Farm system on the move: O's get No. 5 ranking
Farm system on the move: O's get No. 5 ranking
Steve Melewski
Orioles
In January, it was a nice moment and recognition for the Orioles player development operation when it achieved its highest ranking ever in Baseball America's organizational rankings. They came in at No. 7 among all 30 clubs. On Thursday, MLBPipeline.com released its latest top 10 and the Orioles came in at No. 5. Yep, they keep movin' on up. The goal, set by executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias in his first day on the job, was to build an elite talent pipeline. These...
Robles likely to return Sunday after minor back injury
Robles likely to return Sunday after minor back injury
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Victor Robles appears to be fine after departing Friday night's game with back tightness and should return to the Nationals lineup Sunday afternoon. Robles, who had to come out of the Nats' 10-9 exhibition win over the Astros in the fifth inning after coming up awkward on a throw from center field to the plate, told manager Davey Martinez today he "feels fine." The 23-year-old was already scheduled to have tonight off, so he'll now prepare to play Sunday against the Mets. "Hopefully,...
Means: "It feels like such a blessing and just so humbling"
Means: "It feels like such a blessing and just so humbling"
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
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...
Lineups: Nats vs. Marlins in West Palm Beach
Lineups: Nats vs. Marlins in West Palm Beach
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
With only 10 days left in spring training, now is the time to try anything that hasn't been tried yet, just to get one last look at someone in some situation before the regulars take over full-time during the final week of camp. For the Nationals, that means Josh Harrison gets the start tonight in left field. The veteran utility man has mostly played the infield so far this spring, but he has experience at both corner outfield positions, and Davey Martinez may want to use him as a right-handed...
Orioles and Yankees lineups
Orioles and Yankees lineups
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Trey Mancini is in the lineup again tonight at first base against the Yankees after hitting his first home run of the spring last night. Richie Martin and DJ Stewart are marked absent again. Ramón Urias is starting at second base and Freddy Galvis at shortstop. Cedric Mullins is in center field, Austin Hays in left and Anthony Santander in right. Manager Brandon Hyde wants to start playing his regulars in consecutive games. Rio Ruiz is the designated hitter and Pat Valaika is the third...
Can Suero find consistency using more off-speed pitches?
Can Suero find consistency using more off-speed pitches?
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Wander Suero has thrown 2,360 pitches in his major league career, and 1,762 of them have been cutters. That's just a shade under 75 percent. Yes, three out of every four pitches he throws are cutters. Ask him why so many, and the Nationals reliever smiles and responds in English for the first time in a long Zoom session with reporters earlier this week: "It's my best pitch." That it is. Suero has spent most of the last three seasons in the majors because his cutter - when thrown well and...
Sisco continues swing adjustments, plus other notes
Sisco continues swing adjustments, plus other notes
Steve Melewski
Orioles
It might surprise some to learn that Orioles catcher Chance Sisco was a better-than-league-average hitter in 2020. While his batting average was .214, an OBP of .364 led to a .741 OPS. That was five percent better than the league and better than teammates Cedric Mullins and Austin Hays. For the year, just five Orioles topped that number. But Sisco, 26, is still trying to find the consistent success on offense in the majors that he had on the farm. He was the 2016 O's Minor League Player of the...
Strasburg strong in return, Robles departs with tight back
Strasburg strong in return, Robles departs with tight back
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
Stephen Strasburg's return from a strained left calf didn't come in an official game, but that's about the only detail of today's outing that was less than ideal. Pitching in a simulated game against teammates prior to the Nationals' Grapefruit League contest versus the Astros, Strasburg went five innings and threw 74 pitches, according to information provided by the club. Both numbers represented a step up from what manager Davey Martinez said he was expecting going into the simulated...
Lingering questions about the lineup
Lingering questions about the lineup
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
If it's too early to make final calls on the Orioles' 26-man roster, the same rule should apply to the opening day lineup. The mind starts to work on it with the announcement that the Red Sox are starting left-hander Eduardo Rodríguez on April 1 at Fenway Park. Begin building the right-handed order. The Orioles could go left-on-left from the leadoff spot with center fielder Cedric Mullins abandoning switch-hitting. He homered off a southpaw last night, but also was batting ninth. They...
Mancini hits first home run in 11-9 win
Mancini hits first home run in 11-9 win
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Trey Mancini wasn't going to become a singles hitter in 2021. He's getting back into baseball shape and still trying to tap into the power that was so prevalent two years ago. Mancini collected his first extra-base hit tonight and it was a long home run to left-center field off the Pirates' Edgar Santana in the fourth inning in the Orioles' sloppy 11-9 win in Bradenton. Santana threw six consecutive sliders to Mancini and the last hung over the plate and was tattooed. It sounded loud on the...