughout the region. The weekend-long celebration will include meet and greet photo opportunities, community projects, fan rallies, and happy hours.  

The caravan will include experiential events at Bowlero Timonium and Topgolf Germantown to give fans a unique and fun opportunity to interact with Orioles players and staff as they bowl and tee off together. Designed to take the Oriole Park experience directly to the fans, the Birdland Caravan will make stops throughout Maryland in 14 different cities throughout the three-day winter tour, including Baltimore City, Capitol Heights, Catonsville, Columbia, Frederick, Gambrills, Germantown, Hagerstown, Halethorpe, Havre De Grace, Laurel, and Timonium. Fans in Easton and Westminster will also have the opportunity to meet and take photos with the Oriole Bird and Mr. Splash while holding the American League East Champions flag. 

Current Orioles players and coaches participating in select events include KEEGAN AKIN, CODY ASCHE, MIKE BAUMANN, MATT BORGSCHULTE, DANNY COULOMBE, COLTON COWSER, RYAN FULLER, FREDI GONZÁLEZ, DL HALL, AUSTIN HAYS, RYAN KLIMEK, TONY MANSOLINO, RYAN McKENNA, JOHN MEANS, RYAN MOUNTCASTLE, CEDRIC MULLINS, JOEY ORTIZ, GRAYSON RODRIGUEZ, ANTHONY SANDERS, DILLON TATE, NICK VESPI, JACOB WEBB, TYLER WELLS, JORDAN WESTBURG, and BRUCE ZIMMERMANN along with Orioles prospects JACKSON HOLLIDAY, CHAYCE McDERMOTT, COBY MAYO, and CADE POVICH. Additionally, Orioles Executive Vice President, General Manager, and MLB Executive of the Year MIKE ELIAS and American League Manager of the Year BRANDON HYDE will attend select events throughout the weekend. 

Tickets are required for meet and greet photos, as well as the experiential events at Bowlero and Topgolf. Fans must purchase tickets in advance as availability will be limited. Proceeds from the meet and greets will go to the nonprofit organizations the caravan visits throughout the weekend. Tickets for meet and greet photos, Bowlero, and Topgolf will go on sale tomorrow, Tuesday, January 9, at 12:00 p.m. ET at Orioles.com/Caravan.  

Birdland Caravan will begin on Thursday, January 25, at Banditos Taco & Tequila in Columbia with a live Justin, Scott, and Spiegel Show on 98ROCK, the flagship station of the Orioles Radio Network. The event, sponsored by Corona, is open to fans of all ages and will feature live in-person interviews and photos with current players and coaches.  Thursday will continue with a private community project with ShareBaby, where players and staff will craft care packages of diapers and essential items for young children in Baltimore with unmet needs. In the evening, fans may purchase tickets for a screening of the new documentary 101: The Story of the 2023 Baltimore Orioles at The Charles Theatre in Station North. Tickets for the 7:00 p.m. showing will be available to purchase at Orioles.com/Caravan starting on Tuesday, January 9 at 12:00 p.m. Ticket proceeds will benefit the Y in Central Maryland.  Fans who purchase a ticket and attend the screening will receive a 101: The Story of the 2023 Baltimore Orioles movie poster autographed by Brandon Hyde.

The Orioles have made the following roster move:

• Signed undrafted free agent RHP Dominic Freeberger to a minor league contract.

Major League Baseball tonight announced that Orioles right-handed pitcher FÉLIX BAUTISTA has won the 2023 Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year Award. He was a unanimous choice by the voting panel, which was comprised of six all-time great relievers. Bautista becomes the second Orioles player to win the award, joining left-hander ZACK BRITTON in 2016.

Bautista, 28, went 8-2 with a 1.48 ERA (10 ER/61.0 IP) and a 0.92 WHIP in his 56 appearances for the AL East Champion Orioles, who finished with the AL’s best record (101-61) for the first time since 1997. The Dominican Republic native converted 33 of his 39 save opportunities, including five of more than 1.0 inning. He led MLB relievers with 110 strikeouts, the third-most by an O’s reliever in team history (since 1954), and struck out multiple batters in 38 of his 56 outings, the most multi-strikeout games in MLB this season. Bautista recorded the fastest strikeout pitch by an Orioles pitcher in the pitch-tracking era (since 2008) on June 28 vs. Cincinnati, striking out Spencer Steer at 103.3 miles per hour.

