SARASOTA, Fla. – Corbin Burnes walked out of the dugout today before the top of the first inning and had no one behind him. Players stayed back as the club’s Opening Day starter approached the mound, as if honoring the staff ace. Or maybe they were just a little slower. But Burnes had the field to himself for a moment.

The song “Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks blared on the public address system. Burnes has them in high places, too.

Burnes was told this morning that he’d start March 28 against the Angels at Camden Yards, exactly as planned but now made official. Then, he worked 2 2/3 innings, was removed after 51 pitches - only 28 for strikes – returned for the fourth and finished with five runs and six hits allowed.

Not as planned.

More important is what Burnes does in the regular season, and he’s first to hold the baseball.

SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles didn’t put infielder Errol Robinson on their list of spring training invites. However, he’s got a locker in the main clubhouse at the Ed Smith Stadium complex and said he officially joined the group about a week ago.

Robinson, a native of Boyds, Md., is 5-for-11 with six walks. He signed a minor league deal in January.

Adding Robinson would increase the camp roster to 58 players.

Adley Rutschman is leading off today and serving as designated hitter for the split-squad game against the Blue Jays in Sarasota.

Ryan O’Hearn is in right field and Colton Cowser is starting in center. Kolten Wong is at second base.

SARASOTA, Fla. – A finality of a two-run walk-off homer has to begin somewhere. For the Orioles in yesterday’s exhibition opener, Colton Cowser couldn’t send everybody home unless a batter ahead of him reached base.

Errol Robinson, who’s going to be working out at Twin Lakes Park, dumped a single into left field and moved up on a wild pitch before Cowser cleared the left-center field fence in a 4-3 win over the Red Sox.

Cowser was mobbed at home plate. Robinson was thrilled to be counted among the extras and used as a pinch-runner and shortstop replacement for Jorge Mateo in the fifth inning.

(How do you know it’s spring training? When Jorge Mateo is removed for a pinch-runner.)

The Orioles announced 20 non-roster invites and Robinson wasn’t on the list after he signed a minor league deal on Jan. 10. He played in Triple-A for parts of three seasons. He seemed like a slam dunk to enter the infield and utility competitions.

An organization that isn’t hurting for infield prospects and choices made a depth move this morning.

The Orioles signed 29-year-old utility player Errol Robinson to a minor league deal. The announcement didn’t include mention of a spring training invite but he’s likely on the list.

Robinson is a local product, growing up in Boyds, Md. and attending St. John’s College High School in D.C. The Dodgers drafted him in the sixth round in 2016 out of the University of Mississippi.

The Reds claimed Robinson on waivers in December 2020 and the Cardinals signed him to a minor league contract in July 2022. St. Louis released him three months ago.

Robinson is a career .251/.332/.347 hitter in seven minor league seasons and hasn’t reached the majors. He’s totaled 82 doubles, 10 triples, 28 home runs, 196 RBIs and 95 stolen bases.