Yacabonis makes his pitch to earn some time in the 'pen this year

Yacabonis makes his pitch to earn some time in the 'pen this year
SARASOTA, Fla. - It seems there are times we don't hear his name mentioned when it comes to earning a bullpen spot for the Orioles. But maybe we should. After he had a decent September for the Orioles, 25-year-old right-hander Jimmy Yacabonis has had a solid spring training, as well. In seven games, he has allowed three runs and seven hits with five walks and six strikeouts over seven innings for an ERA of 3.86. Yacabonis allowed two runs in one inning March 3 versus the Phillies. Other than...
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Rasmus enjoys fit with the Orioles, now looks to make roster

Rasmus enjoys fit with the Orioles, now looks to make roster
SARASOTA, Fla. - Outfielder Colby Rasmus signed a minor league contract with the Orioles on Feb. 21. Just over a month later, he could find himself in the starting lineup on opening day. Rasmus seems to have an excellent shot to break north with the club and possibly be the left-handed batting side of a right field platoon. For now, he's enjoying his first few weeks as an Oriole. "It's been good," he said Saturday morning in the clubhouse. "Enjoying my time so far. Been feeling good and...
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Mike Wright Jr. on his outing today versus Toronto

Mike Wright Jr. on his outing today versus Toronto
SARASOTA, Fla. - Making his fifth spring appearance, Orioles right-hander Mike Wright Jr. had a pretty good outing working. That was until the bottom of the Toronto Blue Jays order got to him in the top of the fifth inning today at Ed Smith Stadium. Wright took the mound in a 1-1 game that inning, but two singles, a balk and No. 9 hitter Roemon Fields' two-run triple with one out made it 3-1. Fields went 2-for-2 against him and scored twice. A fielder's choice grounder plated a fourth run. A...
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With shoulder now sound, Austin Hays looks to earn a roster spot

With shoulder now sound, Austin Hays looks to earn a roster spot
SARASOTA, Fla. - After a stellar 2017 season, one that started with him in the Carolina League and ended in the American League, Austin Hays' chance to make the Orioles opening day roster was briefly derailed this spring. The Orioles' 22-year-old outfielder dealt with a sore shoulder early in camp. An MRI showed some inflammation behind his right shoulder. Hays got a cortisone injection Feb. 28 and missed six games. He returned to the lineup as the designated hitter on March 7 and then missed...
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Machado on a few topics, Showalter on Machado and Schoop

Machado on a few topics, Showalter on Machado and Schoop
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles' East Coast road trip produced a win, a tie, some good starting pitching and more good hitting from shortstop Manny Machado and second baseman Jonathan Schoop. The Orioles' double play duo looks ready to start the year. Machado is batting .425/.465/.775 this spring, going 17-for-40 with three homers and 15 RBIs. He had a double in Friday's 4-4 tie in Port St. Lucie with the Mets. "You know what? I just try to be consistent," Machado said. "Try to be consistent...
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Wrapping up O's 4-4 tie with Mets

Wrapping up O's 4-4 tie with Mets
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - After each team scored twice in the ninth inning today, the New York Mets were out of pitchers, and the Orioles and Mets played to a 4-4 tie. The Orioles have not lost since March 9 and are 7-0-1 over the last eight games. They are 13-8-2 for the Grapefruit League season. Anthony Santander's two-run homer in the top of the ninth gave the O's a 4-2 lead before the Mets tied it versus right-hander James Teague in the bottom half. It was Santander's fourth spring homer. A...
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Machado on Judge's comments, playing with Schoop and more

Machado on Judge's comments, playing with Schoop and more
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - For the first time since it happened on Wednesday in Sarasota, Orioles third baseman Manny Machado today discussed the comments made to him that day by the Yankees' Aaron Judge. Judge told New York reporters that he told Machado he'd "look good in pinstripes." Major League Baseball issued a statement saying Judge's comments "were not appropriate and not authorized by the club." "I think he's a great guy," Machado said outside the Orioles clubhouse. "He's a...
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Andrew Cashner faces Mets in second spring start (4-4 final)

Andrew Cashner faces Mets in second spring start (4-4 final)
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Making his second Orioles start of spring training this afternoon, right-hander Andrew Casher held the New York Mets to a run through five innings as New York leads Baltimore 1-0. The Orioles were blanked through their first five at-bats by Mets righty Jacob deGrom. Making his second spring start, he fanned eight O's in the first five innings, allowing just one hit. That was a single by Austin Hays, who then stole second base in the third. Cashner, who pitched four...
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Pregame notes on Chris Davis, homegrown pitchers and more

Pregame notes on Chris Davis, homegrown pitchers and more
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he expects first baseman Chris Davis to return to the Grapefruit League lineup on Sunday when the Orioles host the Mets in Sarasota. Davis has played in just five spring games due to right elbow tightness/inflammation. He is 2-for-13 (.154) with one homer. His last game was March 2. He got a cortisone injection on Saturday. "He is making good progress," Showalter said before today's game with the Mets. "Right now, the plan is for...
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O's notes on Tanner Scott, Kevin Gausman and Joey Rickard

O's notes on Tanner Scott, Kevin Gausman and Joey Rickard
JUPITER, Fla. - For hard-throwing O's lefty Tanner Scott, maybe it is a case of less is more. The 23-year-old Scott has a fastball that can touch 100 mph. But it seems this spring he's taken a bit off the heater and it's producing solid results. The Orioles need a lefty for their bullpen besides Richard Bleier and Scott's latest chance to state his case came Thursday in Jupiter. He pitched a scoreless eighth inning against the Cardinals and again did not walk anyone. For the spring, he has...
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O's win, but get disappointing injury news on two fronts

