SARASOTA, Fla. - It happened on a back field at the Ed Smith Stadium complex and in a B game with the Orioles playing the Pirates. A young man from minor league camp standing just 5-foot-8 got into the box. He got a pitch to drive and didn't miss it. He crushed a homer off the batter's eye in center field to tie the game. Seconds later, 22-year-old outfielder Cedric Mullins, who last season played at Single-A Delmarva - three levels below the majors - was getting congrats from a few Orioles...

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Orioles could be adding two of their regular players soon. Third baseman Manny Machado and catcher Welington Castillo fly into Florida tonight. O's manager Buck Showalter said he would give them tomorrow off and they should be back at spring training camp on Wednesday. Both played for the Dominican Republic, which was eliminated Saturday night in the World Baseball Classic. Meanwhile, outfielder Seth Smith (hamstring) and utility man Ryan Flaherty (shoulder) are both...

SARASOTA, Fla. - We'll find out this morning whether Pedro Álvarez is getting another start in right field or serving as the designated hitter for the Orioles game against the Yankees in Tampa. It was impossible to truly judge Álvarez in yesterday's B game besides receiving confirmation that he possesses freakish strength and can make a really, really loud sound when bat meets ball. Álvarez didn't take a perfect route to the line drive in right-center field, but he wasn't likely to...

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles won their B game over the Pirates this morning on the Camden Yards replica field if anyone was keeping actual score. It lasted seven innings, players were pulled off the field or told to stay depending on the situation. Much like an intrasquad game, except the opponent didn't dress in the same clubhouse. Pedro Álvarez hit a home run to center field off Trevor Williams in his first plate appearance, doubled twice and struck out, the ball exploding off his bat....

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter didn't have an update on pitcher Chris Tillman following today's game against the Twins. He expects to have a better feel for the situation in the morning. Tillman, as you know, didn't throw his bullpen session today because of soreness in his right shoulder. "The doctor, they didn't really spend a lot of time talking to Chris other than on the field. They kind of convened about what the next move might be if he continues down this path....

What a wild scene at Wrigley Field last night. And yes, 71 years is long enough. The Chicago Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers to advance to the World Series for the first time since 1945. Now they look for their first world championship since 1908. Between 1908 and 1945, the Cubs lost the World Series seven times. The Cleveland Indians, the American League champs, have not won the World Series since 1948. The Indians will host the Fall Classic opener on Tuesday night. If there is a Game 7, it...

With 28 games remaining in the regular season, the 2016 Orioles' 213 homers already rank sixth among all clubs in team history. The Orioles are on a pace to hit 257 homers, which would tie the team record set in 1996. That total is tied for third-most in major league history. The O's all-time single-season homer leaders: 257 - 1996 217 - 2015 214 - 1985, 1998, 2012 213 - 2016 212 - 2013 As you can see, the Orioles' next homer will be No. 214 and tie this club for the third-most in club...

BRADENTON, Fla. - Matt Wieters will return to the Orioles lineup on Thursday as their designated hitter for a 1:05 p.m. game against the Pirates in Sarasota. He hasn't played since March 12 due to a sore right elbow. The Orioles climbed within a run of the Pirates today in the top of the ninth inning on an L.J. Hoes RBI grounder and a two-out run-scoring double by Cedric Mullins. It wasn't enough, however, as the hosts held on for a 6-5 victory at McKechnie Field. Miguel Gonzalez allowed four...

There are six 2015 Orioles draft picks currently on the short-season Single-A Aberdeen IronBirds roster as the team preps for its season opener on Friday night at Ripken Stadium. But the IronBirds roster will be changing and evolving a lot early in the season. Yesterday, the Orioles announced the signings of 14 players from the draft and they have officially signed 17 picks overall with many more to follow and probably follow very soon. The players signed yesterday included (with their draft...