Jordyn Adams happy with baseball decision (plus notes on Rogers, weekend pitchers, Sugano, Morton and more)

SARASOTA, Fla. – Jordyn Adams had a choice to make and he doesn’t regret the outcome.

Adams committed to the University of North Carolina to play baseball and football. He was a four- or five-star recruit as a wide receiver, depending on the source, but Major League Baseball viewed him as one of the top prospects in the 2018 draft.

The first decision for Adams involved picking a college, and the North Carolina native chose the Tar Heels over Alabama, Ohio State, LSU and Clemson. Still to come was whether to immerse himself in campus life or join a team’s farm system.

Adams never stepped foot on campus as a student. The Angels made him the 17^th overall pick, and the common perception was that he’d need to go in the first or maybe the second round to catch fly balls in center field instead of footballs on the gridiron.

The result so far is 28 games with the Angels over the past two seasons and a .176/.205/.216 slash line. He can play everywhere in the outfield and he’s hoping to play for the Orioles in 2025 after signing a minor league contract on Dec. 23.

Asked earlier this week what he wants to show in camp, Adams replied, “My talent.”

“I know what I can bring to the table. I’m not that person who kind of stacks myself up against other guys, because I know what I can do on the field. So I just try to bring that every day and prove it.”

The brief appearances in the majors still provided an important lesson.

“I’m just playing,” he said. “If you think about it too much, then the opportunity’s kind of going to pass you up. Now it’s just playing baseball.”

Football was a temptation, but he slipped through its grasp.

“It wasn’t really that tough of a decision,” he said. “I played baseball as my first sport that I picked up growing up, so it was nice to have the opportunity to come in and be a priority to a team. So that aspect made it pretty easy for me to make a decision.”

* Trevor Rogers continues to play catch every day to keep his arm in shape while recovering from a right kneecap subluxation.

“That feels close to normal,” he said this morning.

“It’s definitely progressing in the right direction. Still not off the mound yet, but kind of see how the next couple days go in the weight room and if that goes well, we’ll progress to the AlterG (antigravity treadmill), and then after that we’ll start running outside. And then hopefully we’ll start doing some dry reps off the mound in the next week. Hopefully, all goes according to plan.”

Rogers isn’t expected to be ready for Opening Day, but he’s staying patient and looking at the bigger picture.

“We’re just trying to check boxes every day and really just kind of taking it slow,” he said. “We’ve still got the whole season in front of us, so there’s no point in rushing. Hopefully, after everything’s said and done, I’ll be ready to go.

“It’s really tough. I want to go out there and compete and make a spot on the team, but I’ve got to be where my feet are. It’s probably one of my goals this year is to be where my feet are, and this is where I’m at right now and we’ll see what happens when the time comes.”

* Tomoyuki Sugano is throwing live batting practice later today for the first time on the stadium field.

Sugano completed his second bullpen session yesterday but threw only 13 pitches because of today’s schedule.

* Left-hander Cade Povich is starting Sunday afternoon’s game against the Phillies in Clearwater.

Albert Suárez starts the exhibition opener Saturday afternoon against the Pirates in Sarasota. Also scheduled to pitch are Keegan Akin, Bryan Baker, Corbin Martin, Justin Armbruester and Kade Strowd.

* Charlie Morton has returned to camp after being absent due to illness.

Manager Brandon Hyde said Morton is feeling better but not 100 percent.

* Former Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy is in camp as a guest instructor for the second spring in a row. Hardy will be here until Wednesday.

* The Orioles are allowing fans to watch workouts on the back fields on non-game days at Ed Smith Stadium through Sunday, March 23. Admission is free.

Workouts take place from approximately 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. each day. Complimentary parking is provided in the East Lot, and the team store and box office will be open daily from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.