Young named Gold Glove finalist

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After putting together one of the best defensive seasons in Major League Baseball this season, Nationals rookie outfielder Jacob Young was named one of three finalists for the Rawlings Gold Glove Award in center field on Tuesday.

Young, 25, led all of Major League Baseball across all positions with 18 runs prevented and was tied for the Major League-lead with 20 outs above average, according to Baseball Savant. Both were the most in a season by any outfielder since 2019.  Among center fielders, Young had four more runs prevented and four more outs above average than his second-place counterpart.

Young also led all MLB outfielders with 15 outs on balls at a 25-50 percent catch probability and was tied for the Major League-lead with seven catches made with a 0-25 percent catch probability.

The speedy outfielder tied the quickest reaction time (feet covered in the first 1.5 seconds of opportunity) in the Statcast era (2016-pres.), matching Enrique Hernández’s mark of 4.7 feet from 2021. The next closest outfielder in 2024 produced just 2.4 feet.

According to FanGraphs, Young also led all National League center fielders (min. 1000.0 innings) in defensive rating with a 13.4 and was tied for the lead with 11 defensive runs saved.

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Orioles and MASN announce the promotion of Greg Bader

The Orioles and MASN today announced the promotion of GREG BADER to Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN). Bader will immediately begin the transition from his current role as Orioles Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer to the role with MASN, with a complete transition effective January 1. He will report to CATIE GRIGGS, Orioles President, Business Operations.

Bader served as EVP and COO since September of 2023, overseeing all day-to-day business needs of the club, including Revenue, Operations, Orioles Entertainment, and Broadcasting. Bader will build upon his industry expertise to oversee both the Orioles and Washington Nationals day-to-day coverage and business needs with MASN. A Baltimore native, Bader first joined the Orioles as a public relations intern in 1994 and has served in multiple roles over the last three decades, including Director of Communications, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, and Senior Vice President, Administration & Experience. 

“Greg has an unparalleled level of expertise of both baseball administration and the sports industry overall which I’m confident will allow him to seamlessly transition into the role with MASN. I look forward to continuing to work alongside him for years to come,” shared Griggs.

“It’s been an honor to have devoted my professional career to the Orioles and Major League Baseball, and I am equally honored to begin this new role with MASN,” said Bader. “Like millions of baseball fans throughout the Mid-Atlantic, I have welcomed MASN into my home for the past twenty seasons, and I am thrilled to now play a role in working to enhance that experience as the network continues to bring unmatched coverage of two great teams to two incredible baseball communities.”

About MASN
The Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN) is a regional sports network and multimedia platform that televises every available game of both the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals, pre- and postgame shows, and NCAA Division I men’s and women’s sports, totaling more than 500 live events annually. The network is available in a seven-state region, from Harrisburg, Pa., to Charlotte, N.C., on more than 20 cable and fiber optic providers, and is televised nationally via satellite provider DirecTV. MASN’s digital home – masnsports.com – features news and sports content and offers in-market streaming of both O’s and Nats games. MASN has won more than 100 Emmy and Addy awards for broadcast and marketing excellence.

Nationals announce 2024 Media Awards

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The Washington Nationals announced the winners of the ninth-annual end-of-season awards, as voted on by members of the local media on Friday. In the closest voting in the nine-year history of the awards, infielder Luis García Jr. was voted the 2024 Nationals Player of the Year, while right-handed pitcher Kyle Finnegan was named Pitcher of the Year. Outfielder Jacob Young was given the Good Guy Award, presented to a player for his always-professional dealings with members of the media, his work in the community and for representing the Nationals organization with class both on and off the field. All three awards were decided by one vote.

García Jr., 24, was named Player of the Year for the first time after he produced just the second 15 home run-20 stolen base season by a Nationals second baseman. He enters Friday leading the Nationals in batting average (.278), RBI (68), OBP (.315), slugging percentage (.438), OPS (.753) and hits (135). He also ranks in the top three in doubles (2nd, 25), extra-base hits (2nd, 43), total bases (2nd, 213) and runs (3rd, 55). García Jr. set career highs in 2024 in games (137), at-bats (486), hits, doubles, home runs (17), RBI, walks (27) [matches a career high] and stolen bases (21) in 2024.

García Jr. is just one of seven players in Major League Baseball hitting over .275 with 40 extra-base hits and 20 stolen bases entering Friday. He ranks second among National League second basemen in slugging percentage, batting average, RBI and OPS and third in home runs. 

In addition to his career-year at the plate, García Jr. has put together his best defensive season with five outs above average and four runs prevented at second base.