 “The Mountain” was named to his first career All-Star team and earned AL Reliever of the Month honors for April, June, and July. He was also named the Baseball Digest/eBay MLB Relief Pitcher of the Year. He was placed on the Injured List in late August before undergoing ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (Tommy John) in October.

Bautista finished ahead of AL runners-up Emmanuel Clase (CLE) and Jordan Romano (TOR). Bautista and Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year Award winner Devin Williams (MIL) will each receive a special trophy that models the likeness of Rivera and Hoffman, respectively, pitching during their Hall of Fame careers. The Rivera and Hoffman Awards replaced MLB’s “Delivery Man of the Year Award,” which was presented to one winner in all of Major League Baseball from 2005-2013. These awards continue a longstanding baseball tradition of honoring the game’s top relief pitchers.

The Orioles made the following roster moves:

• Tendered 2024 contracts to LHP Danny Coulombe, OF Austin Hays, LHP Cole Irvin, LHP John Means, INF Ryan Mountcastle, OF Cedric Mullins, INF/OF Ryan O'Hearn, LHP Cionel Pérez, OF Anthony Santander, RHP Dillon Tate, INF Ramón Urías, RHP Jacob Webb, and RHP Tyler Wells, as well as all pre-arbitration 40-man players.
• Agreed to terms with LHP Keegan Akin, OF Sam Hilliard, INF/OF Jorge Mateo, and OF Ryan McKenna on a one-year contracts for the 2024 season, avoiding arbitration.

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) tonight announced that Orioles infielder GUNNAR HENDERSON has been unanimously voted the American League Rookie of the Year, becoming the first unanimous winner in Orioles history. He is the first Orioles player to win the award since GREGG OLSON in 1989, and the seventh overall, also joining CAL RIPKEN, JR. (1982), EDDIE MURRAY (1977), AL BUMBRY (1973), CURT BLEFARY (1965), and RON HANSEN (1960).

Henderson slashed .255/.325/.489 (143-for-560) with 29 doubles, nine triples, 28 home runs, 100 runs, 82 RBI, 56 walks (1 IBB), and 10 stolen bases in 150 games (143 starts) this season. He led Major League Baseball rookies in Baseball Reference Wins Above Replacement (bWAR) with 6.3, as well as in home runs and extra-base hits (66), while leading AL rookies in FanGraphs’ Wins Above Replacement (fWAR) with 4.6, as well as in triples, runs, RBI, and total bases (274). According to STATS, he ranked second among qualified AL rookies in slugging and OPS (.814) and third in on-base percentage. He became the fourth AL rookie since 2002 to score 100 runs in a season, joining Aaron Judge (128, 2017), Mike Trout (129, 2012), and Austin Jackson (103, 2010). He is also the first rookie in team history and 20^th in MLB history to record at least 20 doubles, five triples, 20 homers, and 10 stolen bases in a single season.

Henderson set O’s rookie records in extra-base hits, runs, bWAR, and slugging percentage. His historic season led to him being voted the winner of the Louis M. Hatter Most Valuable Oriole Award by members of the local media who cover the team on a regular basis, becoming the fourth rookie to be named the winner of the award since its inception in 1954.

The 22-year-old infielder appeared in 84 games at third base (68 starts) and 83 at shortstop (64 starts), leading the Orioles with 13 Defensive Runs Saved, per Sports Info Solutions. Ten of those were at shortstop, sixth in MLB despite playing over 360 fewer innings at the position than anyone ahead of him. He led MLB with six Runner Runs, a metric designed to evaluate the performance of runners taking extra bases, per Statcast.

Henderson was named AL Rookie of the Year by the Sporting News and Players Choice AL Outstanding Rookie, both of which were voted on by his peers. He was named an AL Silver Slugger Award winner at the utility position, becoming the 15^th rookie to claim a Silver Slugger and first in Orioles history. He was also named to Baseball America’s Major League All-Rookie Team. He was selected AL Rookie of the Month for June and AL Player of the Week for the period of June 5-11, and was twice chosen as the winner of the Electric Play of the Week presented by Chevrolet.

The Orioles have made the following roster move:

• Agreed to terms with LHP Tucker Davidson on a one-year contract for the 2024 season.

The Orioles today announced their 2023 Holiday Gift Guide, which includes a variety of ticket packages, gift cards, and team store gear that make the perfect presents for fans of all ages. The club will also host two holiday events at the ballpark, a Black Friday sale on Friday, November 24 at the Official Team Store at Oriole Park, and a Giving Tuesday drive on Tuesday, November 28. More information can be found below.

