I will be the first to admit, my time as an Orioles fan has made me pretty pessimistic when it comes to first-round picks being high school pitchers. Do not get me wrong, I like this year's first-round selection of right-hander Grayson Rodriguez, and thus far he has been incredibly impressive. Rodriguez, 18, was the O's first round-pick (11th overall) this year out of Central Heights High School in Nacogdoches, Texas. It came as a bit of a surprise on draft night, and not because Rodriguez...

After a walk-off win last night, the Orioles need a victory tonight to take three of four in a series against the New York Yankees for the second time in 2018. They won three of four at New York April 5-8. The Orioles are 5-4 versus the Yankees for the season and 3-2 at Camden Yards. Last night produced the Orioles' second walk-off win of the season and first since opening day. And it was New York's second walk-off loss. A case could be made that the Orioles are the difference right now at...

In a season that has been extremely tough on their fan base, the Orioles made a move yesterday that avoided what would have been another gut punch. Within 90 minutes of the deadline to sign 2018 draft picks, the Orioles reached an agreement with University of Arkansas right-handed pitcher Blaine Knight. During such a miserable season, letting one of the top college pitchers get away would have further riled up an already riled-up fan base. And it would have been a big mistake. The Orioles need...

MINNESOTA - Danny Valencia is in right field and Caleb Joseph is behind the plate tonight, as the Orioles open their four-game series against the Twins. Trey Mancini is batting eighth and Tim Beckham continues to lead off. Andrew Cashner posted four quality starts in five outings last month and went 0-2 with three no-decisions. The Orioles went 1-4. Cashner faced the Twins in his first start with the Orioles on March 31 and allowed four earned runs (five total) and six hits in five innings....

The search for offense continues today in Baltimore. After being shut out for the eighth time last night - and fourth time in the last 15 games - the Orioles host Miami in the second game of a three-game set. The Orioles' 234 runs scored are the fewest in the majors, 10 less than Miami, which ranks 29th. The O's have scored 19 runs the last 10 games and 48 in the past 23. They have gone 3-for-58 (.052) with runners in scoring position over the last eight games. The Orioles (19-49) are trying...

At least this time while the Orioles were taking another loss they also saw the return of closer Zach Britton to the mound. He had Achilles surgery in December and the long road back to a big league mound culminated with his appearance in the seventh inning in last night's 6-4 loss to Boston. Pitching for the first time in the majors since Sept. 18, 2017, Britton threw just 11 of 26 pitches for strikes and he walked three. He somehow managed to not give up a run. He did not get charged with a...

The Orioles today officially signed their top draft pick, prep pitcher Grayson Rodriguez, who was just introduced at a Camden Yards press conference where he was joined by Orioles scouting director Gary Rajsich. It was not long after the Orioles selected Rodriguez 11th overall in round one on June 4 that they were closing in on agreement to a signing bonus. Rodriguez will head to Florida tomorrow for an orientation and to throw some bullpens before he joins the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League...

Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy had another good outing last night. By now, he is probably getting used to pitching without a lot of runs to work with. Bundy threw eight scoreless innings on three singles against the Boston Red Sox. No runner even got to third base against him during his 104-pitch outing. Leaning more heavily than usual on his fastball, Bundy saw Andrew Benintendi go 2-for-2 against him and the rest of the Boston lineup went 1-for-24. Bundy did not get a decision in the...

TORONTO - As the Orioles have continued to struggle to score runs and the losses began to mount, no one in the clubhouse has blinders on. They know how bad it is and as they look around that clubhouse these days, players seem to realize it could look very different in there over the next few weeks and months. The team has four pending free agents - Manny Machado, Adam Jones, Zach Britton and Brad Brach - and any or all of the four could go in trade-deadline deals in July. Or maybe sooner. And...

The implementation of the slot bonus amounts, that began in the First-Year Player Draft a few years ago as part of a new collective bargaining agreement, means that teams can reach agreements very quickly with draft picks. The Orioles have done just that. The Orioles are very close to signing multiple draft picks they have selected in the first two days of the draft including their top pick, prep right-hander Grayson Rodriguez from Nacagdoches, Texas. The listed slot for the No. 11 pick is...

FLUSHING, N.Y. - While wondering if the Eagles will invite Alanis Morissette to sing "Uninvited" before their home opener ... I'm getting asked about the Orioles' decision to select Texas high school pitcher Grayson Rodriguez with their first pick in the draft. It felt like a reach considering the more highly rated pitchers still on the board, including Matthew Liberatore, Brady Singer, Cole Winn and Shane McClanahan, but let's not pretend that this is an exact science. It is not - more...

For the first time, the Orioles have selected high school pitchers in back-to-back years with their top pick in the First-Year Player Draft, which has been held since 1965. With the No. 11 pick last night, the Orioles selected prep right-hander Grayson Rodriguez from Central Heights High School in Nacogdoches, Texas. He is 6-foot-5 and 230 lbs., and has a college commitment to Texas A&M. Scouting reports indicate his fastball often sat 92 to 94 mph this season, touching 97 and 98 mph....

The Orioles chose another high school pitcher tonight with their first pick in the First-Year Player Draft. Just not a name that had been linked to them. The Orioles used the 11th overall pick on right-hander Grayson Rodriguez of Central Heights High School in Nacogdoches, Texas. Rodriguez is listed at 6-foot-5 and 230 lbs. and has been lauded for improving his conditioning over the winter while working with a trainer. His fastball can touch 97-98 mph, according to Baseball America, and...