Signed by the Nationals as a non-drafted free agent on July 2, 2016, García Jr. is slashing .269/.301/.408 with 90 doubles, nine triples, 41 home runs, 201 RBI, 81 walks, 34 stolen bases, and 192 runs scored in 462 career games over parts of five Major League seasons. 

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Nationals announce 2024 Minor League awards

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Standouts from across the Washington Nationals Minor League system will be recognized as part of a special pregame ceremony on Tuesday, as the club recognizes its 2024 Minor League Award winners. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo and Vice President and Assistant General Manager, Player Development & Administration Eddie Longosz selected the following players in recognition of their outstanding 2024 seasons. 

  • Hitter of the Year – Outfielder Dylan Crews
  • Pitcher of the Year – Right-handed pitcher Travis Sykora
  • Defensive Player of the Year – Outfielder Elijah Green
  • Baserunner of the Year – Infielder/Outfielder Darren Baker
  • Nationals Way Award – Outfielder Daylen Lile and Right-handed pitcher Brad Lord

Crews, 22, is currently the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball, according to MLBPipeline.com and the No. 3 prospect, according to Baseball America. He ranked in Washington’s Minor League system in extra-base hits (2nd, 40), triples (2nd, 6), slugging percentage (3rd, .451), OPS (3rd, .793), RBI (3rd, 68), doubles (T3rd, 21), home runs (4th, 13), average (4th, .270) and stolen bases (T4th, 25) prior to his Major League call-up on Aug. 26. For his efforts in the first half of the season, Crews was selected to represent the Nationals in the 2024 All-Star Futures Game in July.

Crews finished his 2024 Minor League campaign hitting .270 with 21 doubles, six triples, 13 home runs, 68 RBI, 36 walks, 25 stolen bases and 60 runs scored in 100 games between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester. Crews hit .309 (21-for-68) with a .385 on-base percentage (5 BB, 4 HBP) and a .529 slugging percentage (2B, 3B, 4 HR) in 16 games from Aug. 3-Aug. 23 before joining Washington. He reached base safely in all 16 of those games and hit safely in 13 of the 16.

Crews was the second overall pick in the 2023 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Louisiana State University, where he made his mark as one of the most accomplished and decorated players in the history of college baseball. In addition to leading LSU to the 2023 National Championship, he was a consensus First-Team All-American in 2023 and 2022 and became the first player to win Southeastern Conference Player of the Year in back-to-back-seasons (2022, 2023).

Sykora, 20, was named Carolina League Pitcher of the Year after going 5-3 with a 2.33 ERA, 129 strikeouts and 27 walks in 85.0 innings across 20 starts for Single-A Fredericksburg in his first professional season. From his debut on May 1 through the end of the season, Sykora led all Minor League pitchers (min. 85.0 IP) with a .168 opponent’s batting average and 5.29 hits per 9.0 innings, while he ranked among them in strikeouts per 9.0 innings (2nd, 13.66) and WHIP (3rd, 0.91). His 129 strikeouts paced all of Single-A and ranked fourth among Nationals Minor Leaguers, despite his later start.

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With Chaparro on paternity, Nats recall Garrett

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The Washington Nationals recalled outfielder Stone Garrett from Triple-A Rochester and placed infielder Andrés Chaparro on the Paternity List on Tuesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.

This marks Garrett’s first Major League stint of the season after he hit .311 with 11 doubles, three home runs, 14 RBI, 15 walks and 20 runs scored in 41 games for Triple-A Rochester after July 3. In all, he hit .249 with 13 doubles, three home runs, 22 RBI, 36 walks, two stolen bases and 32 runs scored in 79 games between Double-A and Triple-A in 2024.

Garrett, 28, hit .269 with 17 doubles, nine home runs, 40 RBI, 26 walks, three stolen bases and 40 runs scored in 89 games for the Nationals in 2023 before his season ended with a fractured left fibula on Aug. 23. The Nationals were 31-27 in his 58 starts, including going 16-3 in his final 19. In 116 career Major League games from 2022-23, Garrett hit .271 with 25 doubles, 13 homers, 50 RBI, 29 walks, 6 stolen bases and 53 runs scored.

Chaparro, 25, hit .215 with 12 doubles, four home runs, 15 RBI, seven walks, one stolen base and 12 runs scored in 33 games for Washington.

Mountcastle returns, Jiménez optioned, Kimbrel released

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The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

  • Reinstated INF Ryan Mountcastle from the 10-day Injured List (left wrist sprain).
  • Optioned OF/DH Eloy Jiménez to Triple-A Norfolk.
  • Released RHP Craig Kimbrel.

