Irvin strong in first start, Gallo struggles in return

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – In order for Jake Irvin to bounce back from his rough first two spring training outings, the big right-hander thought he just needed to get back into his starting routine.

Irvin’s first two appearances this spring came out of the bullpen after MacKenzie Gore started each game. While he can do his best to try to mimic his process and timing as if he were the starter, it’s still not the same coming in after the game has already begun

The results supported that theory, as he was charged with seven hits and eight runs (seven earned) in just 3 ⅔ innings.

This time around, Irvin got the ball to start the Grapefruit League game while Gore started a minor league game this afternoon back in West Palm Beach.

These results are more like what Irvin is accustomed to: four scoreless innings of two-hit ball with five strikeouts albeit in a 3-1 loss to the Mets at Clover Park.

Gallo returns to lineup, Rosario reports to camp

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – Joey Gallo returns to the Nationals lineup for the first time in over a week tonight against the Mets.

The veteran slugger will serve as the designated hitter and bat fourth behind Joey Meneses in his return to action.

Gallo last played on Feb. 28 against the Red Sox in West Palm Beach, but has since been sidelined with a tight left quadriceps muscle. He and the Nationals weren’t too concerned about the ailment when it happened – Gallo himself insisting if this was the regular season he would be playing – but there was no need to rush him back this early in spring training.

“He said he feels good,” manager Davey Martinez said before the team took the hour-long bus ride north to Clover Park. “Get him in there, get him a few at-bats today and see how he's doing. I haven't talked to him today, but I want to make sure I let him know, hey, just take it easy. Let's get your at-bats. Don't try to get doubles or whatever. Just take it slow, we'll build you up. But it's good to see that he's back in the lineup and he's gonna get some at-bats.”

Earlier today, there was initially a question of whether or not Gallo would play tonight that had nothing to do with his quad. The Mets, who were rained out yesterday in West Palm Beach against the Astros, pushed left-handed starter Jose Quintana to start tonight’s game instead of the scheduled right-hander.

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Mets in Port St. Lucie

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. – The Nationals and Mets will face off for the second time this spring and the first time at Clover Park, about 45 minutes north of CACTI Park.

Jake Irvin will make his first Grapefruit League start tonight after his first two outings came out of the bullpen. The right-hander struggled in those two appearances, giving up seven hits and eight runs (seven earned) in just 3 ⅔ innings. He’s hoping that getting back into his starting routine and utilizing his new cutter against left-handed hitters will get him back on track.

Today is also MacKenzie Gore’s scheduled day in the rotation. But he started a minor league game back in West Palm to allow Irvin to start against the Mets. Gore faced many of the top minor leaguers, including Elijah Green and Yohandy Morales, and did not hold back. According to manager Davey Martinez, he was pumping 97-98 mph with his fastball.

Joey Gallo is back in the lineup after being sidelined for almost a week with a tight left quadriceps muscle. He will serve as the designated hitter for the time being while the Nationals remain cautious with the veteran before putting him back in the field.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS vs. NEW YORK METS
Where: Clover Park, Port St. Lucie
Gametime: 6:10 p.m. EST
TV: MLB.tv (Mets’ feed)
Radio: None
Weather: Partly cloudy, 74 degrees, wind 6 mph from right to left field

NATIONALS
RF Lane Thomas
CF James Wood
1B Joey Meneses
DH Joey Gallo
SS Ildemaro Vargas
3B Carter Kieboom
C Drew Millas
LF Jacob Young
2B Darren Baker

RHP Jake Irvin

METS
LF Brandon Nimmo
SS Francisco Lindor
RF Starling Marte
1B Pete Alonso
3B Brett Baty
C Francisco Alvarez
DH Mark Vientos
2B Joey Wendle
CF Harrison Bader

LHP Jose Quintana

Holliday, Basallo, Mayo head up O's Spring Breakout game roster

SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles’ No. 1 ranked farm system has been on display pretty much every day this spring training in Florida with young players and prospects excelling in the Birds’ Grapefruit League games - helping the club to an 11-2 record.

The O’s farm will have another chance to shine, this one on national television on March 14 at 7:05 p.m. when MLB Network televises their Spring Breakout game in Bradenton against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The first annual four-day event, from March 14-17 in Florida and Arizona, features teams playing each other in seven-inning games featuring each organization’s top prospects.

The O’s have a roster of 24 for that game featuring 16 of their top 30 prospects via MLBPipeline.com, seven of their top 10 and three that get top 100 recognition.

They are infielder Jackson Holliday, the No. 1 prospect in baseball, catcher Samuel Basallo ranked as the O’s No. 2 prospect and No. 17 in the MLBPipeline top 100 and infielder Coby Mayo, rated as the O’s No. 4 and No. 30 in the top 100.

