Tate offers important addition from within to Orioles bullpen

SARASOTA, Fla. – “It’s a normal spring training at this point.”

Dillon Tate says these words in the most casual manner, without a hint of emotion in his voice or anything close to an expression. This is his usual delivery. Also quite normal for him.

The media and his Orioles teammates can make a bigger deal over Tate’s return from last year’s elbow and forearm injuries that kept him away from the active roster for the entire season.

About three weeks ago, Tate told the assembled media at Bowlero in Timonium, one of the last stops in the Birdland Caravan, that he reported early to camp and was ready to go. He smiled as he said it. An entire organization felt the same way.

Tate also described last season as a “whirlwind,” a kinder and gentler description than he could have provided. But he isn’t holding back during workouts, unleashing throws in warmups, popping the mitt in bullpen sessions and throwing live batting practice yesterday on the stadium mound.

The results, mainly tracked by people hungry to report and share any details after a long break from game action – one player in the clubhouse laughed at the play-by-play on the former Twitter – were mixed for Tate. He got a called third strike, as determined by someone other than a plate umpire, since the session didn’t include one, but also “walked” Jackson Holliday and allowed loud contact to Tyler Nevin and Adley Rutschman, the latter clearing the right-center field fence.

So what? Dillon Tate was pitching again and feeling like himself again.

The velocity looks good for the early days in camp but naturally will increase later. Pitchers aren’t going full throttle.

“That’ll come as I get more reps,” he said, “but it’s been like that in previous springs before.”

James McCann caught Tate’s initial bullpen session and came away impressed. McCann joined the Orioles last winter in a trade with the Mets and never got to set a target for Tate or watch someone else do it.

“I thought he looked really good,” McCann said. “We were together at the winter caravan, and we were talking. I had never seen him pitch in person. Maybe I have, but I don’t remember, having not played against the Orioles in ’22. So, I was excited to see what he had to offer, and I thought he looked good.

“First bullpen of the spring, he had a really good idea what he was trying to do. He located well, he made adjustments quickly. I’m excited to see what he’s going to bring to the table, and I think that’s a huge piece to add to our bullpen.”

The ‘pen appeared mostly set after the Orioles signed free agent closer Craig Kimbrel at the Winter Meetings to replace Félix Bautista, who won’t pitch this year following ligament-reconstructive elbow surgery. Competitions were pending for maybe a final spot, but that was before Tyler Wells and Cole Irvin became frontrunners to enter the rotation for Kyle Bradish and John Means, who are destined for the injured list. And before DL Hall was traded to the Brewers.

Tate has two minor league options left but also an improved chance to make the club as long as he’s healthy and back to resembling the reliever who in 2022 posted a career-low 3.05 ERA and a 0.991 WHIP in 73 2/3 innings.

“It’s huge,” center fielder Cedric Mullins said of Tate’s return. “What he contributed to the team that year was impressive. Having him back after dealing with a year full of injuries, he’s feeling good and in good form.”

The sinker gets hitters to pound the ball into the ground. A handy trait even with the left field fence pushed back at Camden Yards. A weapon that can induce double plays in critical junctures.

“We’ve got a good defense,” Mullins said. “Him getting a lot of ground balls for us, we’re going to scoop them up, and the occasional fly ball, he can trust his outfielders, as well.”

“He’s pretty unbelievable,” Means said. “He’s got that nasty sinker with a great changeup and slider to go with it. Every team would love to have him on theirs and I’m glad he’s on ours. To get him back, it just adds to our already very, very good bullpen.”