O's win, but get disappointing injury news on two fronts
JUPITER, Fla. - On a day when five Orioles pitchers combined for a 1-0 shutout of the St. Louis Cardinals, the news was not all good. After the game, we found out that Mark Trumbo will begin the year on the disabled list and that O's third base prospect Ryan Mountcastle will begin the year on the DL in the minors. An MRI earlier today showed that Trumbo's troublesome right quad has a Grade 2 strain and he will miss the next few weeks. "He'll be out a minimum of three to four weeks,"...
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Jonathan Schoop's power surge continues (O's win 1-0)

Jonathan Schoop's power surge continues (O's win 1-0)
JUPITER, Fla. - Like his good friend Manny Machado, Orioles second baseman Jonathan Schoop is swinging a hot bat in Florida. It doesn't matter whether it's the West Coast or East Coast of the state. As the Orioles began a two-day East Coast swing today, Schoop homered again. He led off the top of the second with his fifth spring homer as the Orioles took a 1-0 lead on the St. Louis Cardinals. Schoop homered to left off a 1-2 pitch from St. Louis right-hander Jack Flaherty. Flaherty is ranked...
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Mark Trumbo gets an MRI, plus other pregame notes

Mark Trumbo gets an MRI, plus other pregame notes
JUPITER, Fla. - Mark Trumbo was scheduled to be on this two-day trip with the Orioles to the East Coast of Florida. But he stayed back in Sarasota. Trumbo went 0-for-3 as the designated hitter yesterday in his first game since March 6. He was out with a sore right quad muscle. After playing Wednesday, he felt more soreness and stiffness. "He went and got an MRI this morning and we haven't gotten the results on that yet. That is why he's not here. That was a little discouraging," manager...
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O's top pick DL Hall preps for his first full season of pro ball

O's top pick DL Hall preps for his first full season of pro ball
SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles' 2017 top draft pick, prep lefty pitcher DL Hall, is very excited about beginning his first full season of pro ball. He's ready for a lot of baseball. "I've heard numerous stories about the long grind of the season," Hall said Wednesday morning during an interview at Twin Lakes Park. "But I could not be more excited to get in my first full pro ball season. Want to pitch in a live game with fans and really good hitters and showcase my talent again." Hall is...
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Richard Bleier on his outing at minors camp (plus other notes)

Richard Bleier on his outing at minors camp (plus other notes)
SARASOTA, Fla. - When the Orioles' minor league spring training games got underway this afternoon at Twin Lakes Park, the Orioles' two Single-A teams had major league pitchers on the mound. Right-hander Mychal Givens was pitching for the team representing Single-A Delmarva and left-hander Richard Bleier for Single-A Frederick. Both got in two innings, but yielded runs to aggressive young hitters from the Minnesota Twins. Givens allowed three hits and one run with one walk and three...
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O's 2016 top pick Cody Sedlock is fully healthy at minors camp

O's 2016 top pick Cody Sedlock is fully healthy at minors camp
SARASOTA, Fla. - For Orioles 2016 top draft pick, right-handed pitcher Cody Sedlock, his first full season of pro baseball did not go as planned. He spent two stints on the disabled list, injured for the first time in his life. He also could look at a stat sheet that he may not have liked, also probably for the first time in his life. He went 4-5 with a 5.90 ERA for Single-A Frederick. He missed time due a right elbow flexor strain and a forearm strain. But he is back now, completely healthy...
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Mychal Givens on his connection with Alan Mills and more

Mychal Givens on his connection with Alan Mills and more
SARASOTA, Fla. - Let's just say he will work to keep it pretty basic and not overthink it. Once drafted as a shortstop, right-hander Mychal Givens has become a quality late-inning reliever for the Orioles. After a very good 2017, he will just look to do more of the same this year. "Pretty much will try to keep things simple and just get better," he said concisely of his goal for this season. Givens put together one very solid season, going 8-1 with a 2.75 ERA over 78 2/3 innings last summer....
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Lefty Tanner Scott finds a mentor during spring training

Lefty Tanner Scott finds a mentor during spring training
SARASOTA, Fla. - If you are a young lefty reliever with the Orioles at spring training, one hoping to have a nice big league career, you can do worse when looking for a mentor then closer Zach Britton. Britton might be one of the best relievers in the sport. But right now, he's out injured, giving him more time to pass on some pointers and provide some guidance to hard-throwing left-hander Tanner Scott. They are both southpaws with big fastballs and Britton resides where Scott looks to go - as...
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Self critic: Gausman not happy when he looks back on 2017

Self critic: Gausman not happy when he looks back on 2017
SARASOTA, Fla. - Right-hander Kevin Gausman knows the Orioles are counting on him. They are counting on him today, tomorrow and hopefully for many years to come as a key member of their pitching rotation. He is a homegrown Oriole - drafted No. 4 overall in 2012 out of LSU - and he's made 106 career starts in the orange and black. But when you ask Gausman about the rotation's poor performance last year, he directs the criticism at himself, throwing himself under the bus after a season where he...
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Dylan Bundy talks about his start today against Pittsburgh

Dylan Bundy talks about his start today against Pittsburgh
BRADENTON, Fla. - Considering he had yielded 10 runs and 11 hits in 4 1/3 in his first two Grapefruit League starts, Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy produced much better results this afternoon at LECOM Park against Pittsburgh. Bundy became the first O's pitcher to throw five innings this spring and he allowed seven hits and one run with no walks and five strikeouts. He did not have a strikeout in those first two games. But this afternoon, he had a nice pitch mix working, throwing 84 pitches,...
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