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.
Is there a starting rotation battle?
Zach Eflin and Grayson Rodriguez figure to be the two O’s starters most likely to get the nod on Opening Day. Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano were brought in to be immediate contributors, and Dean Kremer has been a mainstay in the five-man rotation for years. Is there a conversation to be had about pitchers like Cade Povich, Trevor Rogers and Albert Suárez? With Mike Elias stating that Baltimore will most likely start the season with just five pitchers in the starting rotation, one of that group of three may need to come out on fire this spring for a six-man conversation to heat up.
How about an outfielder battle?
How many spots are available in the outfield on the Opening Day roster? Health may play a large factor. If Jorge Mateo finds himself on the injured-list, as Elias alluded to as a possibility at Birdland Caravan, the O’s could carry five outfielders to break camp. That would still leave, presumably, only two spots for Ramón Laureano, Dylan Carlson and Heston Kjerstad. A strong spring from any of them will go a long way in determining who those spots go to. If only four outfielder spots are available, with just one up for grabs, that competition gets a lot more fiery.
How will Sugano acclimate to the majors?
Folding into our discussion about the new free agents, we’re confident that Sugano will have an impact on winning in 2025. But let’s not forget about the human element in the case of Sugano, a pitcher who has played in Japan for the last dozen years. At 35 years old, Sugano now comes to the major leagues, having to acclimate through language and cultural barriers. The O’s have a great clubhouse and will welcome him with open arms, but a move like that would surely be challenging for anyone, professional baseball player or otherwise.
Good ol’ fashioned injury updates
It’s no mystery that the Orioles were decimated by injuries last season. Many of those players, like Rodriguez and Colton Cowser, seem to be on a great trajectory for a normal spring. Others, like Félix Bautista and Mateo, may be limited. And how were the offseasons of Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells? We’re excited to find out.
Can Coby Mayo flash his upside?
Finding a spot for Coby Mayo on the O’s Opening Day roster is a lot like the middle stretch of a jigsaw puzzle. The edges are all done and the obvious parts are in place. Now, you’re left with shapes that are harder to find places for, but you know they’ll fit eventually. Mayo profiles as a great big league player, but how soon will his time come?
You can tune into “The Bird’s Nest” every Wednesday at 11 a.m. on our MASN Orioles Facebook and YouTube pages, or after the fact on any of your favorite podcast platforms. We hope you’ll join us as we break down more offseason storylines and get ready for another great season of Orioles baseball.