More notes from Day 4 of Orioles spring training

SARASOTA, Fla. – Tommy Joseph noticed it right away.

After spending the 2024 season as assistant hitting coach in Seattle, Joseph accepted the same job with the Orioles and immediately was struck by the positive atmosphere and tight bonds formed among players who genuinely care about each other. They’re teammates but also friends. They have the same goals and each other’s backs.

The hitting philosophies are almost universal, with Joseph saying, “You try to score more runs as the other team. You’ve just got to find as many ways to do that as you can every day.”

And then, there’s this:

“In terms of the environment and the culture, just being here a couple days, you can tell it’s very special. They’ve built something very special and the players really bought in on everything here," he said.

“I would say honestly the players themselves are friends and they push each other every day. They just have unique relationships that really know how to get the best out of each other.”

That's one reason why Joseph was eager to join the Orioles. He knew that he was going to be in a welcoming space.

“You always want to be a part of good teams and good cultures,” he said.

Who knew that the Orioles would become the culture club? Guys are separated in the offseason and they miss each other blind.

“I think what drives it, No. 1, is the way (Brandon) Hyde and the major league staff that’s been here before I got here treats people,” said new major league coach Buck Britton. “I felt even as a Triple-A manager coming in here that I was very welcomed. They made you feel like you were part of them. But also the players. We’ve got a lot of high character guys who are super talented. They’re all friends, so there’s a lot of energy, which makes it easy to come to the ballpark every day as a coach. You don’t have to kind of supply that part of it. I have a lot of energy as it is.

“It’s a really tight-knit group in the clubhouse and the coaching staff has just been absolutely incredible.”

The importance of makeup can’t be overstated, even if some teams get by with a bad apple or two. The Orioles love each other to the core.

“I think it just makes it tougher. You don’t want those outcasts,” Britton said.

“You try to bring everybody together, fighting for the same thing. And when they’re so young in age and have a lot of the same places in life, they start to build these really unique bonds. Not only on the field, but off the field. And then they start pulling for each other and pushing each other, and I think that’s when something special happens.”

Hyde can trace it back to executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias’ early drafts. Players on the Orioles’ board had to bring more to the organization than just impressive stats.

“We’re talking about (Adley) Rutschman and (Jordan) Westburg and Gunnar (Henderson), and the quality of people that he drafted,” Hyde said. “I remember thinking in my first instructional league here after my first or second year, it was Kyle Stowers and Connor Norby and Rutsch and (Terrin) Vavra, and just how much fun they were having and how much fun they were having with the staff. I think that’s just kind of carried into year after year.

“He continues to draft high-quality people as well as good players. I think the culture’s kind of built in that time when those guys were really good players in the minor leagues.”

Rutschman, Henderson and Westburg are credited as being the culture cornerstones.

“You’re talking about three All-Star players that are really young in their careers,” Hyde said. “They were here from the very beginning. Mike drafted them, they came through the system, they’re very familiar with the staff.

“I met with Adley this morning. I want Adley’s thoughts on everything. I think that he’s a special player. And the other two guys also coming through the system have produced in the major leagues. Three All-Stars last year. Those three guys are gonna be key components for us in our success.

“We saw what happened last year when we lost Westy. That really affected us. Affected our lineup, kind of affected our toughness in the order, as well as the defense versatility. Hopefully, we can keep these three guys healthy.”

* Sherman Johnson remains the Orioles' upper-level hitting coordinator but he's also a co-hitting coach. He's confident in his ability to juggle responsibilities.

“I think we’re still working through that, but we’re gonna have a pulse on what’s going on in the minor leagues, as well," he said. "Obviously, we have some young kids who are really, really good that we’re gonna make sure that they’re getting everything they need. We’re working through it. But I’ll be seeing them definitely through this camp and maybe some through the year, too. We’ll see.”

Johnson is glad that Britton received a promotion, but not only because of their friendship and his skills as a coach.

“It’s awesome," Johnson said. "I spoke with Buck a lot this offseason and the players are happy for him, the staff’s happy for him. Just a guy that’s been here for a long time, he’s put in his work, he’s gone about things the right way. All the players love him, the staff loves him. I just think it’s great that he’s here and I’m gonna pick his brain, too. He’s been around the game for a long time.

"His brother (Zack) was pretty good around here, so I’m excited to meet him. I’m like, ‘Buck, please introduce me, please.’”

* The common perception in camp, and it’s understandable, is that Zach Eflin and Grayson Rodriguez are competing for the Opening Day start on March 27 in Toronto. There’s no Corbin Burnes to earn it before winter turned to spring.

Hyde confirmed that a decision is pending.

“It’s pretty open right now,” he said.

“That’s something that we kind of need to start navigating in the next week or so to try to kind of line guys up the best we can, backdate it from that Opening Day to get the proper rest. Right now, we’re keeping our options open and we’ll go from there.”

* Cade Povich tossed two “innings” today in a live batting practice session. Dylan Carlson singled in between walks to Rutschman and Ramón Urías. Daz Cameron walked in the next inning and Rutschman doubled to left-center field.

Gregory Soto struck out Enrique Bradfield Jr. and Jeremiah Jackson in his inning. Cionel Pérez struck out prospect Dylan Beavers with a nasty slider before Gary Sánchez homered down the left field line.

Pérez hasn’t surrendered a home run in an actual major league game since allowing two on May 31, 2023 against the Guardians.

Seranthony Domínguez struck out Urías and Emmanuel “The Octopus” Rivera. Yennier Cano had a strikeout and a couple of borderline pitches with the count full and no umpire behind the plate.

Take it for what it’s worth. This is live BP. Not real games or fake games. But it’s pitcher versus batter.