First Orioles spring training workout brings endless interview possibilities and potential for breaking news

SARASOTA, Fla. – I took a long walk around the outside of the Ed Smith Stadium facility yesterday to get in some steps – my Fitbit kept checking whether I was dead – and to snap a few photos. The sun periodically would duck behind the clouds and the wind picked up in intensity, but escaping the latest snow storm back home made it more than tolerable.

I also went into the team store and bought a 4T shirt. I’ve gone down a few sizes since my heart surgery and orders to shelve workouts for a while, but it also should fit my granddaughter.

The sounds of batting practice could be heard in the distance, likely one hitter in the cage on a back field. Media access begins today, enabling us to put faces with the swings.

During a recent radio hit, I was asked about the most difficult part of covering spring training. I chose the inability to be in more than one place at a time. Watch a bullpen session and risk missing BP. Wander over to Field 3 and miss something important on the main stadium field. Return to the press box to write and risk missing everything.

You’ve just got to make your choices and live with them, which also is good relationship advice.

Anytime that Félix Bautista steps on a mound is going to attract interest and too much video. The novelty will take time to wear off. Short, medium and long tossing among rehabbing pitchers is breaking news. A bat in Jorge Mateo’s hands will stop the presses, even on web sites.

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias is the main attraction today. It’s become a Day 1 tradition. Prop bets can be made regarding the announcement of an injured player and the number of players. Mateo is off the board because we already know that he won’t be full-go to start camp after his elbow surgery, but confirmation of his Opening Day status would be huge.

I don’t expect it this early, but there’s always a surprise or two waiting for us. The scribbling in notepads will be louder than those BP swings.

Video calls and the Birdland Caravan provided some access, but we haven’t talked to Bautista in a very long time. He appeared inside the visiting clubhouse at Tropicana Field last season, moving his rehab briefly from Sarasota, but didn’t talk to the press. Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells also are due for a locker scrum as they return to the 60-day injured list, which creates two openings on the 40-man roster.

Ramón Laureano can talk about his decision to sign with the Orioles and his expectations for usage on a new club that already has outfielders Colton Cowser, Cedric Mullins, Tyler O’Neill and Heston Kjerstad. Coby Mayo can talk about his offseason work and level of confidence in breaking camp with the team despite the crowds at the corner infield positions.

This could be Mullins’ last spring training with the Orioles, since he’s a free agent after the season. He joined the organization as a 13th-round draft pick in 2015. He's playing for Baltimore but also a new contract.

Cowser, Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson, Jackson Holliday, Ryan Mountcastle and Jordan Westburg were interviewed at the Birdland Caravan. Cowser also was available at the Winter Meetings. Maybe that thins the locker crowd a little, but that’s it. There’s always more to talk about or to repeat.

Hey, how about that left field wall moving in?

Rutschman will have to revisit his second half and avoid getting into specifics on his offseason work and discussions with hitting coaches.

Oh yeah, the coaches. Spring training will provide opportunities to speak with major league coach Buck Britton, bench coach Robinson Chirinos and assistant hitting coaches Tommy Joseph and Sherman Johnson.

Zach Eflin and Dean Kremer can share their opinions on a rotation that lost ace Corbin Burnes. Samuel Basallo won’t have to talk about his fractured elbow and the inability to catch in camp. He can focus on the probability of a 2025 major league debut.

Roansy Contreras can relive the wild ride that made stops with just about every team in baseball and dropped him off again with the Orioles, assuming that he isn’t designated for assignment before the gates open to the players parking lot.

Anyone who’s in the best shape of their lives will be documented. The ball will come out of a pitcher’s hand to his liking.

It all starts today.