bautista-pitching-white
More on Bautista's second live batting practice session and other Orioles notes
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. – Félix Bautista completed his second live batting practice session this morning in the intense Florida heat on the Camden Yards replica field, and it won’t be much longer before he pitches in his first Grapefruit League game. Heston Kjerstad and Gary Sánchez kept alternating at-bats until Bautista faced seven hitters. He threw 25 pi
Orioles and Blue Jays lineups (updated with Westburg and Bautista)
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. – Orioles reliever Nate Webb is one of today’s scheduled pitchers against the Blue Jays at Ed Smith Stadium. This is a big deal for Webb and his family. It’s his first outing since March 9, 2023 in the Pirates camp prior to undergoing ligament-reconstructive surgery in his right elbow. The Orioles signed Webb to a two-year minor leag
After hip surgery, Sykora could be even more electric
Bobby Blanco
Nationals
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Travis Sykora was supposed to be in major league spring training with the Nationals. His dominant first full professional season at Single-A Fredericksburg certainly earned him his first invitation to big league camp. Not necessarily to compete for an Opening Day roster spot, but just to get some work in with major league ca
Which spring training stories are overreactions?
Brendan Mortensen
Orioles
Ah, the first week of spring training games.  The perfect time to toss out wild takes about the upcoming season based on an incredibly small sample size of games that hold minimal weight.  What takeaways are overreactions? Which far-too-early conclusions could actually come to fruition?  On this week’s edition of “The Bird’s Nest” (which you can wa
How Martinez's tough love helped García finally break through
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – As he frequently heaped praise upon the majority of the players on his roster last spring, Davey Martinez also found himself regularly criticizing one guy in particular. Luis García Jr. seemed to be on the hot seat throughout camp, hearing it from his manager whenever he misplayed a ball at second base or was thrown out on t
Bradfield: "I’m very optimistic about where I am and how I feel this early in camp"
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
SARASOTA, Fla. – The first exhibition game didn’t properly showcase Orioles minor league outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. His skillset and the improvements made would become more evident. Just give it time. Bradfield was thrown out trying to steal after pinch-running for Cedric Mullins, and he went hitless in three at-bats in a loss to the Pirates.
Herz laments two-out walk, Garrett shines in field, Ribalta impresses out of 'pen
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – It was a two-out walk in the first inning on Feb. 26. Not that big a deal, right? For DJ Herz, it was a big deal. Not because the result of today’s exhibition game – a 3-0 loss to the Astros – was important. But because he knows two-out walks are among his biggest bugaboos, something the young left-hander is really trying to
Sugano satisfied with first spring start (plus other notes from today's 7-3 loss)
Roch Kubatko
Masn
BRADENTON, Fla. – Orioles manager Brandon Hyde offered simple instructions this morning for Tomoyuki Sugano before the Japanese right-hander’s much-anticipated exhibition debut. Just go out, relax and pitch. Keep it simple, Sugano. “It’s a first spring training outing, so it doesn’t mean anything,” Hyde explained. “Just want him to get his work in.
Seeking to prove versatility, Yepez starting today in left field
Mark Zuckerman
Masn
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Juan Yepez didn’t enter the 2024 season as the Nationals’ starting first baseman. He didn’t even enter the season on the Nationals’ major league roster. But as Joey Gallo dealt with injuries and Joey Meneses dealt with struggles, Yepez found his way to D.C. and ultimately a semi-regular spot in the lineup. He finished the ye
Holliday taking footnotes from Roberts on playing second base
Roch Kubatko
Orioles
BRADENTON, Fla. – Jackson Holliday gave the media an interview at his locker this morning and headed down a hallway in search of former Orioles infielder Brian Roberts. The Orioles chose Roberts as a shortstop in the supplemental round of the 1999 draft out of the University of South Carolina – their seventh selection among the top 50 and the only