SARASOTA, Fla. – Grayson Rodriguez’s big strike in the offseason happened on a hunting trip in Mexico, where he shot a ram and now waits for it to clear customs and arrive in the United States.

Rodriguez hasn’t managed to buy Corbin Burnes’ fishing boat but could make his pitch when the team is in Phoenix.

These are the topics that bring a smile to Rodriguez’s face, the more playful side that is buried during those moments when he’s got to be all business. And not the kind that purchases water crafts.

Orioles pitchers and catchers held their first workout yesterday at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Rodriguez hasn’t appeared in a game since July 31 due to another lat/teres strain that he couldn’t rehab in time to make the Wild Card roster. He didn’t make it past bullpen sessions and watched his teammates get swept by the Royals.

“Feeling good,” he said yesterday. “Last year at the end of the year there was a chance that I was gonna come back and throw. It’s kind of what I was trying to do. Ultimately, it didn’t work out, but the first week that I got home I was fully cleared from the doctors to move on and do my offseason program and everything, and didn’t have a problem.”

The Orioles have made the following roster move:

• OF Daz Cameron has cleared outright waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk. He has been invited to major league Spring Training.

SARASOTA, Fla. – Heston Kjerstad arrived early at Orioles spring training, well ahead of the report date for position players. He’s fighting for a roster spot in a crowded outfield, and if he doesn’t make the club, it won’t be for lack of an opportunity.

Kjerstad had his 2024 season ruined by a concussion, a Clay Holmes 96.8 mph sinker to the helmet on July 13 causing benches and bullpens to empty. He was limited to 39 games, with momentum destroyed from a .314/.417/.529 first half. He went 9-for-48 after the break.

Spring training stats are important in some cases, but they apparently won’t apply to Kjerstad.

“I don’t know that he needs to tear the cover off the ball in the Grapefruit League,” executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias said earlier today. “We’ve seen him do that already. He’s played pretty well in a limited opportunity at the major league level. He’s played really well in the minors, and he’s going on 26 and this is a big opportunity for him.

“I think he’s kind of earned the right to get a lot of at-bats in the corner outfield and in the DH spot, specifically against right-handed pitching. But long term, this guy when we took him, one of the best hitters in college baseball and he can hit left-handed pitching. But the big leagues are tough and that’s why we’re putting together a team that has some right-handed options, as well.”

SARASOTA, Fla. – The Opening Day roster for the Orioles isn’t going to include infielder Jorge Mateo. The fastest player in camp made a speedy exit from it.

On the first workout day, executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias confirmed that Mateo is making progress but probably won’t get enough at-bats to be ready on March 27 in Toronto.

“He’s doing a hitting progression, hitting buildup,” Elias said. “He’s playing catch. Everything’s going well, but he’s likely to be held back in camp. Probably not somebody we’re going to see in Grapefruit League until very, very late in camp and that will probably put him in a position where he’s unlikely to make the Opening Day roster, but we anticipate him being a huge part of this team. He’s gonna be back in the early part of the season, hopefully not too long after Opening Day. But he’s in a very good spot.”

Mateo underwent ligament-repair surgery on his left elbow on Aug. 28 after suffering a severe dislocation in a collision with shortstop Gunnar Henderson. He could have given the team a seventh infielder and right-handed hitting backup in the outfield.

The Orioles signed Mateo to a $3.55 million contract with a $5.5 million club option for 2026 to avoid an arbitration hearing. They missed his speed and defense last summer, but he hit .229/.267/.401 in 68 games.

Pitchers and catchers have officially reported to spring training! And in just a short while, the full Orioles squad will report to Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. 

Annie Klaff and I, the hosts of the MASN Orioles podcast “The Bird’s Nest,” will be joining them to put a camera in their faces, a practice that players and coaches have surely been lamentably deprived of all offseason. We’ll be providing lots of content on our MASN Orioles social pages, and I hope you’ll follow along. 