Nationals announce 2024 minor league awards

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Standouts from across the Washington Nationals Minor League system will be recognized as part of a special pregame ceremony on Tuesday, as the club recognizes its 2024 Minor League Award winners. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo and Vice President and Assistant General Manager, Player Development & Administration Eddie Longosz selected the following players in recognition of their outstanding 2024 seasons.

  • Hitter of the Year – Outfielder Dylan Crews
  • Pitcher of the Year – Right-handed pitcher Travis Sykora
  • Defensive Player of the Year – Outfielder Elijah Green
  • Baserunner of the Year – Infielder/Outfielder Darren Baker
  • Nationals Way Award – Outfielder Daylen Lile and Right-handed pitcher Brad Lord

Crews, 22, is currently the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball, according to MLBPipeline.com and the No. 3 prospect, according to Baseball America. He ranked in Washington’s Minor League system in extra-base hits (2nd, 40), triples (2nd, 6), slugging percentage (3rd, .451), OPS (3rd, .793), RBI (3rd, 68), doubles (T3rd, 21), home runs (4th, 13), average (4th, .270) and stolen bases (T4th, 25) prior to his Major League call-up on Aug. 26. For his efforts in the first half of the season, Crews was selected to represent the Nationals in the 2024 All-Star Futures Game in July.

Crews finished his 2024 Minor League campaign hitting .270 with 21 doubles, six triples, 13 home runs, 68 RBI, 36 walks, 25 stolen bases and 60 runs scored in 100 games between Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Rochester. Crews hit .309 (21-for-68) with a .385 on-base percentage (5 BB, 4 HBP) and a .529 slugging percentage (2B, 3B, 4 HR) in 16 games from Aug. 3-Aug. 23 before joining Washington. He reached base safely in all 16 of those games and hit safely in 13 of the 16.

Crews was the second overall pick in the 2023 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Louisiana State University, where he made his mark as one of the most accomplished and decorated players in the history of college baseball. In addition to leading LSU to the 2023 National Championship, he was a consensus First-Team All-American in 2023 and 2022 and became the first player to win Southeastern Conference Player of the Year in back-to-back-seasons (2022, 2023).

Sykora, 20, was named Carolina League Pitcher of the Year after going 5-3 with a 2.33 ERA, 129 strikeouts and 27 walks in 85.0 innings across 20 starts for Single-A Fredericksburg in his first professional season. From his debut on May 1 through the end of the season, Sykora led all Minor League pitchers (min. 85.0 IP) with a .168 opponent’s batting average and 5.29 hits per 9.0 innings, while he ranked among them in strikeouts per 9.0 innings (2nd, 13.66) and WHIP (3rd, 0.91). His 129 strikeouts paced all of Single-A and ranked fourth among Nationals Minor Leaguers, despite his later start.

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Downtown fire affects traffic for game

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The Orioles are in communication with Baltimore City, Maryland Department of Transportation, and Maryland Transit Administration officials on traffic implications due to a fire at S. Lombard St. and Eutaw St.

Fans should use caution and allot for increased traffic in the downtown area if heading to this afternoon’s game. The impacted grid is from Paca St. to Eutaw St. and Pratt St. to Baltimore St.

Official communication from MTA:

All Light Rail service south of North Avenue is suspended. This six-alarm fire downtown occurred as we were pulling trains out for today’s service and it has prohibited us from getting any trains south of North Avenue. MTA will be implementing a Bus Bridge from North Avenue to Cromwell and BWI. We also recommend using regular bus service as we expect this to be a prolonged incident and response.

For further updates, please monitor Baltimore FireBaltimore County PoliceMDOT, and the Orioles on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Urías, Westburg return

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The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

  • Reinstated INF Ramón Urías from the 10-day Injured List (right ankle sprain).
  • Reinstated INF Jordan Westburg from the 10-day Injured List (right hand fracture).
  • Optioned OF Daniel Johnson to Triple-A Norfolk.
  • Optioned INF Livan Soto to Triple-A Norfolk.

Coulombe reinstated as Smith goes to IL

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The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

  • Reinstated LHP Danny Coulombe from the 60-day Injured List (left elbow surgery).
  • Placed RHP Burch Smith on the 15-day Injured List (right adductor groin strain), retroactive to September 18.

Nationals reinstate Trevor Williams, option Zach Brzykcy

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The Washington Nationals returned from rehab assignment and reinstated right-handed pitcher Trevor Williams from the 60-day Injured List and optioned right-handed pitcher Zach Brzykcy to Triple-A Rochester on Friday. Additionally, the Nationals transferred right-handed pitcher Joan Adon to the 60-day Injured List. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcements.