Ryan O'Hearn, trying to avoid being "one-hit wonder" has specific plans to improve

SARASOTA, Fla. – Ryan O’Hearn is proof that it’s not all about making the Opening Day roster. He didn’t last year but he went on to become a key Oriole, one that would hit in the middle of the club’s batting order.

This after producing a .683 OPS in parts of five seasons with Kansas City.

The O’s acquired him for cash considerations on Jan. 3, 2023, later removed him from the 40-man roster and later got him back on it as he reached the majors with the Birds last April 13. In early May he briefly returned to Triple-A, but soon was back for good.

Over 368 plate appearances, he hit .289/.322/.480/.801 with 14 homers and 60 RBIs. Now, at age 30, he is determined to prove he can do that, or even better, again.

“I’m sure there are people out there saying, ‘He’s a one-hit wonder or a flash in the pan’ type of thing. You know, I’m eager to prove that is not true. But at the same time, I don’t want to give too much attention or focus to naysayers. I believe in myself and my swing. A season like last year can only build your confidence and I have great teammates around me. Just want to win. I’ve got plenty of motivation,” he said recently in the O’s clubhouse at Ed Smith Stadium.

With new cutter, Irvin still competing for rotation spot

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Today is Jake Irvin Day as the big right-hander finally gets to make his first start of spring training.

Yes, the 27-year-old has already appeared in two Grapefruit League games, but both were in relief out of the bullpen.

Tonight he’ll jog out of the visiting dugout in the bottom of the first inning of the Nationals’ game against the Mets in Port St. Lucie.

Irvin’s results in his first two outings are not what he had hoped for. He gave up a run on two hits and two hit batters while striking out four over two innings Feb. 25 against the Marlins in Jupiter. Then Friday against the Astros, he was charged with seven runs (six earned) on five hits, a home run and two walks with two strikeouts in 1 ⅔ innings.

He threw 42 pitches (28 strikes) during the third and fourth innings of the first game but was limited to just 27 pitches (16 strikes) over the sixth and seventh innings of the second game.

Sharing Orioles observations through workouts and 13 exhibition games

SARASOTA, Fla. – The first of two off-days has arrived on the Orioles’ spring training schedule. Golf outings, fishing excursions, time with family, the choice to sleep late.

And that’s just the media.

The Orioles have played 13 games and won 11, a nice little statistic that means very little.

TT Bowens broke a 2-2 tie Sunday with a three-run, ninth-inning homer in Bradenton. Kade Strowd registered the save as the sixth reliever used behind starter Grayson Rodriguez, who was pulled after two-plus innings and 49 pitches.

Cade Povich tossed two scoreless innings to earn the victory.

Santander puts slump on hold with homer, Teheran impresses again in second outing (O's win 6-4)

SARASOTA, Fla. – Anthony Santander swung the bat, dropped it and began jogging to first base. His eyes stayed locked on the baseball.

He wanted to watch it disappear over the right field fence.

The wait was over. He earned the chance to enjoy his work before picking up the pace.

Santander hit a two-run homer tonight off Pirates ace Mitch Keller in the bottom of the first inning. He began the game 2-for-17 with no extra-base hits, RBIs or walks.

Gunnar Henderson led off by reaching on an infield single, Adley Rutschman flied out and Santander gave the Orioles an early 2-0 lead.

In chasing improved command, Chayce McDermott took nice step versus the Phillies

SARASOTA, Fla. – For young Orioles pitcher Chayce McDermott, the club’s Jim Palmer Award winner last year as the top minor league pitcher, his outing Tuesday in Clearwater was a nice step in his development.

Usually a starter, he pitched in relief and with not a ton of notice when he would throw. But he pitched scoreless ball in the seventh and eighth innings on 34 pitches versus the Phillies. And he was upbeat about the radar gun readings. His fastball averaged 95.4 mph and topped at 96.7.

“It was good, got some good feedback,” he said today of his second spring outing. “Felt good to throw out of the ‘pen too and kind of let it go a little bit. Threw harder than I normally do. But it was fun. Getting to watch some guys I grew up watching like (J.T.) Realmuto.

“There is some stuff to work on, but for the most part, it was good. Staying in the strike zone, getting strikeouts and not walking anyone.”

McDermott, 25, is ranked as the club's No. 8 prospect by Baseball America where his fastball and slider get 60 scouting grades and No. 9 by MLBPipeline.com.

Crews hits first homer, Corbin continues cutter work in win

JUPITER, Fla. – Dylan Crews has grabbed a lot of attention at Nationals spring training, and rightfully so as last summer’s No. 2 overall pick. But it’s been James Wood who has taken a lot of the spotlight with the highlight reel he has put together so far in camp.

It was only a matter of time before Crews joined him.

