SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said he expects everyone in camp for Monday's first full-squad workout. No visa issues or unexcused absences.
No unwanted drama.
"Haven't heard of a situation where anybody's not going to show up," he said, "so I think everybody's going to be ready to go tomorrow."
Catcher Pedro Severino took batting practice on the Camden Yards replica field this morning, the surest sign that he finally beat the bug.
Severino has been ill, but he began...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Position players are due to report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex today and arrivals spotted during the media's clubhouse access included Hanser Alberto, Yusniel Diaz, Dilson Herrera and Richard Ureña.
A backpack was placed on a chair in front of Stevie Wilkerson's locker, so perhaps he's also here. Or maybe it's similar to Ronny Paulino's car sitting in the lot.
Still no sign of Chris Davis.
Alberto is going to experience a different camp in 2020. He isn't trying to...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The maneuvering that's going to be necessary by April to fill out the rotation at Triple-A Norfolk won't involve only prospects as pieces.
The Orioles are prepared to hold onto a veteran or two and figure out later how it's going to work.
I've heard the six-man rotation idea and I've heard the word "piggyback." It's a bit complicated.
Because they aren't going to rush a young pitcher, someone else will be used if there's an injury to a major league starter or some...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Catcher Pedro Severino had a light workout today, finally able to get on the field after reporting to Orioles camp with a stomach virus.
Severino hit in the cage and threw, and he also watched the bullpen sessions while the other six catchers took their positions behind the plate.
"He's getting better every day," said manager Brandon Hyde.
Relievers Hunter Harvey and Mychal Givens were sent home again today, but Hyde said their health is improving.
"They're still feeling a...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Hunter Harvey and Mychal Givens, who didn't throw yesterday due to illness, aren't scheduled for bullpen sessions this morning at the Ed Smith Stadium complex.
Manager Brandon Hyde sent Harvey and Givens back home yesterday after they reported to the complex. They weren't in the clubhouse this morning during the media availability.
Catcher Pedro Severino, who also has been under the weather, reappeared at his locker today without the surgical mask and appeared ready to work...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Richard Bleier made it through his second bullpen session yesterday morning as the sun finally managed to pierce the clouds that suggested rain might be headed to the Ed Smith Stadium complex. The heat was turned up. The kind that doesn't require a radar gun to confirm.
Bleier doesn't really care about the temperature or whether the sky is blue. He's in camp on a new contract - settling at $915,000 in December to avoid arbitration - and no longer a health riddle.
He's...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles aren't worried about running out of innings for their pitchers in camp. They're more liable to run low on hand sanitizer.
Hunter Harvey and Mychal Givens didn't throw bullpen sessions in their respective groups this morning after reporting to camp with the same illness that's beginning to spread through the clubhouse.
Manager Brandon Hyde said both relievers were "a little under the weather" and left the complex.
"They came in yesterday not feeling real...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Alex Cobb arrived in Orioles camp this week with a neatly groomed beard, much shorter than his usual look. Almost as if he forgot to shave for a couple of days.
The veteran right-hander simply wanted to try something different.
Something that might improve his luck and keep him on the mound this season, his third with the Orioles after signing a four-year, $57 million deal - the richest in franchise history for a pitcher.
Cobb, 32, made it through three starts in April before...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Branden Kline joined the first group of Orioles pitchers yesterday morning for an 11:25 a.m. bullpen session, his initial appearance on a mound since arriving in camp. And since he came off the 40-man roster and was lumped in with the other invitees.
Kline was designated for assignment on Jan. 30 after the Orioles claimed infielder Pat Valaika on waivers for a second time. The Orioles outrighted Kline on Feb. 5 when he cleared waivers.
"I knew it was something that could...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles found a veteran pitcher to compete for a spot in their rotation and it didn't cost them a major league contract.
Left-hander Tommy Milone has agreed to a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training, according to an industry source.
Milone, who turns 33 later this month, has pitched for six teams since debuting with the Nationals in 2011.
Primarily a starter for the first five years, Milone has transitioned into more of a relief/bulk guy role. Only six...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles have completed their second day of workouts, with two players still unable to participate.