Williams, 32, went 5-0 with a 2.22 ERA in 11 starts prior to being placed on the Injured List with a right flexor muscle strain on June 4. He struck out 47 batters, walked 16 and allowed just two home runs in 56.2 innings as the Nationals went 9-2 in his 11 starts prior to the injury. Williams allowed two earned runs or fewer in nine starts and pitched to 1.80 ERA (6 ER/30.0 IP) in his last six starts.

Williams made two rehab starts with Double-A Harrisburg. He tossed 7.1 innings across two starts on Sept. 10 and Sept. 15.

In two seasons with the Nationals, Williams is 11-10 with a 4.61 ERA in 41 starts. He is in his ninth professional season and is 49-54 with a 4.34 ERA in 200 career games (159 starts).

Brzykcy, 25, appeared in six games out of Washington’s bullpen. He made his Major League debut on Sept. 1 vs. Chicago (NL).

Orioles announce 2024 award winners for player development & scouting

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The Orioles today announced the winners of their player development and scouting awards for 2024, including infielder COBY MAYO as the club’s top minor league player and right-handed pitcher BRANDON YOUNG as the club’s top minor league pitcher. Latin America Coordinator of Instruction SAMUEL VEGA and Area Scout DONOVAN O’DOWD will also be honored for their contributions to the organization. The award winners will be recognized in an on-field ceremony prior to the game against the Detroit Tigers on Friday, with awards presented by Orioles Vice President of Player Development and Domestic Scouting, Matt blood, Orioles Director of Player Development, Anthony Villa, Orioles Director of Minor League Operations, Kent Qualls, and Orioles Manager of Domestic Scouting, Chad Tatum.

Mayo, 22, slashed .293/.369/.574 (99-for-338) with 23 doubles, three triples, 22 homers, 61 runs scored, 67 RBI, 39 walks, and four stolen bases in 87 regular season games at Triple-A Norfolk. His contract was selected on August 2, and he made his Major League debut that day at Cleveland. Mayo was later optioned on August 15, before being recalled again on September 1, for his second MLB stint. His 22 home runs with the Tides rank seventh in the International League, despite stints on the Injured List and the Orioles’ Major League roster. Mayo’s 25 homers in the Minors this year are the most by an MLB Top 100 prospect this season and his .943 OPS and .574 slugging percentage would pace all qualified hitters in the International League. Mayo was named the O’s Minor League Player of the Month in April after slashing .330/.400/.652 (38-for-115) with six doubles, two triples, nine home runs, 21 runs scored, 25 RBI, and 12 walks across 28 games. Mayo was ranked as the sixth-best overall MLB prospect in ESPN’s midseason rankings and is currently ranked the eighth-best prospect by Baseball America and MLB Pipeline. He is also currently ranked as the top Orioles prospect by Baseball AmericaESPN, and MLB Pipeline. Mayo was drafted 103rd overall by the Orioles in the fourth round of the 2020 First-Year Player Draft.

Young, 26, has posted a 5-5 record with a 3.48 ERA (41 ER/106.0 IP), allowing 96 hits, 46 total runs, eight home runs, two hit batters, 34 walks, and 129 strikeouts in 26 games (23 starts) through September 16, between Double-A Bowie and Triple-A Norfolk. Young was promoted on May 28, after going 0-2 and producing a 4.09 ERA (10 ER/22.0 IP) on 21 hits (1 HR), 10 total runs, and four walks with 36 strikeouts in seven games (6 GS) for the Baysox. He has gone 5-3 with a 3.32 ERA (31 ER/84.0 IP) on 75 hits allowed (7 HR), 36 total runs, 30 walks, and two hit batters with 93 strikeouts in 19 games (17 GS) for the Tides. He ranks among Orioles organizational leaders in strikeouts (3rd), games started (4th), and innings pitched (7th). Among Orioles minor leaguers with at least 90.0 innings pitched, he ranks third in strikeout-to-walk ratio (21.6), fourth in WHIP (1.23), sixth in ERA, and sixth in strikeouts per nine innings pitched (10.95). Young was originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Orioles on June 14, 2020, out of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He is currently ranked as the No. 19 O’s prospect by MLB Pipeline and No. 24 Orioles prospect by Baseball America.

