SARASOTA, Fla. – Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman found a different way to bond with Japanese pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano and to learn more about his new teammate. They got away from the field and the clubhouse. They got away from baseball.

They played a round of golf this week.

“He’s a funny guy, just a cool dude,” Rutschman said tonight. “I know with the language barrier it’s kind of tough sometimes to make those connections, but he seems like a really down-to-earth guy. He works his butt off every single day. Just to see a guy like that in a new environment and getting comfortable and doing his thing has been really cool for me to watch, and I think everyone else.”

Who’s the better golfer?

“He is,” Rutschman said without hesitation. “He’s really good.”

SARASOTA, Fla. – Charlie Morton will start the second game of the season on March 28 against the Blue Jays in Toronto. Two-thirds of the rotation is confirmed.

Zach Eflin is the Opening Day starter on March 27. Dean Kremer and Tomoyuki Sugano, who pitches tonight, will slot further down.

Morton, 41, has tossed six scoreless innings in his three spring starts. He signed a $15 million contract in January and is entering his 18^th major league season.

“He’s been everything,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “He’s been an amazing influence on our team so far already. Just with his interactions with guys. He’s throwing the ball extremely well, he looks great. That’s just Charlie Morton.

“The stuff he’s thrown out every time out has been really good. He’s brought a lot to our team already.”

SARASOTA, Fla. – The penultimate home game of the exhibition season finds Ramón Urías in tonight’s lineup for the Orioles. Gunnar Henderson, however, remains out of it.

Urías is playing third base, Jackson Holliday is at shortstop and Jordan Westburg is at second base.

Tyler O’Neill is in left field, Colton Cowser is in center and Heston Kjerstad is in right.

Cedric Mullins is leading off and serving as designated hitter.

Hot-hitting Ryan Mountcastle is out of the lineup.

SARASOTA, Fla. – Three more days and the Orioles break camp, play the Nationals in D.C., fly to Toronto, work out and begin a season that could deliver their first playoff win since 2014. Congratulations, it's an oh boy!

Tucked somewhere within this stretch is a finalized roster for March 27, with media curious whether it’s safe to report by Sunday’s game against the Braves in North Port or if the Orioles could wait until Monday.

Two years ago, they announced the Danny Coulombe trade with the Twins on the last day in camp. Colton Cowser broke the news of his inclusion on the Opening Day roster last spring after Orioles played the Twins in Fort Myers. He stood in the hallway outside the visiting clubhouse, revealed that he had just received confirmation from executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias and manager Brandon Hyde, and wondered if he committed a faux pas.

“I was just informed that I made the club. I’m excited,” he said.

Cowser stopped, turned to a team official and asked, “Was I supposed to say that?”

SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles made more roster cuts heading into their second off-day of the spring, getting down to 41 players. Six of them are non-roster invitees

None of the players in that latter group were expected to break camp with the team. Catcher Samuel Basallo is a high-profile prospect, tops in the organization, who had no chance at age 20 and with only 86 plate appearances at the Triple-A level. But he was fun while he lasted.

Who’s left?

Reliever Matt Bowman

The Orioles re-signed Bowman to a minor league contract on Dec. 23 after he declined an outright assignment a month earlier and elected free agency. He pitched for four teams last season. For a brief time he had none.

SARASOTA, Fla. – Every pitch and every inning felt like they weighed a ton on a scale of importance.

Spring training results aren’t supposed to matter. The games don’t count.

Don’t tell that to Cade Povich.

Povich and Albert Suárez are battling for the last rotation spot. Suárez allowed one run in five innings in Lakeland in his most recent start. The Orioles switched Charlie Morton to the back fields this afternoon to get his six ups, removing Povich from a piggyback role and putting him first against the Blue Jays’ regular-heavy lineup.

In response, Povich tossed five hitless innings. No runs allowed, three walks, six strikeouts, and much more for the Orioles to consider.

SARASOTA, Fla. – The sight and sounds were calming. Gunnar Henderson walking up to the cage this afternoon for batting practice. Loud line drives ripped into the outfield. The shortstop smiling with teammates.

Henderson made his first real bid for inclusion on the Opening Day roster by hitting on the field. He still must get into games, which is most important, and the Orioles are off Wednesday.

The layoff is a long one, with Henderson’s last game on Feb. 27. He strained his right intercostal while catching Bo Bichette’s line drive in the first inning.

Henderson is receiving daily treatments, and today’s session could get him into Thursday’s lineup if he responds well to it.

The Orioles haven't decided whether they'd keep Henderson on the active roster and play short-handed if he couldn't participate in the first few games in Toronto.

SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles made seven more camp cuts this afternoon, the most notable catcher Samuel Basallo and corner infielder Coby Mayo, the top two prospects in the organization.

Mayo was optioned to the minor league side in Twin Lakes Park. Basallo, outfielder Daz Cameron, infielder/outfielder Nick Gordon and pitchers Corbin Martin, Levi Stoudt and Thaddeus Ward were reassigned.

Forty-one players remain in camp, including six non-roster invitees.