On this week’s episode of “The Bird’s Nest,” Annie and I discussed the top storylines that we’ll be keeping an eye on. For a more in-depth analysis of these topics, you can check out the full podcast here.

How will the new free agent signings fit?

Of course, the free agents that the Orioles acquired this offseason will have huge impacts on the field. At spring training, we will get glimpses of what that may be, but we’ll need to wait for 1 of 162 to start to get a better idea. Instead, this first stretch of play offers us an opportunity to have a glimpse inside the clubhouse. Will veterans like Charlie Morton and Tyler O’Neill be immediate vocal leaders? Or will they lead by their example rather than words? How will they mesh with the well-established young core that has had spots reserved in the locker room for many seasons? These are all questions that we will begin to get answers to. 

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.

SARASOTA, Fla. - Eight of the Orioles’ spring training games will air on MASN, exceeding last year’s total by one.

The eight games are an even split between the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota and road trips. Two of the eight will be played at night. The broadcasts will be done remotely from Baltimore.

The first televised game is the opener against the Pirates on Feb. 22 at 1 p.m. at Ed Smith Stadium. The last broadcast in Florida is March 22 against the Pirates in Bradenton, the team’s shortest drive of the spring.

Here’s the complete list:

Feb 22 (1 p.m.) - Pirates at Orioles
March 1 (1 p.m.) - Pirates at Orioles
March 3 (1 p.m.) - Red Sox at Orioles
March 10 (6 p.m.) - Orioles at Pirates
March 11 (1 p.m.) - Orioles at Yankees
March 17 (1 p.m.) - Orioles at Red Sox
March 20 (6 p.m.) - Yankees at Orioles
March 22 (1 p.m.) - Orioles at Pirates

SARASOTA, Fla. - Nick Markakis and Zack Britton have returned to the Orioles – to serve as spring training guest coaches.

They aren’t making a comeback.

Nine former Orioles will report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota to instruct the current players:

Scott McGregor – Feb. 12-22
Ben McDonald – Feb. 18-22
Zack Britton – Feb. 18-20
Brian Roberts – Feb. 24-28
J.J. Hardy – Feb. 20-26
Adam Jones – Feb. 24-March 7
Al Bumbry – March 1-5
John Shelby – March 6-10
Nick Markakis – March 6-10

Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. isn’t on the list, but he’s expected to make an appearance in camp. Ripken joined the ownership group headed by David Rubinstein.

The Orioles today announced that they have invited nine former players to serve as guest coaches at major league Spring Training in Sarasota, Fla. The list includes Zack Britton, Al Bumbry, J.J. Hardy, Adam Jones, Nick Markakis, Ben McDonald, Scott McGregor, Brian Roberts, and John Shelby. Bumbry, Hardy, Markakis, McGregor, and Roberts are members of the Orioles Hall of Fame, and Jones is a Special Advisor to the General Manager and Community Ambassador. Together, the guest coaches have 14 All-Star selections, 10 Gold Gloves, and three Silver Slugger Awards. A complete list of guest coaches and dates is below:

Guest Coach                       Dates

Scott McGregor                February 12-22                  

Ben McDonald                 February 18-22

SARASOTA, Fla. - The due date has arrived for Orioles pitchers and catchers. They’re required to report today unless they have visa issues. There’s usually one in every crowd.

Not that the complex has been empty. Players arrive early, including the ones rehabbing from surgery. Physicals are taken and the back fields are occupied. Tossing a baseball back and forth in the morning feeds the senses.

The media gains access early Thursday. It isn’t like those Fort Lauderdale days when beat writers and columnists stood inside the clubhouse and waited for someone to show up with their bags. They’d usually just phone the manager and say, “I’m here.”

They meant the state of Florida. Guys weren’t in a big hurry to check into the outdated and dilapidated facility.

Beyond some roster competitions this spring, and there don’t appear to be many, is the battle for the Opening Day start. This is assuming that a decision isn’t already made and spring performances could factor into it.

