SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles made another roster cut this morning, optioning pitcher Brandon Young to minor league camp and leaving 67 players on the major league side.

Young made two relief appearances and allowed one run and five hits in four innings. He walked none and struck out three.

Triple-A Norfolk’s rotation is going to include Young, who made 12 starts as a rookie with the Orioles last season and posted a 6.24 ERA in 57 2/3 innings. His highlight, of course, was the perfect game he carried into the eighth inning in Houston. He lost it with two outs.

“We’re at that point in camp where guys are getting built up, innings are starting to get limited, and there was no pathway for him to break with us for Opening Day, so for him and for his development, get him out now so that he can get built up in the minor league side and really work on some development stuff as far as the physical capacity with him,” said manager Craig Albernaz.

“At some point we’re gonna need him. He’s gonna be impactful for us this year and then for years to come. So we want to make sure we do right by him and make sure his development is first.”

The Orioles are playing split-squad games today and Blaze Alexander is in center field for the first time this spring against the Twins in Sarasota. Weston Wilson is playing left field against the Braves in North Port.

Heston Kjerstad is leading off and playing left field against the Twins. Coby Mayo is at third base, Leody Taveras is in right field and Wehiwa Aloy is the shortstop.

Adley Rutschman is catching and Pete Alonso is at first base. Taylor Ward is the designated hitter.

Left-hander Cade Povich threw two scoreless innings against the Braves on Feb. 23, and he starts today against Minnesota.

At North Port, Dylan Beavers is leading off and playing center field, Ryan Mountcastle is at first base after his three-hit day yesterday, Samuel Basallo is catching and Reed Trimble is in right field.

Left-hander Luis De León, the organization’s No. 4 prospect according to MLB Pipeline and No. 5 per Baseball America, starts against the Braves. De León retired all three Red Sox batters he faced Sunday in his only appearance this spring, throwing all five pitches for strikes – the last a 97.6 mph sinker.

De León turns 23 in April. He made a combined 20 appearances last season in Single-A, High-A and Double-A and posted a 3.30 ERA with 107 strikeouts in 87 1/3 innings.

For the Orioles (vs. Twins)
Heston Kjerstad LF
Adley Rutschman C
Pete Alonso 1B
Taylor Ward DH
Blaze Alexander CF
Coby Mayo 3B
Leody Taveras RF
Thairo Estrada 2B
Wehiwa Aloy SS

Cade Povich LHP

For the Orioles (vs. Braves)
Dylan Beavers CF
Ryan Mountcastle 1B
Samuel Basallo C
Bryan Ramos 3B
Reed Trimble RF
Weston Wilson LF
Sam Huff DH
Willy Vasquez 2B
José Barrero SS

Luis De León LHP

For the Twins
Austin Martin LF
Luke Keaschall 2B
Victor Caratini C
Eric Wagaman 1B
Brooks Lee SS
James Outman RF
Ryan Kreidler CF
Tristan Gray 3B
Gabriel Gonzalez DH

Mick Abel RHP

For the Braves
Mauricio Dubón SS
Drake Baldwin C
Matt Olson 1B
Austin Riley 3B
Mike Yastrzemski LF
Eli White RF
Michael Harris II CF
Ben Gamel DH
Brett Wisely 2B

Grant Holmes RHP