Leftovers for breakfast

The Orioles haven’t announced their non-roster invites to major league spring training, but it must be on this month’s agenda. A list that can be updated later depending on future transactions.

They didn’t need to protect Jackson Holliday, Connor Norby and Coby Mayo in the Rule 5 draft, with the latter two eligible next winter. All three could be added to the 40-man roster this year to eliminate that task.

They were camp invites last year, with no chance of heading north for Opening Day. Holliday seems to have the best shot this spring despite his age and limited experience at Triple-A Norfolk. Norby and Mayo are waiting for their opportunities and hopeful that the Orioles can make room.

Norby is a second baseman with some corner outfield starts. Mayo is a corner infielder who appears blocked by Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg and others at third base and Ryan Mountcastle and Ryan O’Hearn at first.

Mayo also will be working out in right field, a new position for him. Can’t hurt to try it and maybe provide another way to get him on the roster.

Agent Roger Tomas said Mayo isn’t worried about his cluttered path to the majors or the Orioles’ handling of him as others debut.

“I’ve shown him enough examples of, when guys get rushed and they’re not ready, it could affect them for a few years, maybe the duration of their careers,” Tomas said. “It could be a mental hiccup that they don’t get out of.

“Part of our job as agents I feel like is to get the players to understand the business side of things, so they understand the concept of, control what you can control. I’ve always told these hitters, if you hit, they’ll find a spot for you. At the end of the day, the game’s about two things – producing runs and saving runs, right? You’re getting on base, you’re scoring runs, you’re getting runs in, believe me, they’ll figure out a way to get you in the lineup.”

* Tomas has known Mike Elias since the Orioles’ executive worked as scouting director in the Astros organization.

“He’s always done a good job of drafting,” Tomas said. “Whether it’s him, whether it’s Sig (Mejdal), whether it’s a combination of three or four people, they’ve done a really, really good job.

“It starts with drafting. One thing is, I get the development as you get to the upper levels and stuff like that, but ultimately, you still have to draft the right types of players. And they’re certainly doing it.”

Mayo was paid over-slot to sign as a fourth-round pick in 2020, after outfielder Heston Kjerstad was chosen second overall and Westburg had his name called in the Competitive Balance A round.

Outfielder Hudson Haskin, the system’s No. 17 prospect in MLB Pipeline rankings, was selected in the second round. He was left exposed in the Rule 5 draft and stayed in the organization after dealing with more injuries last summer.

Norby, a second-round pick in 2021 behind outfielder Colton Cowser, batted .290 with an .842 OPS, 40 doubles, three triples, 21 home runs and 92 RBIs in 138 games with Triple-A Norfolk. Outfielder/infielder Billy Cook, chosen in the 10^th round, hit 24 homers and drove in 81 runs last season with Double-A Bowie.

The 2019 draft will go down as one of the finest in history with Elias taking catcher Adley Rutschman first overall, but also Henderson 42^nd, outfielder Kyle Stowers 71^st and infielder Joey Ortiz 108^th. Shortstop Darell Hernaiz, selected in the fifth round at 138 overall, was traded to Oakland last January for left-hander Cole Irvin and minor league pitcher Kyle Virbitsky.

Farm systems attain high rankings by hitting on selections below the first round.

“You need that,” Tomas said. “I think organizations are realizing the importance of drafting and player development just from a balancing out of the big league roster, whether it’s via trade or promoting certain prospects to blend in with your veteran guys.

“If I was a GM, the more options I have, the better. I’m sure for these prospects, they don’t always see it that way, but at the end of the day, I’ve always told all these guys, these teams have a job to do and that’s to run their organization to win ballgames. It’s not to please you, it’s not to make sure that everything is done your way so you get promoted and can put up your numbers and then you get paid. If it was that easy, I probably wouldn’t have a job.”

* Mayo isn't the only member of the Orioles organization working out at TBT Training in Boca Raton, Fla. Reliever Nick Vespi, who got engaged to girlfriend Danielle during the holiday break, also joins the group.

“He’s doing well, he’s great,” said Tom Flynn, the facility’s director of strength and conditioning.

Center fielder Enrique Bradfield Jr., the Orioles’ first-round pick in 2023, also can be found at TBT Training.

“He hits in our facility but he trains at another facility closer to home,” Flynn said. “He’s a little bit south of us. But he’s been up here hitting.

“TBT Training just opened another facility south of here in Margate, Fla. I know he’s been over there a little bit.”

* The college football overtime format needs to be abolished.

Just like Alabama's last play call and the person responsible for it.