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Albert Suarez Albert Suarez Starting spring opener
Fri, Feb 21, 2025, 8:21 PM
Suarez is scheduled to start Saturday's Grapefruit League opener against the Pirates.
Analysis: Suarez made 24 starts among his 32 appearances last season, pitching to a respectable 3.70 ERA and 1.29 WHIP over 133.2 total innings for Baltimore. He struggled to a 6.20 ERA in September and was left off the wild-card roster, but the 35-year-old righty will have a chance to return to the rotation mix in his second season back in the majors following an extended stint overseas between Japan and Korea. While lacking in terms of strikeouts, Suarez will be a streaming candidate against lesser opponents if he's making regular starts for the Orioles, which doesn't seem far fetched given the question marks on the starting staff. |
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Charlie Morton Charlie Morton Falls ill Thursday
Thu, Feb 20, 2025, 10:04 AM
Morton wasn't present for Thursday's full-squad workout due to an illness, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Analysis: Provided the ailment isn't anything too severe, Morton should resume working out with the Orioles within the next few days. After signing a one-year, $15 million deal with Baltimore over the winter, Morton is expected to open his age-41 season as the Orioles' No. 3 starter behind Grayson Rodriguez and Zach Eflin. |
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Colton Cowser Colton Cowser Moves past fractured hand
Tue, Feb 18, 2025, 11:51 AM
Cowser (hand) faced off against left-hander Keegan Akin and right-hander Bryan Baker during a live batting practice session Tuesday, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Analysis: Cowser's involvement in the Orioles' first full-squad workout of spring training implies that he's fully recovered from the surgery he underwent in October to address a left hand fracture. While it's unclear whether he'll see most of his action in left field, center field or right field in 2025, Cowser will be locked into a full-time role against right-handed pitching, and his strong defense will help his case for maintaining regular playing time versus lefties, too. The 24-year-old finished second in American League Rookie of the Year balloting in 2024 after slashing .242/.321/.447 with 24 home runs, nine stolen bases, 77 runs and 69 RBI over 561 regular-season plate appearances. |
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Jordan Westburg Jordan Westburg Sticking mostly at third base
Tue, Feb 18, 2025, 9:57 AM
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Tuesday that Westburg will get some reps at second base but will focus mostly on third base during spring training, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Analysis: Westburg would seem to be the most likely candidate to handle second base if Jackson Holliday flops, but the Orioles are giving Holliday plenty of runway to capture the starting job at the keystone. The 26-year-old Westburg collected a .792 OPS with 18 home runs over 107 regular-season games in 2024 and could take another step forward in 2025. |
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Coby Mayo Coby Mayo Vote of confidence from GM
Tue, Feb 18, 2025, 9:22 AM
General manager Mike Elias said Mayo is poised to be a "huge contributor" for the Orioles this year and will get "a strong look and every opportunity" this spring, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
Analysis: Of course, there's not a clear spot for Mayo to play, but at least Elias said all the right things about the young corner infielder who has nothing left to prove offensively at Triple-A but who struggled mightily in a brief cup of coffee in the majors last season. Mayo said he learned a lot about how competitive it is at the highest level and he's looking to prove he belongs this year. "I think an opportunity will present itself if you can show out and if I can do what I can do," Mayo said. He'll be playing third and first base this spring, but Mayo plans on putting in as much time as possible to prove he can stick at third base. Two productive veterans in Ryan Mountcastle and Ryan O'Hearn are expected to play first base and designated hitter, respectively, and if Jackson Holliday earns the second-base job, Jordan Westburg will play third base, leaving Mayo out of a spot. However, Mayo is the next man up in several scenarios. |
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Adley Rutschman Adley Rutschman Showcases power in BP session
Tue, Feb 18, 2025, 9:02 AM
Rutschman hit home runs in two live at-bats against Grayson Rodriguez and Albert Suarez during Monday's spring training workout, The Baltimore Sun reports.
