ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Baltimore native Bruce Zimmermann didn’t get the chance to surprise family and friends with confirmation that he’s starting Monday’s home opener. Word already spread via social media. “Honestly, most of them heard it before I could even tell them,” he said this morning. “I got the news and then went out to practice for the da

The Orioles open their 69th season this afternoon in St. Petersburg, Fla., against the Tampa Bay Rays. As the year begins, the Orioles are looking for their first winning season and playoff berth since 2016. Their last three full seasons have resulted in at least 100 losses. Birdland is wondering how much improvement the Orioles can make from a tea

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The Orioles’ first lineup of the 2022 season includes Austin Hays in right field and Anthony Santander in left against the Rays at Tropicana Field. Ramón Uriás is at second base and Jorge Mateo is at shortstop. Kelvin Gutiérrez is batting ninth and playing third base. Reliever Dillon Tate said he had strep throat, which preve

The Orioles today have announced plans to welcome fans back to the ballpark to celebrate the 30^th anniversary of Oriole Park at Camden Yards during the club’s home opener on Monday, April 11, at 3:05 p.m. ET against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Festivities will begin at 2:25 p.m. ET with a special pre-game ceremony emceed by Orioles broadcaster ROB LONG. Opening Day will feature:

• 30^th Anniversary Tribute Video: The Orioles will welcome fans back to their ballpark and celebrate the 30^th anniversary of Oriole Park at Camden Yards with a video tribute featuring an original poem by Baltimore-based poet and author KONDWANI FIDEL.
• National Anthem: The MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY CHOIR, one of the groups to perform the inaugural national anthem at Oriole Park on April 6, 1992, will return to perform their rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner from the sod farm prior to the game. A 30’ x 42’ flag from Fort McHenry will be lowered from the batter’s eye during the performance. The flag is a replica of the one that flew over Fort McHenry when Francis Scott Key wrote the national anthem.
• Color Guard: Colors will be presented by members of THE BALTIMORE CITY POLICE COLOR GUARD and BALTIMORE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT COLOR GUARD.
• Flyover: The national anthem performance will conclude with a flyover by the 104^th Fighter Squadron of the Maryland Air National Guard 175^th Wing.
• Ceremonial First Pitch: The Orioles will honor fallen Baltimore Police Officer Keona Holley, who lost her life on December 23, 2021, after being shot in a senseless act of violence while sitting in her patrol car seven days earlier, and three of Baltimore City’s fallen heroes who lost their lives while battling a fire on January 24, 2022. They will be represented by a family member who will throw out the first pitch in their honor.
• Baltimore Police Officer KEONA HOLLEY: Represented by her son Kortez Baker
• Firefighter and paramedic LIEUTENANT PAUL BUTRIM: Represented by his mother-in-law Michelle Henninger
• Firefighter and paramedic KENNETH LACAYO: Represented by his brother Santiago Lacayo
• LIEUTENANT KELSEY SADLER: Represented by her daughter Mila Sadler
• Firefighter JOHN McMASTER, who was left in critical condition following the January 24 fire, will join the families to throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
• Silver Slugger Presentation: Manager BRANDON HYDE and Louisville Slugger Representative AARON GILLETTE will present CEDRIC MULLINS with his Silver Slugger Award as part of the pregame ceremony. Mullins earned his first-career Silver Slugger after setting career-highs and leading the Orioles in nearly every major offensive statistical category in 2021. He is the first Oriole to be named a Silver Slugger recipient since MARK TRUMBO in 2016.
• Mo Gaba’s Fan of the Year: The Orioles will recognize JEFFREY AUSTIN as Mo Gaba’s 2022 Fan of the Year. A Lutherville, Md. resident, Austin has been a Birdland Member since 1989 and will be representing all Birdland Members who have been members since the beginning of Oriole Park at Camden Yards. He will also deliver the ceremonial game ball and rosin bag prior to the game. 
• Ceremonial “Play Ball”: Members of the Orioles Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities program will yell “Play Ball” from their seats in section 72 prior to the game. 
• Birdland Community Hero: Again this year, the Orioles will honor and recognize those in our community who have distinguished themselves by selflessly volunteering in fields that care for, serve, teach, protect, and improve the lives of others through the Birdland Community Heroes program. On Monday, the Orioles will recognize PAM CLINE, KATHI HOWARD, RICHARD SUEHLE, and STEPHANIE TYRRELL for their 30-plus years of service with Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland. Cline and Howard have been volunteering with Meals on Wheels for the past 32 years. Cline was inspired to volunteer after seeing an ad in her weekly church bulletin, and enlisted her sister, Howard, to join her. Suehle has been volunteering with Meals on Wheels for the past 38 years, delivering in the Woodlawn and Perry Hall areas. In 2000, Suehle became a part of a new program, taking local Perry Hall High School students on deliveries with him. Though the program has since ended, Suehle continues to volunteer at the St. Anthony site in Baltimore. Tyrrell has been volunteering with Meals on Wheels for the past 34 years, delivering in Harford County. As part of their recognition, the Orioles Charitable Foundation will make a $5,000 donation to Meals on Wheels of Central Mayland. 
• Opening Day Auction: Fans will have the opportunity to bid on a selection of authentic Oriole Park seats from the left field wall renovation as part of the Orioles Opening Day Auction to benefit local organizations through the Orioles Charitable Foundation. The auction will run on Orioles.com/Auction from Monday, April 11 at 1:00 p.m. through 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 17.  
• In-Game Hosts: LAUREN HOFFMAN and DENNIS McCAMERY will serve as the first-ever in-game hosts at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, emceeing interactive entertainment at the ballpark. Hoffman, a Dunkirk, Md. native, is returning to Baltimore after working as a sports reporter with WLBT 3 News in Jackson, Mississippi. A graduate of Kennesaw State University, Hoffman has worked for NBA TV, Bleacher Report, and other Warner Media sports properties. During her time as a sports journalist, she has covered SEC Football, the Men’s College World Series, and Deion Sanders’ tenure at Jackson State University. McCamery, a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University and long-time Maryland resident, joins the Orioles after serving as a host for the Florida Panthers, Professional Bowling Association, and Orlando Magic. He got his start hosting with Walt Disney World, emceeing the unveiling of the “Move, It, Shake It, Celebrate It Street Party.” From there, McCamery appeared on VH1 and served as a host for WWE and the Special Olympics. He currently also serves as a host for the Washington Capitals, and Washington Wizards.

