Orioles' first exhibition lineup, Young enjoying first camp experience (with Sugano update)

SARASOTA, Fla. – Gunnar Henderson is batting leadoff this afternoon and Jackson Holliday is the second baseman for today’s exhibition opener against the Pirates at Ed Smith Stadium.

Left fielder Dylan Carlson is the only player in the lineup who isn’t projected to make the Opening Day roster, though he’s competing for a job.

Cedric Mullins is batting second. Jordan Westburg is playing third base and batting third. Ryan O’Hearn is the cleanup hitter and designated hitter.

Ramón Laureano is in right field.

Gary Sánchez is catching Albert Súarez.

Gunnar Henderson SS
Cedric Mullins CF
Jordan Westburg 3B
Ryan O'Hearn DH
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Gary Sánchez C
Jackson Holliday 2B
Ramón Laureano RF
Dylan Carlson LF

The game airs on MASN at 1 p.m.

Pitchers behind Súarez include Keegan Akin, Bryan Baker, Corbin Martin, Justin Armbruester and Kade Stroud.

Cade Povich starts Sunday against the Phillies in Clearwater. Brandon Young will follow him.

Young has emerged as the No. 20 prospect in the organization per Baseball America after making 20 appearances with Triple-A Norfolk last summer and posting a 3.44 ERA with 96 strikeouts and only seven home runs surrendered in 89 innings.

“It was just awesome to have a healthy season after Tommy John, a second one,” Young said. “So just to have a full, healthy season was really nice. I’m just glad I could finish it on a good note.”

Executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias referred to Young last year as being “on the radar,” though the right-hander failed to make his major league debut. Pitcher Chayce McDermott shared the quote with Young.

“One day he’s like, ‘Hey, Mike said this about you,’” Young said. “It was cool, just to know that I’m trending on the right path and keep doing what I’m doing.”

The Orioles put Young on the 40-man roster to protect him in the Rule 5 draft. He’s in major league camp for the first time.

“I think just taking it day by day, enjoying the opportunity that I have,” he said. “Maybe competing for a job, like most of us are here. I’m not mad if I go back to Norfolk. That’s kind of what I’m expecting, but I think to learn and know what I’m good at and take it to the next level.

“It’s been awesome, it’s been enjoyable. Just trying to take it day by day and take some stuff off the older guys. Just talking, hear what they do, how they do stuff, and how they throw so many innings every year.”

Young has talked to Zach Eflin but he’s especially locked into 41-year-old Charlie Morton.

“This is his 18^th season, he’s been throwing 160 innings the past however many years,” said Young, who’s 15 years younger. “Just kind of picking up on what he’s got. It’s pretty cool. He’s a really humble guy.”

Update: The first exhibition start for Tomoyuki Sugano is coming next week.

Sugano will face the Pirates Wednesday afternoon in Bradenton in the Orioles’ fifth spring training game.

Left-hander Cade Povich starts Sunday against the Phillies in Clearwater and Dean Kremer starts Wednesday against the Braves in Sarasota. The Orioles haven’t announced their Tuesday plans against the Tigers at Ed Smith Stadium.

The Phillies are starting Tyler Phillips and the Braves are starting Reynaldo López.

Sugano has thrown two bullpen sessions and was on the stadium mound yesterday for live batting practice. He could have another session leading up to the Pirates game.

"I thought the command was really good and showed really good secondary pitches," manager Brandon Hyde said of Sugano's live BP. "His split-finger was excellent yesterday. His first time in a live BP, so you don't put too much stock in it, but I love that he was all around the strike zone."

Seven right-handed pitchers are in Sarasota today as extras: Yaqui Rivera, Gerald Ogando, Dylan Heid, Nick Richmond, Logan Rinehart, Peter Van Loon and Keagan Gillies.

Charlie Morton, who wasn't in camp a few days ago due to an illness, threw a bullpen session today with Povich and Thaddeus Ward.

Jorge Mateo performed some infield drills.