BLACK FRIDAY EVENT

Fans can get a head start on their holiday shopping at the Official Team Store at Oriole Park on Friday, November 24. The team store will be open to fans from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will feature exclusive in-store only deals, including up to 50 percent off select items, and a gift with any purchase of $125 or more. Fans will have the chance to meet and take photos with Santa Bird from 9-10 a.m. and Santa Splash from 12-1 p.m., as well as spin the prize wheel, where everyone is a winner. Complimentary parking will be available in the North Warehouse Lot. For more information, visit Orioles.com/TeamStore.

GIVING TUESDAY

Oriole Park at Camden Yards will continue to serve as a hub for community involvement as the Baltimore Orioles and CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield partner to host a drive-thru winter accessory collection on Tuesday, November 28 to benefit The Food Project. The collection will take place from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of Home Plate Plaza on the Russell Street Service Drive (near Gate D). Fans can access the Russell Street Service Drive from Lee Street on the south side of the ballpark. Those wishing to donate are asked to bring new or gently used adult and youth sized coats, scarves, winter hats, gloves, and socks. Fans who participate in the drive will receive a complimentary ticket voucher for two tickets to a 2024 Orioles home game.

Major League Baseball today announced that Orioles Executive Vice President and General Manager MIKE ELIAS has been voted the MLB Executive of the Year. The official award bestowed by MLB resulted from voting among the 30 clubs, each of which cast a vote prior to the start of the Postseason.

The Orioles posted a 101-61 record in 2023, finishing 2.0 games ahead of Tampa Bay to secure the club’s 10^th AL East title and first since 2014. Baltimore’s 101 wins are tied with the 1971 team for the fourth-most in a single season in club history (since 1954), trailing 109 in 1969, 108 in 1970, and 102 in 1979. The O’s were the only team in the AL and one of three teams in MLB to win 100 games this season, along with the Braves (104-58) and Dodgers (100-62).

Baltimore’s core included homegrown players drafted and developed during Elias’ tenure, including All-Star catcher ADLEY RUTSCHMAN and Most Valuable Oriole Award-winning infielder GUNNAR HENDERSON, trade acquisitions like breakout right-hander KYLE BRADISH, All-Star reliever YENNIER CANO, left-hander DANNY COULOMBE, catcher JAMES McCANN, and first baseman/outfielder RYAN O’HEARN, and free agent veterans infielder ADAM FRAZIER, starting right-hander KYLE GIBSON, and outfielder AARON HICKS. 2020 Rule 5 selection TYLER WELLS led Baltimore’s starting rotation for the first half of the season before transitioning to the bullpen in September. Six players made their Major League debuts for the O’s in 2023, with five finishing the season on Baltimore’s 40-man roster: outfielders COLTON COWSER and HESTON KJERSTAD, infielders JOEY ORTIZ and JORDAN WESTBURG, and right-handed starter GRAYSON RODRIGUEZ. Kjerstad, Rodriguez, and Westburg finished the season with the Orioles and appeared on Baltimore’s ALDS roster.

Elias, who was also voted the Sporting News 2023 MLB Executive of the Year by fellow AL and NL executives, completed his 17^th season in MLB and fifth in Baltimore this year. He was named the Orioles’ Executive Vice President and General Manager on November 16, 2018. During his tenure, the Yale alumnus has worked quickly to revamp the Orioles’ player development system, revitalize the club’s international scouting presence, and expand the team’s analytics department. As a result of these dedicated efforts, the franchise is now flush with young talent and positioned for longstanding competitiveness in the AL East. Over the last two seasons, the Orioles (184-140) own the third-best record in the AL and fifth-best in MLB, behind only the Dodgers (211-113), Braves (205-119), Astros (196-128), and Rays (185-139). The Orioles’ farm system retained its spot at the top in the 2023 midseason rankings by Baseball America, ESPN, and MLB Pipeline, marking the second straight year that they have been ranked as the best farm system in baseball by these three outlets. The Orioles are the first organization to rank No. 1 in five straight MLB Pipeline farm system rankings.

MLB began its official Executive of the Year Award at the conclusion of the 2018 season, with Billy Beane of the Oakland Athletics earning the inaugural honors, followed by Erik Neander of the Tampa Bay Rays in 2019, Andrew Friedman of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020, Farhan Zaidi of the San Francisco Giants in 2021, and Chris Antonetti of the Cleveland Guardians in 2022.