The likelihood of a lockout on Dec. 1 also threatens to push back and perhaps force an abbreviated spring training, which happened in 2022 with camps condensed to about four weeks.

No worries. That’s ample time to get way more excited about exhibition performances than warranted and spend way more time forcing players onto mock rosters who land in Triple-A or fade into free agency.

Right-hander Rodolfo Martinez was an early standout in 2025, becoming a running joke among media because of the obsession over every bullpen session and live batting practice. His fastball often hit 100-102 mph, and he claimed that it touched 104 in Japan.

The 30-year-old non-roster invitee threw live BP on the main field and struck out Enrique Bradfield Jr. and Samuel Basallo and retired Dylan Beavers on a fly ball. All of it was documented on social media, and with tremendous enthusiasm. He was viewed as a possible version of Albert Suárez, another hidden gem with a long and winding journey to the majors – except that Martinez allowed nine runs and walked six batters in 3 2/3 exhibition innings.

That’s one way to ruin a perfectly good story.

Martinez was reassigned to minor league camp and he kept struggling with his control, as he’s always done. He posted a 4.96 ERA and 1.959 WHIP in 16 relief appearances with Triple-A Norfolk, walking 15 and striking out 21 in 16 1/3 innings.

The 2026 season was spent in Mexico. I can’t confirm whether he topped 104 mph.

Why am I reminded of Martinez? Because the current group of Orioles minor league free agents includes right-hander Jackson Kowar and infielder Bryan Ramos. Plenty of keystrokes and ink were spent on them, as well.

Here’s the complete list posted by Baseball America:

RHP Luis Andújar (DSL)
RHP Jeisson Cabrera (AA)
RHP José Espada (AAA)
RHP Richard Guasch (AA)
RHP Codi Heuer (AAA)
RHP Jackson Kowar (AAA)
RHP Edgar Portes (AA)
RHP Luis Sánchez (A+)
RHP Colin Selby (AAA)
RHP Yosver Zulueta (AAA)
LHP Andrew Magno (AAA)
C Yohel Pozo (AAA)
1B Ryan Noda (AAA)
3B Bryan Ramos (AAA)
OF Frederick Bencosme (AA)
OF Heston Kjerstad (AAA)

Kowar is another hard-thrower who appeared in 39 games with the Royals between 2021-23, underwent Tommy John surgery in 2024 and pitched 15 times for the Mariners in 2025. The Orioles got him from the Twins in a cash transaction and he battled for a bullpen spot until the end, when they set the Opening Day roster and designated him for assignment.

Kowar cleared waivers and never made it back onto the 40-man roster or to the majors despite all the press he received in Florida and the mock rosters that included his name. I was more resistant because of his control issues – he’s averaged 5.7 walks per nine innings in the majors and he walked four in six exhibition innings – but it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility. He allowed one earned run (three total) in six innings, and a spot opened with Andrew Kittredge on the injured list.

Asked late in camp whether he’d done enough to earn a job, Kowar said, “Honestly, you always get picky with stuff, but I’m happy with the way I’ve competed.”

The DFA happened because Kowar was out of options. And right shoulder arthroscopic debridement surgery in June ended his season after only five games with Norfolk.

The Orioles designated Ramos on the same day after all of the media speculation about him earning a utility job over Jeremiah Jackson, Luis Vázquez and Weston Wilson. They purchased his contract from the White Sox on Feb. 1, lost him to the Cardinals on a waiver claim and brought him back Feb. 20.

Ramos hit .316/.381/.474 with three doubles and a home run in 15 exhibition games and .216/.326/.320 in 100 games with Norfolk. He never got back to the bigs.

By the way, has anyone seen Big Christmas?

Never mind.

Selby missed the entire 2026 season after undergoing surgery on his labrum and rotator cuff. The Orioles announced on Halloween night that he cleared outright waivers and was assigned to Norfolk after his reinstatement from the 60-day injured list, but he’s listed as a free agent.

Magno is 28 and still waiting to make his major league debut after posting a 1.70 ERA in 47 games with the Tides. He struck out 55 and surrendered only three home runs in 53 innings but also walked 32.

Espada tossed a scoreless inning in Game 1 of an April 30 doubleheader against the Astros in his only appearance with the Orioles. He registered a 2.77 ERA in 41 games with Norfolk.

Noda went 2-for-13 in seven games with the Orioles in 2025 but spent the entire 2026 season with Norfolk and batted .222/.364/.387 with 12 doubles and 11 homers in 97 games.

Meanwhile, baseball is played in the Arizona Fall League and four Orioles minor leaguers were selected to Sunday’s Fall Stars Game in Scottsdale – pitchers Braxton Bragg and Patrick Reilly and outfielders Ike Irish and Vance Honeycutt.

The Orioles must decide whether to put Bragg and Reilly on the 40-man roster prior to the scheduled Rule 5 draft. The deadline is Nov. 17. Bragg has a 3.60 ERA in five games (two starts) with the Peoria Javelinas and Reilly has a 2.87 ERA in five games (four starts) with 25 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings.

MLB Pipeline ranks Irish as the No. 95 prospect in baseball. He’s hitting .305 with three doubles, two home runs, nine RBIs, 13 walks, 10 strikeouts and an .896 OPS in 16 games.

Honeycutt drew three more walks yesterday to run his total to 18 and is batting .275 with three doubles, three home runs, 13 RBIs, 16 strikeouts, five stolen bases and a 1.075 OPS in 13 games.