Sarasota County Government’s annual economic report, which took place from July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024, found that the Orioles generated more than $76 million in economic impact and produced more than 1,080 jobs in the state of Florida, including an impact of more than $61 million and 1,030 jobs in Sarasota County.

The analysis measures the total impact generated by the Orioles’ year-round operations in Sarasota, highlighted by the team’s Spring Training efforts, minor league training facility, and numerous events at Ed Smith Stadium and the Buck O'Neil Baseball Complex.

“As an organization, some of the most important things that we do are those that go beyond the playing field,” said CATIE GRIGGS, Orioles President of Business Operations. “Our impact in Sarasota and the State of Florida, both from an economic and community standpoint, are great examples of that. It is something that we are very proud of and look forward to expanding in the future.”

In addition to their Spring Training operations, the Orioles make it a priority to give back to the Sarasota community. This past fall, in response to the devastating impact of Hurricane Milton, the Orioles partnered with the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to support relief efforts through Season of Sharing, a long-running initiative that provides support to neighbors in need. The Orioles committed an initial $250,000 and encouraged their players, coaches, fans, and front office staff to donate, matching every additional dollar raised up to another $250,000. In total, the Orioles’ efforts raised more than $1.2 million to aid those impacted and support ongoing relief efforts. In an effort to provide additional, long-term support all net proceeds from the Orioles’ 2025 Spring Training 50/50 raffle will be donated to All Faiths Food Bank.

Ed Smith Stadium was also used as a staging area for Florida Power & Light, while the Twins Lakes Complex was used as a staging site for forestry operations and emergency staff meal preparation.

Baltimore’s plans for the 2024 season drastically changed in August of 2023. 

After 56 games as the best reliever in baseball, Félix Bautista walked off the mound after missing with 102 up and away. The then 28-year-old had just one strike to go to finish out his appearance against the Rockies. Instead, The Mountain’s season was over. As was his 2024. 

Bautista’s 6 '8 void was never going to be filled by just one pitcher. 

Baltimore added a 2023 All-Star in Craig Kimbrel to be their primary closer. Kimbrel, after posting a 2.80 ERA in the first half, struggled mightily once the calendar hit mid-July. And at the deadline, the O’s acquired Seranthony Domínguez and Gregory Soto from the Phillies. The duo combined to appear in 48 games with Domínguez saving 10. Despite performing well, it would have been a stretch to hope that they could replicate Bautista’s 1.48 ERA from the season prior. 

Ultimately, the only pitcher that can replicate the dominance of Bautista is the man himself, and the O’s weren’t able to replicate his dominance in 2024. Coming off Tommy John surgery, it may take a little while longer to truly see Bautista back to pitching like only The Mountain can. 

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• INF Emmanuel Rivera has cleared outright waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk. He has been invited to major league Spring Training.
• Agreed to terms on a 2025 minor league contract with RHP Dylan Coleman. He has been invited to major league Spring Training.

Kids say the darndest things, don’t they?

A question-and-answer session with Orioles fans at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery left the door open for all sorts of wild sound bites. For the kids asking Jackson Holliday questions, queries ranged from why the phenom wanted to play baseball to his pets at home. His dog is named Coconut, for the record.  

“Jackson, are you a grown man?” asked a fan no older than 6, as laughter filled the room. Holliday met the question with a chuckle.  

After being selected first overall in the MLB Draft out of high school in 2022, the phenom rose to the major leagues just two years later. So by major league standards, the former top prospect is far from “grown.”  

Entering the 2024 season, Holliday was the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball. The former first-overall pick had a meteoric rise through the minor leagues in 2023, soaring through four different levels of the farm in 125 total games. Expectations for 2024 couldn’t have been higher. It was almost impossible for the numbers to match the hype.  

The opportunities to empty the offseason mailbag are dwindling. Spring training is right around the corner. Who’s excited?

That’s my only question. The rest must come from the readers.

You ask, I try to answer, and we have the latest sequel to the beloved 2008 original.

I don’t tamper with length, style, clarity or brevity. I usually don’t bother to shower. This is a very casual mailbag.