Analysis: Rutschman cratered down the stretch last season with a .207/.282/.303 slash line in the second half, but a long offseason to rest up, the 27-year-old catcher looked re-energized on the eve of the Orioles' first full-squad workout of camp. Perhaps in an effort to prevent Rutschman from wearing down again, the Orioles could look to build in more days off for him or deploy him as a designated hitter more frequently, after he started 100 games behind the plate in 2024 between the regular season and playoffs. Rutschman will have a new backup catcher this season, as the Orioles let James McCann walk in free agency while bringing aboard Gary Sanchez on a one-year, $8.5 million deal. |
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Tomoyuki Sugano Tomoyuki Sugano Reports to camp
Sat, Feb 15, 2025, 11:20 AM
Sugano reported to Orioles camp Saturday.
Analysis: Sugano's arrival was delayed a few days due to visa issues, but he's now managed to make his way to the Orioles' facility in Florida without falling too far behind. He expects to throw his first bullpen session Monday, per Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com, and the 35-year-old righty is projected to open the season in Baltimore's starting rotation. |
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Chayce McDermott Chayce McDermott Suffers lat strain
Sat, Feb 15, 2025, 9:40 AM
Manager Brandon Hyde said Saturday that McDermott has a mild lat/teres strain, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.
Analysis: The plan is to shut McDermott down for 10-to-14 days before he restarts his throwing program. The 26-year-old right-hander entered spring training with an outside chance to make the Opening Day roster, but his latest injury makes it even more likely he begins the year at Triple-A Norfolk. |
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Kyle Bradish Kyle Bradish Second-half return possible
Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 9:37 AM
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Friday that Bradish (elbow) is "right on track" with his recovery and could contribute at some point during the second half, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Analysis: Bradish underwent Tommy John surgery with an internal brace last June and is still in the relatively early stages of his throwing program. It's been so far, so good for the right-hander's rehab, but he has no firm timeline for his return. |
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Felix Bautista Felix Bautista Should be full go by Opening Day
Fri, Feb 14, 2025, 8:27 AM
Bautista (elbow) said Friday that he's throwing at about 85 percent and is confident he will be 100 percent by Opening Day, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Bautista is 16 months removed from Tommy John surgery and is being eased into things this spring. He has been throwing off a mound since August but is not expected to pitch in Grapefruit League games until late in spring training. While Bautista is expected to be ready to serve as the Orioles' closer on Opening Day, the club doesn't figure to commit to him in the role until they see how he looks and feels this spring. |
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Daz Cameron Daz Cameron Outrighted to Triple-A
Thu, Feb 13, 2025, 1:50 PM
The Orioles outrighted Cameron to Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.
Analysis: Cameron is no longer on the 40-man roster but will be in camp as a non-roster invitee. The 28-year-old is slated to open the season as outfield depth at Norfolk. |
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Tyler Wells Tyler Wells Throwing on flat ground
Thu, Feb 13, 2025, 11:37 AM
Wells (elbow) is throwing on flat ground but has yet to incorporate breaking balls or mound work, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The right-hander underwent a UCL revision and internal brace augmentation surgery on his right elbow in mid-June. Wells' rehab has come along as expected to this point, but he's still in the early stages of his throwing program. He will not be an option for the Orioles until at least midseason. |
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Heston Kjerstad Heston Kjerstad Inside track on roster spot
Thu, Feb 13, 2025, 9:41 AM
Orioles GM Mike Elias noted Thursday that Kjerstad is a frontrunner for a spot on the Opening Day roster, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports. "He has earned the right to get at-bats in the corner outfield and at designated hitter, especially against right-handed pitchers," Elias said.