The Nationals’ top prospect finally hit his first home run in Grapefruit League play this afternoon in what would be a 9-3 win over the Marlins at damp Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

“It felt pretty good,” Crews said of his first dinger. “I was hoping a little sooner than later, but it felt good to get a barrel in and help the team win today. I think the off-day helped a lot just physically and mentally just to kind of get the feet underneath me again. But yeah, it was a great day to day all around: pitching, defensively and the bats were really hot today. So it was a great day.”

Facing former Nats farmhand Jesús Luzardo, Crews hit a low-and-outside 3-1 changeup to straightaway center field. The ball came 102.4 mph off his bat and landed 393 feet away, just over the fence and out of reach of the glove of a leaping Victor Mesa Jr.

Orioles lineup vs. Pirates tonight at Ed Smith Stadium

SARASOTA, Fla. – Gunnar Henderson is leading off and playing shortstop tonight, as the Orioles are matched up again with the Pirates.

Adley Rutschman is catching Julio Teheran, who tossed a scoreless and hitless relief inning in his Orioles debut.

Ryan O’Hearn gets another start in the outfield, playing left with Austin Hays in center. Cedric Mullins remains out of the lineup with right hamstring soreness.

Jorge Mateo is playing second base. Kolten Wong is the designated hitter.

For the Orioles

Nats add outfielder Rosario on minor league deal

JUPITER, Fla. – The Nationals made a new addition to camp this morning by signing veteran outfielder Eddie Rosario to a minor league contract, a source familiar with the deal confirmed.

Rosario, who still needs to pass a physical before his signing is official, is guaranteed $2 million if he makes the major league club and could earn up to $4 million with incentives.

The 31-year-old has primarily played left field, but has experience in all three outfield spots over the course of his nine-year career. He owns a career slash line of .268/.305/.460 with a .766 OPS with the Twins, Cleveland and the Braves.

A fourth-round pick out of high school in Puerto Rico by the Twins in 2010, Rosario signed a one-year, $8 million contract with Cleveland in February 2021 and was traded almost six months later at the deadline to Atlanta for Pablo Sandoval. Three months later, he helped lead the Braves to their first World Series title since 1995.

Rosario was named the National League Championship Series MVP during that October run after going 14-for-25 (.560) with a double, triple, three home runs and nine RBIs, including a walk-off single in Game 2, two four-hit games and a three-run home run in Game 6 to clinch the NL pennant.

Starting lineups: Nats vs. Marlins in Jupiter

JUPITER, Fla. – The Nationals and Marlins were supposed to play each other Sunday in West Palm Beach, but were rained out. So instead of the third time, this will only be the second time the National League East rivals will face off in Grapefruit League action, with both coming at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.

Patrick Corbin makes his third spring training start after impressing in his last outing. The veteran left-hander cruised through three innings Thursday against the Cardinals in this very stadium. He needed only 41 pitches (32 strikes) to complete his day, which was highlighted by the increased use of his new cutter. We’ll see how often Corbin incorporates the pitch today against the Fish.

Kyle Finnegan, Hunter Harvey, Luis Perdomo and Derek Law are the relievers listed to make the trip.

The Nationals have a lot of regulars in the starting lineup facing Marlins lefty Jesús Luzardo. This lineup could be very similar to the one we see on Opening Day. James Wood, Robert Hassell III, Brady House and Trey Lipscomb are scheduled to come off the bench.

Unfortunately, the forecast is calling for thunderstorms all afternoon in the area, so the Nats and Marlins may be looking at their second rainout in four days.

O's may have found a pitcher in Suárez, is another hanging out in that clubhouse?

SARASOTA, Fla. – As we watched right-hander Albert Suárez emerge it seemed out of nowhere to fan seven Philadelphia Phillies in three scoreless innings yesterday in Clearwater, we could wonder further if there is another to come out of nowhere in that clubhouse?

Suárez got 12 whiffs on 23 swings while touching 97.5 mph on the radar gun.

Brandon Hyde was rather impressed.

"He really threw the ball extremely well," said the Baltimore skipper. "I'm really impressed with his strike throwing ability, big-time life to his fastball. He was throwing his fastball by good major league hitters. He's got four pitches he throws for strikes, and he's got command of them. It's going to be fun to watch him. We didn't know a whole lot about him, and he's come in and thrown 97 with good secondary stuff, so really impressed with him today."

Is lefty Ronald Guzmán next to surprise us?

While learning in camp, Herz wants to be a "beast" to validate trade

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – By recent standards, the Nationals were unusually quiet at last year’s trade deadline despite being in last place and receiving interest in a handful of their major league players.

But general manager Mike Rizzo made only one move, sending third baseman Jeimer Candelario and cash to the Cubs for prospects DJ Herz and Kevin Made.

Both entered the Nats system as mid-level prospects, but by season’s end, one clearly stood out as the one with the highest ceiling.

