The Anthony Santander-Félix Hernández connection and Santander's pitching days

When the Orioles were in Seattle last weekend, several of their players and coaches watched intently the pregame ceremony on Saturday night when former team great Félix Hernández was inducted into the Mariners Hall of Fame. 

A career winner of 169 games with 2,524 strikeouts – all with Seattle over a 15-year career – it was a special night at T-Mobile Park.

He’s known simply as the “King” in Seattle. He was a six-time All-Star who won the 2010 AL Cy Young Award and was a runner-up twice. He pitched a perfect game against Tampa Bay on Aug. 15, 2012.

When he took the mound at home, the “Kings Court” would fill the leftfield stands with gold shirts and K cards. 

Like Hernández, the Orioles’ Anthony Santander is a native of Venezuela. When Santander was tearing it up this spring in the WBC, Hernández was a visitor to the Team Venezuela clubhouse. When he was 13, scouts compared a young teenager pitcher Santander to Hernández. In the spring of 2021, Hernández signed a minor league deal with the Orioles and the two countrymen were briefly teammates.

Bullpen injury news from the first day and a few other notes

The first day of spring training for the Orioles produced the first news of a player that will miss opening day. And it comes from the O’s bullpen. We can always count on the start of spring to produce information on which players will be “slow-played” or be on a list of no play, not playing yet at all.

Bullpen righty Dillon Tate will begin the season on the injured list. He strained his right flexor/forearm in November. That will also keep him from pitching for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.

We also learned yesterday that closer Félix Bautista is questionable for opening day as he’s been rehabbing his left knee this winter and is on a strengthening program for his shoulder. Missing one or both of these pitchers for any length of time would be a huge loss.

Also, lefty DL Hall will be slow-played due to lower lumbar discomfort, which first showed up about three weeks ago.

O’s executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias told reporters they expect Tate back in late April or early May. Tate’s situation makes the addition of right-hander Mychal Givens maybe more important now.

Taking a closer look at some minor league free agents (updated)

Taking a closer look at some minor league free agents (updated)
No matter if baseball's Winter Meetings proceed as planned next month in Orlando, Fla., or are shelved while a new collective bargaining agreement is negotiated, Orioles executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias will be keeping both eyes on the major and minor league free agent markets. Large sums of cash won't be spent, but there are ways to upgrade the roster and depth at the highest levels of the farm system. Venturing to the minor league side allows the Orioles to increase camp...

More Means following yesterday's no-hitter

More Means following yesterday's no-hitter
A soft liner leaves the opponent's bat, the shortstop catches it and players sprint onto the field to begin a raucous celebration. Teammates surround the starting pitcher. Grown men jump up and down as if reliving their childhood. But enough about the 1983 World Series ... Ramón Urías played the role of Cal Ripken Jr. yesterday in Seattle and John Means was Scott McGregor. Except the Orioles didn't win a championship. They just reacted as if a trophy would be hoisted later and champagne...

Notes on Hays, Hanhold, Abad and Fry

Notes on Hays, Hanhold, Abad and Fry
A roster move is pending for the Orioles, with outfielder Austin Hays appearing ready to be activated Tuesday in Miami. Exactly how it was expected to happen. Hays felt fine after playing seven innings Friday afternoon against the Nationals in Fredericksburg, Va., and he was back in left field yesterday for four innings in an intrasquad game at the alternate training site in Bowie. I heard that he looked good again at the plate and in the field. What's left now is a recovery day with camp...

Injuries weren't biggest hurdle cleared by Orioles in spring training

Injuries weren't biggest hurdle cleared by Orioles in spring training
The Orioles couldn't dodge injuries in spring camp. How many teams make it through six weeks without a tweak, twinge or other trauma? Chris Davis with his back. DJ Stewart with his hamstring. Félix Hernández with his elbow. Rio Ruiz with his illness. Hunter Harvey, Anthony Santander and Alexander Wells with their obliques. Davis and Harvey are on the 60-day injured list, the latter a bigger loss, of course, because he was supposed to be a high-leverage reliever and possible closer. And...

Hernández opts out of contract with Orioles

Hernández opts out of contract with Orioles
Veteran pitcher Félix Hernández has opted out of his contract with the Orioles, a source confirmed this morning. Hernández goes back into free agency after agreeing to a minor league deal with the Orioles that paid $1 million if he made the club. Elbow soreness forced Hernández out of his last start after the first inning of a March 16 game in Port Charlotte. He retired the side in order, but manager Brandon Hyde noticed bad body language on the mound that hinted at an...

Zimmermann named No. 3 starter (and other notes)

Zimmermann named No. 3 starter (and other notes)
Baltimore native Bruce Zimmermann has done more than just make the Orioles roster as they prepare to break camp. He's emerged as the No. 3 starter. Manager Brandon Hyde announced today that Zimmermann, a graduate of Loyola Blakefield, will close out the series against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. John Means and Matt Harvey are slotted ahead of him. Zimmermann has allowed only one hit in nine scoreless innings this spring while coming out of the bullpen. He's walked three batters, struck out 10...

Yesterday's moves raise more questions about Orioles roster

Yesterday's moves raise more questions about Orioles roster
The roster cuts announced on Friday night seemed to make it easier to come up with the 26 players going north for opening day, and then pandemonium struck again. The Orioles designated second baseman Yolmer Sánchez for assignment yesterday and traded for pitcher Adam Plutko. The projected lineup was destroyed. There no longer appeared to be a decision pending between utility players Pat Valaika and Ramón Urías, who potentially could share second base and bench duties. Plutko is out of...