Analysis: Even after letting Anthony Santander walk in free agency, the Orioles still have a deep stable of options in the outfield and at designated hitter, as Baltimore brought in Tyler O'Neill, Ramon Laureano and Dylan Carlson to join a group that already includes Ryan O'Hearn, Cedric Mullins and Colton Cowser. Cowser and Mullins will handle the bulk of the starts in center field, but Kjerstad looks like he'll have every opportunity to stake his claim to a strong-side platoon role in a corner spot or at DH. Elias said that the Orioles don't necessarily need Kjerstad to have a big spring to secure his roster spot, but a strong showing in the Grapefruit League could certainly help him stand out from the pack. Though his playing time at the big-league level wasn't consistent last season, Kjerstad acquitted himself well in the opportunities he received, slashing .253/.351/.394 with four home runs over 114 plate appearances. |
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Tomoyuki Sugano Tomoyuki Sugano Delayed by visa issues
Thu, Feb 13, 2025, 9:34 AM
Sugano has yet to report to Orioles camp due to visa issues but is expected to arrive this weekend, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.
Analysis: Assuming he does indeed report this weekend, Sugano's brief tardiness shouldn't affect his spring training prep much. The Japanese right-hander inked a one-year, $13 million contract with Baltimore in December and is expected to open the 2025 season in its rotation. |
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Felix Bautista Felix Bautista Expected back for Opening Day
Thu, Feb 13, 2025, 9:32 AM
General manager Mike Elias said Thursday that Bautista (elbow) has a "very good chance" of being part of the Orioles' Opening Day roster, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: While Elias acknowledged that Bautista likely won't be cleared to pitch in Grapefruit League games until late in spring training, the right-hander has been throwing bullpen sessions and has seemingly avoided any setbacks in his recovery from October 2023 Tommy John surgery. The Orioles are still planning to ease Bautista along during camp, but if he shows that he can recapture his pre-surgery velocity and command all of his pitches in spring workouts and appearances, he'll likely head into Opening Day as the team's closer. Bautista had been one of baseball's top-end gamers during the 2023 season, notching saves in 33 of his 39 opportunities while compiling a 1.48 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 110 strikeouts over 61 innings. |
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Jorge Mateo Jorge Mateo Not expected for Opening Day
Thu, Feb 13, 2025, 9:31 AM
Orioles general manager Mike Elias said Thursday that Mateo (elbow) is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Mateo's rehab from UCL reconstruction surgery on his left (non-throwing) elbow is going well, but he will be held out game action until late in spring training. The 29-year-old's stint on the injured list to begin the season could be relatively brief, and once healthy he will fill a utility role for Baltimore. |
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Trevor Rogers Trevor Rogers Sidelined with knee injury
Thu, Feb 13, 2025, 9:28 AM
Rogers is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day after suffering a right knee subluxation in January, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Per general manager Mike Elias, Rogers is weeks behind schedule and it's not clear when he might be ready to ramp things up again. The left-hander was looking like a long shot to make the Opening Day rotation, anyway, and now he's facing an additional hurdle. Rogers held a 4.92 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and 97:56 K:BB across 124.1 innings in 2024 between the Marlins and Orioles before spending the final month of the regular season in the minors. |
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Emmanuel Rivera Emmanuel Rivera Accepts outright assignment
Mon, Feb 10, 2025, 10:34 AM
The Orioles outrighted Rivera to Triple-A Norfolk on Monday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Analysis: Rivera had the option to decline the assignment and elect free agency, but that would have meant forfeiting the $1 million salary he and the Orioles already agreed to earlier this offseason. He will now receive that salary whether he begins the season in the majors or minors, and the 28-year-old is likely ticketed for Triple-A Norfolk. |
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Dylan Coleman Dylan Coleman Signs with Baltimore
Sat, Feb 8, 2025, 11:27 AM
Coleman signed a minor-league contract with the Orioles on Saturday, Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
Analysis: Coleman spent almost all of last season with Houston's Triple-A affiliate, where he finished with a 6.50 ERA and 1.94 WHIP alongside a 42:42 K:BB through 36 innings. The 28-year-old will likely remain as organizational bullpen depth at Triple-A Norfolk. |
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Luis Vazquez Luis Vazquez Outrighted to Triple-A
Fri, Feb 7, 2025, 4:02 PM
The Orioles outrighted Vazquez to Triple-A Norfolk on Friday.
Analysis: Vazquez is no longer on the 40-man roster but will remain in the organization after passing through waivers unclaimed. The 25-year-old will provide utility infielder depth at Triple-A Norfolk. |
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