Herz, who turned 23 in January, quickly inserted himself as one of the best pitching prospects, and maybe the best left-hander, on the Nats farm in just eight starts with Double-A Harrisburg. He finished the season 2-2 with a 2.55 ERA, one home run allowed, 20 walks, 53 strikeouts and 1.132 WHIP and 13.5 strikeout-per-nine-innings rate in 35 ⅓ innings with the Senators.

Now on the Nats’ 40-man roster to be protected from last December’s Rule 5 Draft, Herz is settling into his first major league spring training with his new team.

Not much roster clarity for Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles break camp in less than three weeks, proving again that spring training moves just as fast as the offseason.

Are we any closer to figuring out the 26-man roster? Not really. The club hasn’t made a particular move that serves as a spoiler.

We know that Sam Hilliard fell out of the outfield competition quickly, returning to the Rockies on a waiver claim. Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias gave us more to think about by signing pitcher Julio Teheran and second baseman Kolten Wong to minor league contracts.

It’s an absolute possibility that the Orioles bring both players to Baltimore, Teheran perhaps in long relief and Wong as this year’s version of Adam Frazier – at least to begin the season. Frazier lasted through all of it rather than serve as a placeholder.

Jackson Holliday says, “Hold my non-alcoholic beverage.”

Jackson Holliday with three hits and O's youngsters shine in win over Philly

CLEARWATER, Fla. – For the Orioles it was another win today under the Florida sun. But this one might have more importance than some others. They saw their 20-year-old top prospect produce his best spring game while a 34-year-old pitcher fighting for a return to the majors fanned seven over three dominant, scoreless innings.

It was quite the day for the Orioles, who beat the Phillies 3-2 and improved to 10-2 atop the Grapefruit League.

The Orioles top farm system was on display big time at BayCare Ballpark.

Baseball’s No. 1 prospect, Jackson Holliday, had a breakout performance, going 3-for-4 which included a 104.4 mph double in the first inning off right-hander Zack Wheeler. Wheeler just yesterday signed a $126 million contract extension and since 2020 leads all MLB pitchers in fWAR at 19.3.

Leading off the game, Holliday drilled one deep to right-center off Wheeler for the two-bagger on a 2-2 cutter.

O's get early lead on Philly and Hyde updates Mullins, Burnes and more in Clearwater

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Orioles center fielder Cedric Mullins is still feeling discomfort today in his right hamstring but the club remains optimistic this will prove to be nothing too concerning or long-term at all.

“It’s still a little bit sore,” manager Brandon Hyde said before today’s game with the Phillies in Clearwater. “I think he’s really positive about it. Still a day-to-day type of thing. Obviously, we are going to be cautious with any hamstring right now. But, we’re confident. We have a lot of time left in camp. Shouldn’t be an issue.”

Mullins left Monday’s game in the last of the first at Ed Smith Stadium with right hamstring discomfort after drawing a leadoff walk and advancing to second on a groundout. He was limited to 116 games last year by two trips to the injured list with a right groin strain.

Mullins may get an MRI, Hyde said “just from a baseline standpoint. I talked to him before I came here, he feels good.”

Mullins' current issue is unrelated to anything from last year.

Other Nats camp observations on an off-day

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The Nationals are enjoying their first scheduled off-day of spring training since camp got underway almost three weeks ago with pitchers and catchers reporting Feb. 14.

Some players may trickle into the team’s facilities at CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches, but for the most part, it’s a day to get some rest and relaxation.

This marks the halfway point of my trip down here before Mark Zuckerman returns to have you covered until the end of camp. So here are some notes and observations from my first five days …

* While the Nats got back over .500 in Grapefruit League play with a 1-0 win over the Cardinals yesterday, perhaps the more interesting activity occurred on the back fields on the complex in the morning.

The Nationals played an intrasquad game on Field 2 – the only one of the back fields here to have the exact dimensions as Nationals Park – mostly to allow Zach Davies, Jackson Rutledge, Joan Adon and other pitchers to get in some game-like work following Sunday’s rainout against the Marlins.

Holliday on advice he got from home on trying to win roster spot (Hyde on guest coaches)

SARASOTA, Fla. – At age 20 Jackson Holliday, after just 145 minor league games and one full season on the farm, is trying to break north with the Orioles on the Opening Day roster.

He is under a spotlight in this camp at Ed Smith Stadium.

The kid has resources all around him, like a father in Matt Holliday who was a seven-time All-Star and World Series champion. What advice did the younger Holliday get on the home front before heading to Florida?

“Just take it easy. Try to enjoy it,” he says dad told him. “Whatever happens, happens, right? I think I’m in a really good spot, being 20 years old and in a position to make the team. Just enjoy it and have fun.

“And I have. These guys make it easy and fun in this locker room and enjoyable to come to the field every day.”