Rutschman, Kjerstad, Cowser headline next minicamp (plus notes)

With the pitching minicamp wrapping up over the weekend in Sarasota, the Orioles are ready to conduct two others geared toward hitters in their organization.

The breakdown puts more experienced and higher-profile prospects in the first camp, which begins on Friday, followed next Tuesday by a gathering of newer, younger players.

The initial wave will consist of first-round selections Adley Rutschman, Heston Kjerstad and Colton Cowser, along with Kyle Stowers, Gunnar Henderson, Jordan Westburg, Robert Neustrom and Patrick Dorrian. This could be a sneak preview of the non-roster invite list for major league spring training.

A few of the Orioles' major league coaches will be involved only in this camp. The one that follows will have personnel from the minor league side, including hitting instructors and fundamental coaches.

Cowser and Kjerstad are expected to stay through both camps. It's a significant development with Kjerstad, who hasn't appeared in a professional game after his diagnosis of myocarditis that followed the 2020 draft. He was cleared to participate in the fall instructional camp and hit live pitching, with the reports being quite favorable, and the Orioles seem to be leaning toward extending an invitation to major league camp.

An assignment to Twin Lakes Park had been assumed, but never confirmed.

The last minicamp this month also will feature Connor Norby, a second-round pick in 2021, and Coby Mayo, a fourth-rounder in 2020.

It's going to be heavy in 2021 draft selections, including outfielder John Rhodes (third round), outfielder Donta' Williams (fourth), shortstop Collin Burns (sixth), catcher Connor Pavolony (seventh), catcher Creed Willems (eighth), first baseman Jacob Teter (13th) and outfielder Trendon Craig (20th).

Shortstop Adam Hall and first basemen TT Bowens and Andrew Daschbach also will be there. Hall was a second-round pick in 2017.

Cuban infielder César Prieto, who received a $650,000 bonus during the international signing period and is expected to join a mid-range or upper-level affiliate, also will work out in Sarasota.

The Orioles will have some rehabbing players at the complex, including Double-A shortstop Joey Ortiz, who already began a hitting progression after undergoing surgery in July to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.

The first camp was held for pitchers drafted in 2021 and others signed as undrafted free agents.

* Left-hander DL Hall, the No. 3 prospect in the organization, tweeted yesterday that he was "toeing the rubber for the first time in about eight months."

Hall, the 21st overall pick in the 2017 draft out of Valdosta (Ga.) High School, appeared in seven games with Bowie last summer before the Orioles shut him down with a stress reaction his left elbow. He posted a 3.13 ERA and 1.011 WHIP and struck out 56 batters in 31 2/3 innings.

Hall participated in the fall instructional camp in Sarasota and has gradually been able to ramp up his activity.

Because Hall is on the 40-man roster, the Orioles can't reach out to him during the lockout and must settle for tracking his social media accounts.

* Other minor leaguers who experienced health setbacks also are making significant progress, including Stowers, who was sent home from the Arizona Fall League due to back soreness.

Pitcher Brenan Hanifee, a fourth-round pick in 2016 who underwent ulnar collateral ligament reconstructive surgery on his right elbow on May 26, is throwing on flat ground from 60 feet. Pitcher Carter Baumler, a fifth-rounder in 2020 who had the same procedure done by Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas, is experiencing a normal offseason and remains in Sarasota.

Shortstop Anthony Servideo, a third-round pick in 2020 who underwent season-ending surgery in July to repair a sports hernia, and outfielder Hudson Haski, a second-rounder that year who fractured his thumb in August, are full-go. First baseman JD Mundy's broken finger has healed and he's participating in the second minicamp for hitters. Outfielder Elio Prado has recovered from a fractured shin.

* The Orioles drained their $6,262,600 allotment of bonus money for the international signing period, but a few deals weren't completed until yesterday.

Baseball America tracked three more signings: Dominican right-handers Ronal Herrera and Miguel Mesa and outfielder Juan Martinez.

Martinez received $125,000 and Mesa $35,000, according to a person with direct knowledge of the signings.

Deals still can be struck for $10,000 or less, which doesn't count against the allotment. Herrera falls into that category.

The number of reported signings rose to 27, with 15 from the Dominican, 10 from Venezuela, one from Panama and one from Cuba. Nine are pitchers.

* Outfielder Doran Turchin, drafted by the Orioles in the 14th round in 2018 out of the University of Illinois, announced his retirement yesterday on social media.

Turchin, 24, batted .209/.313/.366 with 38 doubles, four triples, 17 home runs and 84 RBIs in 180 minor league games. He played for three affiliates last summer and batted a combined .216/.328/.405 with 15 doubles and nine home runs at Bowie and Single-A Delmarva and Aberdeen.

Thirteen games with the IronBirds proved the most productive, with Turchin going 14-for-44 (.318) with a .990 OPS in 55 plate appearances. He was placed on the injured list Sept. 10, a week after his final game.