The Orioles won't know whether they'll be able to open their spring training camp in February until the world gives its approval. Or Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association if they choose to ignore the world. First comes the fall instructional league, which so far has gone uninterrupted for two weeks. If we're lucky, the Orioles will reach the point where they can extend spring training invites and avoid another shutdown of the Ed Smith Stadium complex. It's interesting to...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles outfielder Trey Mancini isn't making the two-day trip to the East Coast due to flu-like symptoms that he can't shake. Mancini said he's going to be fine, but advised a couple of reporters to keep their distance from him. He quipped that they didn't want the details. Manager Brandon Hyde removed Mancini after two at-bats yesterday because he "isn't feeling great." Mancini is 4-for-14 with two RBIs in five Grapefruit League games. Rather than take every position...

When the Orioles released their list of 23 non-roster spring training invitees yesterday it included a name from their farm system that has flown under the radar. He was doing it to an extent even yesterday when bigger names and higher-ranked prospects were listed. But there with Adley Rutschman, Zac Lowther, Yusniel Diaz, Alex Wells and the rest was the name of pitcher Cristian Alvarado. The right-hander, who turned 25 on Sept. 20, had a breakout season in 2019 in the Double-A Bowie Baysox...

While Orioles farm teams at Triple-A Norfolk and Single-A Frederick have struggled this year, four other affiliates went into play last night in first place. Those were clubs at Double-A Bowie (25-7), Single-A Delmarva (21-10), short-season Single-A Aberdeen (23-15) and the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Orioles (16-7). But no team has had such a remarkable turnaround this year as Bowie. The Baysox were 7-23 on May 5. That was not only the worst record in the Eastern League at that time, it was...

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...

BOSTON - The rain continues to fall at Fenway Park and the forecast remains ominous. However, there's been no word so far on a postponement and split doubleheader on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Orioles announced that they've signed right-handers Cristian Alvarado and Francisco Jiménez, left-hander Chris Lee, catchers Martin Cervenka and Daniel Fajardo, infielder Anderson Feliz, and first basemen Ryan Ripken and Wilson García to minor league contracts for the 2019 season. Cervenka and Lee...

FREDERICK, Md. - When the Carolina League playoffs begin tonight at Frederick's Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium, there is a clear favorite. It's not the home team. In what has now been reduced to a best-of-three series, the Single-A Frederick Keys (68-71) host the Lynchburg Hillcats (87-52) in Game 1 of the Northern Division Championship Series. With the impending threat of Hurrican Irma, the Carolina League today announced that both semifinal series are now best-of-three, reduced from...

BOWIE, Md. - It has been an exciting few days here in Bowie. On Tuesday, the Double-A Bowie Baysox sent outfielder Austin Hays to join the Orioles. Today, Bowie's Garabez Rosa was named the Eastern League Most Valuable Player. But tonight's scheduled playoff series opener between Bowie and Altoona has been rained out. The first two games in Bowie are now scheduled for Thursday and Friday nights at 7:05 p.m at Prince George's Stadium. Go to baysox.com for ticket information. Rosa joins Calvin...

All but one of the Orioles' minor league affiliates have completed the regular season after Monday's games. Short-season Single-A Aberdeen (40-33) still has three games to play and is three games behind in the New York-Penn League wild card race. Single-A Frederick (68-71) and Double-A Bowie (72-68) will begin the playoffs at home on Wednesday night. While Frederick finished three games under .500, its second-half record (37-33) got the Keys in and they will host Lynchburg Wednesday and...

On Sunday, the Orioles fell behind 3-0 in the first inning and could not overcome the early deficit. Today was quite different. Down 3-0 in the first on the road against Tampa Bay, the Orioles stormed back with two runs in the fourth and five in the fifth to beat the Rays 7-3 at Tropicana Field. The Orioles are 75-62 overall, 30-37 on the road and 10-3 versus the Rays as they begin a nine-game road trip in the win column. Right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez allowed a three-run homer in the first inning...

I recently had the chance to talk with short-season Single-A Aberdeen pitching coach Justin Lord. He provided some insights and information on several pitchers that are throwing well for the IronBirds this year. The 35-year-old former minor league right-hander is in his third season in the Orioles organization and second with Aberdeen. Lord pitched six seasons in the minor leagues including three in the Kansas City and Pittsburgh organizations and three for the independent league St. Paul...

In March, the Orioles hired former major leaguer Nelson Norman to serve as their director of baseball operations in the Dominican Republic. Norman oversees all aspects of the organization's Dominican program and managed one of their two teams this year in the Dominican Summer League. A former major league infielder born in San Pedro de Macoris, Norman, 54, has over two decades of experience in player development with Montreal, Atlanta, Boston, Minnesota, St. Louis and Washington, both in the...