Elias discusses trade and roster after 8-5 loss

Elias discusses trade and roster after 8-5 loss
The search for pitching won't keep executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias glued to the waiver wire and free agent market. He resorted to a third option late this afternoon. Elias acquired right-hander Adam Plutko from the Indians for cash considerations and gave manager Brandon Hyde more innings coverage to begin the regular season. He also raised a few interesting questions that he addressed after an 8-5 loss to the Braves in North Port. Plutko can work as a starter and reliever,...

Orioles lineup vs. Braves and LeBlanc on his quick return

Orioles lineup vs. Braves and LeBlanc on his quick return
Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander is out of the lineup again tonight for their game against the Braves in North Port. Santander is marked absent for the fourth game in a row. Manager Brandon Hyde said yesterday that Santander has been accumulating at-bats on the back fields. Yusniel Diaz is in right field and Stevie Wilkerson is playing left. Ryan McKenna is in center. Adley Rutschman is serving as the designated hitter. Many of the projected regulars are staying back in Sarasota. John Means...

Orioles option Akin and put Davis on 60-day injured list

Orioles option Akin and put Davis on 60-day injured list
Keegan Akin has fallen out of the rotation competition in Orioles camp. First baseman Chris Davis has gone on the 60-day injured list. There's more activity this evening than the game against the Yankees in Tampa. Akin, second baseman/outfielder Jahmai Jones and middle infielder Richie Martin were optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Left-hander Fernando Abad and infielder/outfielder Chris Shaw were reassigned to Twin Lakes camp. The Orioles also announced the signing of left-hander Wade LeBlanc to a...

Hays has huge night while rotation remains unresolved in 10-9 win

Hays has huge night while rotation remains unresolved in 10-9 win
As the loudest sounds in Orioles camp today came from the maneuvering of veteran pitchers, like furniture dragged across wood floors, young left-hander Keegan Akin had to tune it out and do his job. A smart approach, but hard to execute. Akin made the start tonight and threw 32 pitches in a two-run top of the first inning against the Pirates in Sarasota. He was charged with six runs and eight hits in only 2 1/3, walking two batters and striking out three, and headed to the dugout with head...

Leftovers for breakfast

Leftovers for breakfast
The rotation guessing game can't be played without the constant moving of pieces. The Orioles appear to be lining up Dean Kremer behind opening day starter John Means. They appear to want Matt Harvey to pitch the third game, though it hasn't been stated. He could go fourth. My logic came from the idea that the team would want to separate rookies Kremer and Keegan Akin, but the latter has to earn the job and he struggled last night. Would the Orioles stick Bruce Zimmermann in the fifth spot...

Orioles put Matt Harvey on 40-man roster

Orioles put Matt Harvey on 40-man roster
The Orioles have turned a reclamation project into one of their starters to begin the 2021 season. Veteran right-hander Matt Harvey's contract was selected this morning and he's on the 40-man roster and in the rotation. Harvey, who turns 32 on Saturday, signed a minor league deal in February that included an opt-out clause this week. He could have returned to the free-agent market, but he's headed north with the team and might start the season's third game in Boston. John Means gets the...

Another rotation check, Franco's opening day vow and 4-3 win

Another rotation check, Franco's opening day vow and 4-3 win
The bullpen game today in Sarasota began with veteran changeup artist César Valdez retiring the last seven batters that he faced. He was done for the afternoon and ready to change clothes when Trey Mancini and Maikel Franco hit two-run homers in the bottom of the third inning. Dillon Tate followed Valdez to the mound and retired only two batters, three other relievers pitched and Adley Rutschman doubled in his first at-bat in the Orioles' 4-3 win over the Rays. Now, back to the...

Stewart nearing exclusion from opening day roster

Stewart nearing exclusion from opening day roster
Orioles outfielder DJ Stewart hasn't played since March 5 due to a hamstring injury. He isn't in today's lineup and could remain out at least during the early portion of the week. A "mild tweak," as it was described, is taking a significant amount of time to heal. Stewart is cleared to bat in intrasquad games. However, the Orioles don't want to turn him loose on the bases and risk a setback. Hamstrings require patience. Opening day is less than two weeks away and Stewart has appeared in...

Means: "It feels like such a blessing and just so humbling"

Means: "It feels like such a blessing and just so humbling"
John Means used to be a fringe prospect in the Orioles' minor league system or completely ignored by outside evaluators, an anonymity that he relished. A status that no longer applies to him. You can't be chosen as your team's opening day starter two years in a row and fly under the radar. "It definitely did (motivate), but it was also kind of nice, too, to be honest," Means said today on his Zoom call. "You're not the face, you're not getting interviewed from low A all the way to the...

Means named Orioles' opening day starter

Means named Orioles' opening day starter
The anticipated became official this afternoon. The Orioles are starting left-hander John Means on opening day against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Means has been expected to take the ball on April 1, but manager Brandon Hyde waited until today to announce it. If at first you don't succeed ... Means was supposed to start the 2020 opener in Boston, but had to work through some shoulder fatigue. Veteran Tommy Milone was named the surprise starter. Hyde gave Means the news a couple of days...

Taking the rotation for another spin

Taking the rotation for another spin
Teams don't set their season-opening starting rotations going only by spring training stats. But if they did it that way in Sarasota, here is how it might look for the Orioles. Left-hander John Means, as we have known since last season ended, will get the opening day start at Boston. Manager Brandon Hyde will probably make that official today. Then Means will have two spring starts to build up to six or seven innings and be a full-go at Fenway Park. Means' ERA was 12.29 after his second...