Cue the Orioles curiosities as camp continues

The Orioles made their first round of cuts and none of them were surprising. They must get down to 26 players by opening day and the roster holds 68, including outfielder Heston Kjerstad, who hasn't been cleared for workouts. The time was ripe for some trimming.

There's still lots of work to be done.

Starters are getting their second turns. More pitchers are going to be stretched out. Players are rotating to other positions. The usual camp activity.

Many of the curiosities that I shared prior to the report date remain alive.

We still don't know whether manager Brandon Hyde will keep 13 or 14 pitchers, which obviously impacts his bench. Whether he's comfortable with only three reserves.

We don't know how many positions Jahmai Jones is going to play. He's been used only at second base, but also could be in the outfield group for drills that are closed to the media.

Jones hasn't been moving around the infield during games, which lessens the possibility of the Orioles assigning him to a utility role. They'd like to keep him focused on second base.

We don't know whether Rylan Bannon is a platoon option with Rio Ruiz at third base or the starting third baseman with Triple-A Norfolk.

Bannon is expected to be optioned and work out at the alternate camp site until the Tides start their season in early May, but we're waiting for confirmation.

Ruiz is 1-for-12 and fighting to keep his job.

We don't know whether Félix Hernández has anything left in the tank. He's made only one start and his fastball sat in the mid-80s while he allowed two runs over two innings against the Tigers.

Hernández said his velocity will increase later in the spring and he'll be more effective attacking the strike zone. We're waiting for confirmation.

We don't know whether Chris Davis' new stance and approach at the plate are working.

Davis has appeared in one game and received two at-bats before soreness in his lower back sent him to the trainers' room and now a specialist. His day-to-day status is being stretched.

I don't know if the same is true of his back.

The Orioles could place Davis on the 60-day injured list later this spring to clear spots on the active and 40-man rosters. If DJ Stewart's improving hamstring is pushing his return to next week, Davis' back figures to keep him off the field for a longer period.

We haven't learned more about Alexander Wells because he's been unable to pitch after reporting to camp with a sore oblique.

Wells wasn't going to make the club. He's also bound for the alternate site and Norfolk.

A few of my curiosities posted over the last three months have been satisfied. Let's play "then and now."

Curiosity: "I'm going to wonder whether Trey Mancini spends more time at first base or in right field."

Outcome: Mancini is alternating between first base and designated hitter, with a break in between starts. Mancini could move to right late in camp, but Hyde hasn't deviated from the plan.

Curiosity: "Can Cedric Mullins carry the lessons from the alternate camp site into 2021?"

Outcome: He's done it in Florida. Mullins doubled yesterday and is 7-for-18, and he's a lock if healthy to make the opening day roster. And he should be doing more than serving as a fourth outfielder.

There are plenty of center field starts coming to him.

Curiosity: "I'm going to wonder whether César Valdez gets any consideration as a starter after his dominant stint in winter ball and the Caribbean Series."

Outcome: Valdez has been used only in relief, striking out the side in his one inning. Hyde wants to stretch him out for bulk work, but he doesn't appear to be a rotation candidate as we move into the second half of spring training.

Curiosity: "Will Josh Rogers be invited to spring training?"

Outcome: Rogers was a camp reserve and got into one game, allowing a run in the opener against the Pirates. He was in the first group of cuts, but made it back from a second elbow surgery, which is the most important development.

Curiosity: "Will the Orioles attempt to sign a veteran catcher before setting their camp roster?"

Outcome: They didn't.

Nick Ciuffo signed a minor league deal in December and isn't a veteran. Pedro Severino and Chance Sisco are the only catchers on the 40-man roster. Austin Wynns and Taylor Davis are camp invites, and Adley Rutschman, Brett Cumberland and Maverick Handley made it on the reserve list.

Cumberland has been optioned to Twin Lakes Park, where he already was stationed. Hyde seems committed to Severino and Sisco on opening day.

Curiosity: "I want to know whether Keegan Akin and Dean Kremer earned spots in the rotation or if they must be won in spring training."

Outcome: Those spots have to be won in camp.

Hyde made it clear that he wasn't handing jobs to the rookie duo. Got to earn them.

Will it happen? That's my expectation, and Kremer's three scoreless innings yesterday were timely. But the pressure is turned up with Hernández, Matt Harvey and Wade LeBlanc in camp, and the positive early results from Bruce Zimmermann and Jorge López.