Charlie Morton was supposed to make his fourth spring start tonight after tossing six scoreless innings, but left-hander Cade Povich has replaced him.

Morton is fine. The Orioles have him throwing on a back field, where he can get six ups. He's expected to pitch in Sunday's Grapefruit League finale against the Braves in North Port, which lines him up to be the No. 2 starter.

SARASOTA, Fla. – In describing Enrique Bradfield Jr. following the Spring Breakout game in Sarasota, a scout from outside the organization pretty much nailed it in four words.

“He’s a total disruptor.”

This is meant in a good way, of course. Not the kind who gets detention after school.

Bradfield provided an example of his disruptive nature in the first inning against the Yankees’ prospects. He slaps a two-strike single into left field, goes first to third with ease on an errant pickoff throw and bolts home on a wild pitch. Pitchers become distracted. The defense tightens from the pressure that he applies.

The scout said he’s done a 180 on Bradfield since a couple of years ago. He uses Kenny Lofton as a comp for the 2023 first-round draft pick. The questions about whether Bradfield will hit are growing silent.

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson hit on the field earlier today in Sarasota, went through more defensive drills and is progressing well, according to manager Brandon Hyde. However, Hyde added that Henderson remains “a little bit away from game activity.”

That isn’t good.

Time is running out on Henderson with the last exhibition next Monday in D.C. The Orioles break camp the previous day after playing the Braves in North Port.

The Orioles traveled to Fort Myers today to face the Red Sox. Livan Soto hit leadoff and started at shortstop.

Henderson isn’t expected to make the Opening Day roster if he can’t get back into the spring lineup.

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Orioles are keeping their everyday players back in Sarasota today for a morning workout and a break, with backups and minor leaguers facing the Red Sox at JetBlue Park.

Samuel Basallo is playing first base and Coby Mayo is at third. Gary Sáchez is catching.

Dylan Beavers is in left field and Enrique Bradfield Jr. is in center.

Ramón Urías (left hamstring) and Emmanuel Rivera (left shoulder) remain out of the lineup. Urías hasn’t played since Wednesday and Rivera since Thursday, but their returns are coming soon.

Right-hander Roansy Contreras is starting for the Orioles. He’s made four relief appearances and allowed five runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He’s also surrendered three home runs.

SARASOTA, Fla. – The internet doesn’t have space limitations except for mailbags. There’s got to be a cutoff. Land the plane at some point. Spirit Airlines is taking volunteers. Live to write another day.

This is the day to share the leftovers, with the same minimal editing and mailbag flexes.

You come at the king, you best not miss.

Do you feel like the Orioles are being ignored as potential division winners? I’ve seen a lot of “the Red Sox have to be favorites with the Yankees injuries” or, “the door is open for the Blue Jays and Rays” or even “the Yankees are still 100 percent making the playoffs” (from Chris Rose) and no one expecting much from the O’s.
If it makes you feel any better, and that’s why I’m here, PECOTA has the Orioles with 88.4 wins – I’d bet heavy on them not hitting that exact total – and only the Rangers are calculated with more at 90.3. There’s your respect. The Yankees dropped to third place in the division behind the Blue Jays after Gerrit Cole’s elbow injury. Maybe this is bad news because PECOTA usually comes in low on the Orioles, but let’s keep it positive. I worry about you.

Fast forward to Sept. 1. Zach Eflin, Dean Kremer, Charlie Morton, Tomoyuki Sugano and Cade Povich are all pitching pretty well. Grayson Rodriguez, Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells are healthy. Who’s making regular starts from Sept. 1 to the clinching game of the World Series?
And don’t say “your mom.” Oh wait … I’ll predict that Wells is in the bullpen and given another chance to start in 2026. I’d put Bradish in the rotation but that’s assuming he’s pitching again by September. I don’t see a world where Grayson Rodriguez isn’t in the rotation when he’s healthy. Eflin is a lock. Povich might have to be optioned if he’s just pitching “pretty well.” Morton might retire and be a greeter at Walmart. An age joke! I kid.

SARASOTA, Fla. – Jorge Mateo felt great physically. He was better emotionally.

Mateo finally made it back into the lineup this afternoon after undergoing reconstructive-elbow surgery on Aug. 29. A meaningless exhibition game was ultra-important to him. He needed it.

“It was amazing,” he said. “I was so excited. Just to be there on the field with my teammates, that was unbelievable to me.”

Mateo saw one pitch in the second inning and bounced to third baseman Edmundo Sosa. He struck out on three pitches in the fourth.

In the field, Mateo handled every ball hit his way and had back-to-back assists in the fourth. He started a 6-4-3 double play to end the first inning and covered the bag for a force in the fifth, throwing late on an attempted DP.

SARASOTA, Fla. – The long wait is over for Jorge Mateo. He gets to appear in his first game today since injuring his left elbow on July 23 and undergoing reconstructive surgery a month later.

The Orioles haven’t sounded as optimistic as Mateo about his availability for Opening Day. Today’s start at shortstop could be an indication that he remains in play or that he’ll be able to leave the injured list when he’s eligible.

