Orioles notes, quotes and anecdotes

SARASOTA, Fla. - In evaluating young left-hander Josh Rogers, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde can't afford to become distracted. Not for a second.

Divert your eyes and another batter is retired. Another inning is completed.

"I tell you what, if you go to get a drink with Josh Rogers on the mound, you better have your head up with your eyes on the field because you're going to miss about 10 pitches," Hyde said.

"The tempo is unbelievable. He gets the ball and goes, he gets on the rubber and goes. He's probably had the quickest innings of anybody this spring."

They were a blur yesterday while Rogers retired all six batters he faced. A ground ball, fly ball and pop up in the sixth, and two line drives and a pop up in the seventh.

Get the ball back from the catcher, peer in for the sign and fire away.

"I just love his aggressiveness," Hyde said. "I love his tempo, the defense loves his tempo. We're back hitting in about 30 seconds when he gets on the mound. So yeah, I'm impressed by just how aggressive he is attacking hitters."

It's more than pace, though. Rogers has worked five scoreless innings in three appearances, with two hits allowed and one walk, as he tries to win a job in the back end of the rotation.

Rogers made three starts with the Orioles last summer after arriving from the Yankees in the Zach Britton trade and gave up 11 runs and 17 hits in 11 2/3 innings. Former manager Buck Showalter shut him down due to his total innings for the season.

He seems pretty fresh so far this spring.

* Rule 5 infielder Richie Martin hasn't done anything to hurt his chances of going north with the club and perhaps being the starting shortstop on opening day.

With two more hits yesterday, Martin is 5-for-10 with two doubles, three RBIs and two stolen bases. He's also showing his athleticism in the field.

"Great talent," said veteran outfielder Eric Young Jr. "He's got all the tools in the world. Now it's just a matter of going out there and relaxing when he plays.

"Showed up (yesterday), had a great day. Now it's a matter of being more consistent with it, but I think the sky's the limit with that kid."

* Austin Hays and Andrew Susac hit solo home runs last night against the Yankees in Tampa, and left-hander John Means tossed two scoreless and hitless innings after an unfortunate debut Tuesday afternoon.

The Orioles took a 2-0 lead into the ninth inning, but D.J. Snelten walked two batters and the Yankees scored on Rashad Crawford's single off Luis Gonzalez. The game ended in a 2-2 tie.

Joey Rickard and Yusniel Diaz each went 0-for-3, but Hays didn't cool down.

Ryan Mountcastle, starting at first base, is 1-for-13 this spring after going 0-for-3.

Renato Núñez committed two throwing errors. He's been off the mark a few other times that didn't show up in the box score.

Left-hander Chris Lee didn't allow a run in 1 2/3 innings, but the Yankees had two hits and two walks against him. Lucas Long stranded two inherited runners with two strikeouts.

* A firm date hasn't been set for Mark Trumbo to make his exhibition debut, but he indicated to me a few days ago that March 12 is a realistic possibility.

Trumbo is being held back after undergoing a complicated surgical procedure on his right knee in September to repair damaged cartilage. He's handling a variety of baseball activities and continues to pass each test.

Getting into games in a few weeks still could allow Trumbo to accumulate the necessary at-bats - he'd ideally like 25-30 - to be ready on opening day. The Orioles can get creative and set up games on the back fields and at Twin Lakes Park, perhaps allowing him to lead off each inning.

It's important that Trumbo be able to play on back-to-back days.

The Orioles open the regular season on March 28 at Yankee Stadium. Their final exhibition game is played three days earlier.

* Left-hander Josh Osich threw live batting practice yesterday and is getting closer to finally making his spring debut.

You may recall that the Orioles claimed Osich off waivers from the Giants on Feb. 19 to give them five left-handed relievers on the 40-man roster. They designated infielder Hanser Alberto for assignment and the Giants claimed him three days later.

Wouldn't it have been easier to just work out a trade?

There are four lefties on the 40-man after the Orioles claimed Alberto again yesterday and designated Donnie Hart for assignment.

Left-handers have posted a .228 average against Osich and right-handers have hit .294. Every bullpen can use a lefty specialist, though managers also covet pitchers who can go multiple hitters.

* I have to keep reminding myself that catcher Austin Wynns was a rookie in 2018 and has played in only 42 games in the majors.

Maybe it's a combination of his age (28), maturity and outgoing personality. He's a take-charge guy behind the plate and following bullpen and live batting practice sessions.

Wynns offered some solid advice to a reliever after a round of live BP on the Camden Yards field. Challenging him to name anyone who's able to hit a certain pitch and imploring him to throw it more often.

The message seemed to land.

* Mike Wright makes his second spring start and third appearance today, as the Orioles continue their love affair with Fort Myers by again heading down I-75. A second trip to play the Red Sox after facing the Twins on Monday.

They return to Hammond Stadium on Monday to play the Twins. Meanwhile, Bradenton is 20 minutes away and the Orioles go there twice. But I digress ...

Wright hasn't allowed a run in four innings. He's surrendered five hits, walked a batter and struck out two.

Fresh eyes getting a lot of looks at Wright while the Orioles decide whether to start him, return him to the bullpen or perhaps move on from him.

* Major League Baseball announced yesterday that left-hander Willie Rios has been suspended 50 games without pay following a second positive test for a drug of abuse.

Rios, a 16th-round pick in 2016 out of Florida SouthWestern State College, was 2-4 with a 5.32 ERA and 1.66 WHIP in 12 games (nine starts) with short-season Single-A Aberdeen.