Also, my mailbag reports early and yours has visa problems and a maxed-out AMEX card.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Claimed RHP Roansy Contreras off waivers from the New York Yankees.
• Designated OF Daz Cameron for assignment.
• INF Luis Vázquez has cleared outright waivers and been assigned to Triple-A Norfolk. He has been invited to major league Spring Training.

The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.

The Orioles outfield is crowded. 

Three everyday starters occupy patches of grass in left, center, and right field. As the 4th outfielder, how can one of the best prospects in the game prove himself without consistent at-bats? 

If this conversation about Heston Kjerstad sounds familiar, it’s because I wasn’t talking about Heston Kjerstad. It’s the conversation that many of us were having at this time last year surrounding Colton Cowser.  

Austin Hays was fresh off an All-Star campaign in 2023. Cedric Mullins hadn’t relinquished his grasp on his center field role since his breakout season in 2021. Anthony Santander had played over 300 games in 2022 and 2023, combining for 61 home runs and a .785 OPS. The starting outfield was set in proverbial stone.  

If Colton Cowser was going to prove himself at the big league level, he was going to have to earn his playing time.  

The Orioles have constructed a full 40-man roster with a revolving door at the end of it.

They began January by signing veteran starter Charlie Morton and designating catcher René Pinto for assignment. The Diamondbacks claimed Pinto on waivers. The Orioles claimed pitcher Roansy Contreras and designated infielder Liván Soto, who was outrighted after clearing waivers. They signed reliever Andrew Kittredge and designated catcher Blake Hunt before trading him to the Mariners. They claimed infielder Jacob Amaya and designated Contreras, who was claimed by the Yankees. They signed outfielder Dylan Carlson and designated Amaya, and they acquired infielder Luis Vazquez in a trade with the Cubs and designated infielder Emmanuel Rivera.

This brings us to February.

The White Sox claimed Amaya, and Vazquez was designated when the Orioles signed outfielder Ramón Laureano. We aren’t even a week into the month.

Let’s take the latest look at the 40-man roster, which used to contain four catchers but now holds seven outfielders.

Unlike your neighbor’s golden retriever, Zach Eflin despises walks. 

“I hate giving people a free pass … It really comes down to… I don’t like giving in to guys and just letting them take first base,” Eflin said with a smile in his first interaction with Baltimore reporters after being traded to the O’s back in July.

The right-hander went on to toss over 55 innings for the Orioles in the second half of last season. In that stretch, Eflin only walked 11 batters. The veteran’s aptitude for limiting free passes helped him allow just 16 total earned runs in his nine starts in Orioles orange. 

Nearly 100 pitchers in baseball had a fastball of at least 95 mph last season, but Eflin doesn’t pitch that way. The righty boasts a six-pitch arsenal, but none exceed an average of 93 mph. He won’t rack up the strikeout numbers, nor tout a huge whiff rate. 

Eflin excels at commanding the strike zone. His 3.5% walk rate put him in the 98th percentile in the majors in 2024. And when he did move out of the zone, he did so intentionally, to the tune of a 32.6% chase rate according to Statcast, good for the 88th percentile in baseball. 

The Orioles today announced that they have invited 26 non-roster players to MLB Spring Training in Sarasota, Fla. The list includes 10 right-handed pitchers, two left-handed pitchers, four catchers, five infielders, and five outfielders. A complete list of the Orioles’ 26 non-roster players for 2025 Spring Training is below:

Pitchers (12)

LHP Raúl Alcantara
RHP Justin Armbruester
RHP Matt Bowman
LHP Jakob Hernandez
RHP Yaramil Hiraldo
RHP Corbin Martin
RHP Robinson Martínez
RHP Rodolfo Martinez
RHP Levi Stoudt
RHP Carlos Tavera
RHP Thaddeus Ward
RHP Nathan Webb

Catchers (4)

Silas Ardoin
David Bañuelos
Samuel Basallo
Maverick Handley