“Jorgie was a big loss for us last year,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “He adds so much to our team – versatility, the speed. I love his energy he brings on a daily basis. We missed that last year.

“This is his first step back, a big step back in his rehab, to get a little game action.”

Mateo will rest Monday rather than make the trip to Fort Myers to play the Red Sox. The Orioles wrap up the Grapefruit League schedule March 23 in North Port.

SARASOTA, Fla. – Jorge Mateo is making his spring debut this afternoon by starting at shortstop against the Phillies in a split-squad game at Ed Smith Stadium.

Mateo has recovered from late-August reconstructive surgery on his left elbow. He’s engaged in full baseball activities and waited for clearance to play.

Today, it happens.

Gunnar Henderson remains out of the lineup with a strained right intercostal and his status is questionable for Opening Day. Mateo could be the replacement if Henderson goes on the injured list, but manager Brandon Hyde said a few days ago that it was "pretty doubtful" Mateo would be ready due to a lack of at-bats.

Mateo is batting seventh. Jordan Westburg is leading off and playing third base.

SARASOTA, Fla. – Enrique Bradfield Jr. joined in the raucous celebration last night after Leandro Arias’ walk-off single in the Spring Breakout game. He embraced teammates as the crowd erupted in a way normally sparked by major league comebacks, and he was one of the last Orioles prospects to leave the field.

He was euphoric and destroyed. Overcome with joy and overwhelmed by sadness. Somehow, the young man held it together as these emotions collided.

Bradfield opened up to the media afterward about his childhood friend, 25-year-old Isaiah Hood, who died last week in a motorcycle accident. They grew up together, played travel ball, became more like brothers.

Asked to imagine how Isaiah would have reacted to last night’s dramatic win, Bradfield said, “I hope he’s happy. I hope he’s happy.”

“You know,” Bradfield continued, “I tried to be focused out there and my energy in that moment sliding across home plate specifically, it’s just, maybe some emotion comes out of me and that’s normal, you know? That’s life. Bad things happen. You have to pick yourself up and keep moving forward.

SARASOTA, Fla. – He’s listed at 5 feet 8 and his 19^th birthday is three months away. The Orioles promoted him from the Dominican Summer League to the Class A level last season. Height and age didn’t factor into how they treated him.

Results and a 70-grade fastball got Venezuelan right-hander Keeler Morfe moving faster than expected.

Morfe has grown into the No. 9 prospect in the organization according to MLB Pipeline rankings and the Orioles chose him to start tonight’s Spring Breakout game against the Yankees at Ed Smith Stadium.

The kid announced his presence with seven pitches to leadoff hitter George Lombard Jr. at 98-99 mph. The last, clocked at 99, struck him out.

The bingo card was filled – two runs, two hits, two walks, one strikeout, one wild pitch, one hit batter in two-thirds of an inning. Morfe threw 32 pitches and they kept catcher Samuel Basallo busy. But there’s no denying the stuff. It’s real impressive.

BRADENTON, Fla. – The Orioles held pitchers fielding practice inside the ballpark this week in Sarasota. They took turns chasing soft ground balls that manager Brandon Hyde rolled near them, causing them to break left or right from the mound, and waited for a teammate to yell “first” or “third.”

A reminder of those tedious drills came in the fourth inning today when reliever Gregory Soto bounced a throw to first base in an attempt to retire the Pirates’ Ji Hwan Bae with one out. The fielding part went smoothly, but not the last part.

The ball got past Coby Mayo, allowing Bae to reach second base. Soto walked the next two batters and Bae came home with the tie-breaking run when Oneil Cruz grounded into a force.

Soto had strung together three straight scoreless outings before allowing an unearned run today. He’s totaled five innings and surrendered two earned, five hits, his first two walks and six strikeouts.

Today’s appearance consisted of 19 pitches and only seven strikes.

BRADENTON, Fla. – Ramón Urías is out of the Orioles lineup for a third consecutive day as he recovers from a sore hamstring.

Manager Brandon Hyde indicated that Urías’ return was imminent.

“He went through a full day today,” Hyde said. “It got a little tight on him yesterday, but nothing to be concerned about. He should be back in a couple days. It’s a hamstring, so we just want to make sure. He went through full defensive work today and batting practice.”

Urías is 7-for-23 (.304) with two doubles and a home run in nine games. He started at third base Wednesday.

The Orioles expect Urías to break camp in his usual utility role, and his importance increases with Gunnar Henderson questionable due to a strained right ribcage muscle.

BRADENTON, Fla. – Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson provided an injury update this morning after making a quick stop at his locker, his first beat writer scrum since before he strained his right intercostal on Feb. 27.

“I’m feeling good,” he said. “Been swinging, taking ground balls and stuff, so I’m on the right track, progressing.”

The injury occurred when Henderson made a leaping backhand catch of Bo Bichette’s line drive in the first inning. He grounded out in his only at-bat and came out of the game in the top of the second.

The intercostal is a muscle that runs between the ribs.

“It’s getting there,” he said. “It’s a lot better than what it originally felt like.”