Pitcher Brady Rodgers was supposed to throw in the bullpen with the second group, but he's being held back due to soreness in his right arm. Pedro Severino hasn't caught due to an illness.
Severino arrived in camp yesterday wearing a mask. But not the kind he's going to use when he's behind the plate.
Alex Cobb threw with the first group and manager Brandon Hyde remains...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Before the Orioles assigned Wade LeBlanc a uniform number, he already had done his research on another set of digits.
LeBlanc turned 35 years old in August. Chris Davis celebrates his 34th birthday next month.
There's no debating which player is the senior member of a rebuilding club.
"I'm definitely the oldest," LeBlanc said this morning, clearing up any confusion. "I've got him beat. He's got more time, but I've got him beat in age."
The next competition is going to...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The snapshots from yesterday morning's media clubhouse availability included No. 1 prospect Adley Rutschman locked into separate conversations with catchers Bryan Holaday and Taylor Davis. Always a smile on his face. Appearing to be comfortable in his new surroundings.
No one treating him like a hotshot superstar fresh out of college who doesn't belong here.
The lockers on catchers row are occupied, in order, by Chance Sisco, Austin Wynns, Pedro Severino, Davis, Holaday,...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The workout held today for Orioles outfielder DJ Stewart looked simple in nature. He did some light running on the dirt cart path along one of the practice fields, increasing his speed and intensity as the minutes passed.
For a player coming off ankle surgery in October and unwilling to surrender the hope of being ready for opening day, each step taken by Stewart is an important achievement.
Stewart, the former first-round draft pick out of Florida State University, underwent a...
SARASOTA, Fla. - More position players are rolling into Orioles camp early, the latest batch including outfielders Austin Hays, Trey Mancini, Anthony Santander and Dwight Smith Jr.
"Definitely ready to get it going," Mancini said. "I always like coming a few days early. Once the new year starts you're always ready to go. I was definitely ready to get down here at this point."
The expectations for another last-place season in the rebuild hasn't crushed the enthusiasm.
"I think we're all...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Mid-Atlantic Sports Network is sticking with its usual form in airing seven Orioles exhibition games from Ed Smith Stadium.
The logical place to start?
The first game at home, to be played Feb. 23 against the Red Sox. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
The network's spring coverage includes six more games in Sarasota.
The Orioles face the Braves on Feb. 26 at 1 p.m., the Rays on March 2 at 1 p.m., the Yankees on March 8 at 1 p.m., the Blue Jays on March 13 at 1 p.m., the Red...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Hunter Harvey isn't in Orioles camp so they can check on his health. He isn't here to get in some work before heading over to the minor league complex.
Harvey is expected to be part of an eight-man bullpen on opening day, perhaps assuming the role of closer. High-leverage situations, for sure.
Except that he isn't buying into the hype and assumptions.
Asked whether the camp felt any different to him yesterday, Harvey replied, "I wouldn't think so."
In Harvey's mind, only...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Miguel Castro took a few steps away from his spring training locker this morning, raised his head and smiled. The local media crew was approaching. He knew that he'd be recounting an incident that terrified him, that had him wondering if he'd live through it. But he still managed a smile.
No one was happier to be in camp than Castro, who survived an armed robbery last month in his native Dominican Republic that cost him only a couple of chains.
"I'm just thankful to God for...
SARASOTA, Fla. - Within the one hour of clubhouse access granted to the media this morning, Orioles pitchers and catchers already had reported in abundance and more were walking through the doors.
The roll call included Alex Cobb, John Means and Asher Wojciechowski, who figure to comprise three-fifths of the rotation on opening day. Also present were Rule 5 picks Brandon Bailey and Michael Rucker, who sat at their lockers in a far corner of the clubhouse and chatted for most of the hour.
Also...
SARASOTA, Fla. - The real work is about to begin.
Pitchers, catchers and position players choosing to report early will be arriving later today at the Ed Smith Stadium complex, where the temperature will climb back into the 80s. Physicals must be passed, and that includes the yearly eye exams.
(That last part was aimed at the "he needs glasses" crowd. Everyone gets their vision tested.)
The front office contingent headed to Florida without a veteran starting pitcher - executive vice...
