"¡Campeón!": How Vargas' rallying cry won over Nats
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Ildemaro Vargas walks into the clubhouse, wide smile on his face, and offers the same, one-word declaration to anyone within shouting vicinity. “¡Campeón!” It matters not if the Nationals won or lost the previous night, if the team is in contention or rebuilding, if it’s 8 a.m. prior to a day game or 4 p.m. prior to a night
McKenna: "I’ll play wherever they need me to"
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Ryan McKenna is one of those unique guys in baseball who has a defined role without knowing exactly where he’s playing on any given day. Or if he’s playing. He’s as set as an unsettled player can be, if that makes sense. The Orioles don’t need McKenna to hit .300 or to be an on-base machine, though they’d gladly take it. They just want him to bring
Gore finishes strong but seeks better start to outings
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
JUPITER, Fla. – MacKenzie Gore walked around the mound during the bottom of the second at Roger Dean Stadium with little reason to be excited about the way this start was going. Five of the first eight Cardinals batters he faced in today’s exhibition had reached base, three via extra-base hit, with all kinds of loud contact off him. On the heels of
Rodriguez struggles in fourth, Rutschman hits grand slam as O's top Boston
Steve Melewski
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. – In the first few innings today, Orioles right-hander Grayson Rodriguez was getting swings and misses, putting up zeros, hitting the high 90s at times and showing why he is one of the best pitching prospects in baseball. But it got away from him a bit in the fourth as Boston scored four runs. The Orioles ended the day with a win, th
Call making case for bench spot, Robles healing
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
JUPITER, Fla. – Alex Call probably reported to spring training with a bit of a leg up for a spot on the Nationals’ bench, based if nothing else on the six weeks he spent with them to close out the 2022 season. The Nats liked his ability to play all three outfield positions and were impressed with the surprising pop he displayed (a .441 slugging per
O's mourn passing of Luis Andrés Ortiz Soriano (plus other pregame notes)
Steve Melewski
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles announced today the passing of Luis Andrés Ortiz Soriano, a 20-year-old minor league player from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  A team statement read: "Our hearts are heavy today as we mourn the passing of minor league pitcher Luis Andrés Ortiz Soriano. Luis was an inspiration to all who knew him, especially as he
Statement on the passing of minor league pitcher Luis Ortiz
MASN Staff
Orioles
Our hearts are heavy today as we mourn the passing of minor league pitcher Luis Andrés Ortiz Soriano. We will miss his passion and love for the game of baseball, and we extend our deepest condolences to his family. Luis was an inspiration to all who knew him, especially as he courageously battled cancer. We hope that the cherished and treasured mem
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Starting lineups: Nats vs. Cardinals in Jupiter
Mark Zuckerman
Nationals
JUPITER, Fla. – A very pleasant Sunday morning to you, wherever you may be. Hope you remembered to adjust your clocks last night. The Nationals certainly wish that wasn’t necessary after playing a 3-hour night game, then losing an hour of sleep before a 1:05 p.m. game on tap today. Brilliant scheduling there. Davey Martinez let the boys report late
Notes on prospects still raking, pitcher disengagements and Rodriguez's home start
Steve Melewski
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. – When Connor Norby slammed an RBI single to left at 94.1 mph and later Heston Kjerstad smoked an RBI double to center at 105 mph Saturday in Dunedin, those were the two most recent examples of the young kids continuing to swing the bat well and impress at O’s spring camp. Some of these prospects won’t make the Opening Day roster thi
Going 'round and 'round again with the Orioles roster
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
Opening Day is less than three weeks away and the Orioles remain on hold with their most important roster decisions before flying to Boston. Don’t ask them about the five starters in their rotation or the composition of an eight-man bullpen. Don’t ask about the primary backup for first baseman Ryan Mountcastle or whether a non-roster invite could b