Notes from Bowie on the rotation, Mullins, DJ Stewart and more

BOWIE, Md. - Two years removed from an Eastern League championship, the Double-A Bowie Baysox begin their 25th season on Thursday. Bowie opens at Akron and plays seven games on the road before its April 13 home opener with Harrisburg.

Right-hander Brandon Barker will start on opening night for the Baysox. Bowie will use a five-man rotation but in its fourth starter slot the Baysox will use both lefty Tanner Scott and right-hander Jason Garcia. The Orioles will have Scott start games and pitch three innings this year as they provide him a more structured schedule and continue to work to improve his command. After Barker, left-hander John Means starts their second game followed by righty David Hess, the Scott/Garcia combo and then right-hander Matthew Grimes.

The Bowie outfield includes Cedric Mullins, one of the stars of spring training and DJ Stewart, the club's 2015 first-round pick out of Florida State.

Mullins came over several times from minor league camp this year for the Orioles and continued to impress manager Buck Showalter. Stewart was hitting just .230 at Single-A Delmarva, yet the Orioles moved him up to Single-A Frederick last year. He then hit better with the Keys, batting .279/.389/.448 in 59 games.

Bowie manager Gary Kendall, beginning his seventh season with the Baysox, figures that both Eastern League rookies will get a real challenge at this level starting Thursday.

"It is going to be a jump for them," he said during Bowie's media day this morning at Prince George's Stadium. "There will be nights when they look the part and nights they run into a good pitcher and they'll struggle. It's about how you handle it. Good hitters come out of slumps and learn to face adversity. Those two guys have tremendous make up.

"I think they are both going to be fine. They are both kids that go about it the right way. They have good practice habits and a good routine. I don't think they will struggle too long in this league."

Along with this pair, players like Austin Hays and Randolph Gassaway (at Frederick) and Cole Billingsley (with Delmarva), are trying to add to the organization's building minor league outfield depth.

Stewart is ranked as the Orioles' No. 12 on prospect via ESPN, No. 19 on Baseball America and No. 25 on MLB Pipeline.com.

He certainly struggled with the Shorebirds early last season. But his stats got much better last summer after he moved up to that higher level with Frederick.

"I just kind of tried to simplify my swing," Stewart said of his solid second half. "Keith Bodie, our manager in Frederick, he really helped me a lot with my swing. I was pulling off the ball a little bit, so kind of closed me up (with my stance) and tried to limit my stride a little bit.

"It was a very good relationship for me. He's been around the game a very long time and has coached some unbelievable guys. Knowing the resume of guys he's helped, that really helped me. Hopefully I'm one of those guys as well."

Mullins was the rising star this year in Florida, taking the O's by storm when he got chances at major league camp. Vice president Dan Duquette said Mullins could potentially bring some skills to the Orioles that they saw from outfielder Aneury Tavarez, the Rule 5 pick that was returned to Boston. It's been quite a few weeks for Mullins, who will bypass the Carolina League as he moves right from Delmarva to Bowie.

Mullins feels he was able to show the O's brass that he has some pop, despite his 5-foot-8 stature.

"I may have surprised them with my power," he said. "Maybe just a little bit. They definitely want me to continue to learn a true leadoff approach and that is what I am basically getting a feel for. But definitely being able to show, in certain situations. I can put some pop into it, probably opened their eyes."

Mullins' exploits under the Florida sun included a blast he hit off a closer with a career 1.86 ERA and 257 major league saves. It was spring moment No. 1 for him.

"It would have to be the (Craig) Kimbrel opposite field home run. They said you would be hitting in this situation. I looked up and said, 'There is one of the best closers in baseball.' All I could do is go up there and put a good swing on it which is what I was able to do," he said.

Now for the kid's next trick he will try to skip a level yet keep on hitting and pushing for a future major league job. For Mullins and the rest of the Baysox, the season starts on Thursday night.