Fan Reminders

• Cashless Policy: Oriole Park at Camden Yards will be a completely cashless ballpark in 2022. In conjunction with this policy, there will be one “Reverse ATM” machine that can exchange cash to card for use at concession and merchandise stands. The machine is located on the Lower-Level Concourse adjacent to First Aid near Gate D.
• Digital Ticketing: Fans will be required to show tickets on their mobile device upon entry by utilizing the ballpark’s complimentary Wi-Fi network. Fans are encouraged to use the official MLB Ballpark app to buy and show tickets upon entry. For more information, Orioles.com/BallparkApp.
• Bag Policy: Bags will not be permitted at Oriole Park this season. Medically necessary, nursery bags, and clutch purses no larger than 5” x 7” will be permissible.
• Food & Beverage Policy: Fans are allowed to bring food and non-alcoholic beverages into Oriole Park this year following the provided guidelines:
• All food and beverage must be contained in a clear plastic bag, no larger than one-gallon in size,
• One one-gallon size, sealable plastic bag is allowed per guest.
• Food items should resemble individual portions and not bulk items.
• Fans may bring in a factory-sealed, plastic, non-alcoholic beverage, no larger than 20 oz.
• Frozen water bottles are prohibited for safety purposes. 

The gates to Oriole Park at Camden Yards will open two hours before first pitch, at 1:05 p.m. ET. Fans attending Opening Day are encouraged to be in their seats, and fans at home are encouraged to tune to MASN, by 2:15 p.m. ET to enjoy the Opening Day pregame festivities. Tickets for the Orioles’ home opener on Monday, April 11, against the Milwaukee Brewers can be purchased online at Orioles.com/Tickets.

As if this wasn’t going to be a dramatic night on its own merits, Max Scherzer added even more drama to his Mets debut and return to Nationals Park over the last week when he revealed he was dealing with a tweaked hamstring that left his status for this game uncertain. In the end, Scherzer will start tonight as planned all along. He threw off a mou