Vega has been named the winner of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Player Development Award, in honor of the late Orioles coach and manager who is widely regarded as the architect of “The Oriole Way.” Each year, a minor league staff member who exemplifies Ripken’s qualities as an instructor is recognized with the award. Vega was named the Orioles Latin America Field Coordinator in 2022, overseeing the development of the club’s international prospects. Vega has played an instrumental role in getting the O's brand-new state-of-the-art Dominican Republic training facility up and running, creating a culture of hard work and accountability among the international players. Under Vega's instruction, several of the Orioles Dominican Summer League players earned league-wide accolades, including outfielder JORDAN SANCHEZ who was named MiLB’s Player of the Week for the week of June 17 to 23, being named the Orioles MiLB Player of the Month for June, and being named a DSL All-Star. In July, right-handed pitcher KEVIN VELASCO was named the Orioles’ MiLB Pitcher of the Month, and right-handed pitcher ADRIAN HEREDIA was named the MiLB Pitcher of the Week for the week of August 5 to 11. The Orioles currently have 12 international prospects in their top 30, according to MLB Pipeline, the most since Orioles Executive Vice President and General Manager Mike Elias, joined the organization in 2019 and a testament to the work Vega and his team are doing in the DR. This year, the DSL Orioles Orange clinched a playoff berth for the first time under Mike Elias in the inaugural season of the new Dominican Republic Academy.

O’Dowd was named the Jim Russo Scout of the Year, named in honor of the man who spent 33 years in various scouting capacities with the Orioles beginning with their move from St. Louis in 1954. O’Dowd has been in the organization since 2019, proving to be a key member of the Orioles’ scouting operations as he patrols the country’s Northeast area, which ranges from Virginia to Maine. Since joining the organization, he has provided valuable insight in a way that is respected, taking the initiative to learn and implement the organization’s scouting philosophies in his process. Some of his recent signees include two of the Orioles top three draft picks this year, GRIFF O’FERRALL (Virginia), and ETHAN ANDERSON (Virginia), as well as undrafted free agents TREY GIBSON (Liberty) and TT BOWENS (Central Connecticut State).

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Orioles designate Craig Kimbrel for assignment, recall Bryan Baker

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The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

  • Recalled RHP Bryan Baker from Triple-A Norfolk.
  • Designated RHP Craig Kimbrel for assignment.

The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 37 players.

Nick Maton clears waivers, accepts assignment to Triple-A Norfolk

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The Orioles have made the following roster move:

  • INF/OF Nick Maton has cleared outright waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk.

Orioles nominate James McCann for 2024 Roberto Clemente Award

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The Orioles and Major League Baseball today announced that catcher JAMES McCANN has been named the Orioles’ 2024 nominee for the esteemed Roberto Clemente Award. The most prominent individual player award bestowed by MLB, the Roberto Clemente Award, presented by Capital One, is the annual recognition of a Major League player from each club who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, sportsmanship, community involvement, philanthropy, and positive contributions, both on and off the field.

The Orioles will join Major League Baseball in honoring the 23rd annual Roberto Clemente Day on Sunday, September 15, as they take on the Detroit Tigers at 12:05 p.m. ET at Comerica Park. This commemorative day was established by Major League Baseball to honor Clemente’s legacy and to officially acknowledge local club nominees of the Roberto Clemente Award. As part of the league-wide celebration, the Roberto Clemente Day logo will appear on the bases and official dugout lineup cards, all players will wear a ‘21’ patch on their jersey, and a special tribute video will be played in ballparks. Once again this season, each team’s Clemente nominee will wear ”21” on their uniform, joining players and uniformed personnel from Puerto Rico, previous nominees, and those who have worn “21” on prior Roberto Clemente Days.

The Orioles will recognize McCann in a special on-field ceremony on Saturday, September 21.

Since joining the Orioles prior to the 2023 season, McCann has emerged as a cornerstone of community support in Baltimore, earning him a nomination for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award. His unwavering dedication to community service is a family affair, with McCann, his wife Jessica, and their twin boys actively contributing to their communities year-round. This past offseason, the McCann family donated 50 pairs of shoes to Church of the City’s Wrap Around Closet in Nashville, Tenn. supporting children in foster care.

Earlier this season, the Orioles announced their adoption of Harlem Park Elementary Middle School, aiming to foster a lasting relationship and support students from pre-k all the way through their entry into the workforce. McCann eagerly embraced this partnership, actively engaging with Harlem Park students and staff at Friday home game batting practices, proudly donning a Harlem Park-branded t-shirt. His involvement extended to the classroom as well, where he visited PE classes to teach baseball skills and inspire students to pursue their dreams with perseverance. To further support Harlem Park, McCann and Jessica provided Harlem Park students with essential items such as backpacks, clothing, and shoes for the new school year, underscoring their dedication to fostering the growth and success of Baltimore’s youth.

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Orioles, Vavra reach terms

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The Orioles have made the following roster move: 

  • Agreed to terms on a 2024 Minor League contract with INF/OF Terrin Vavra.

Orioles select Maton's contract, Bañuelos DFA

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The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

  • Selected the contract of INF/OF Nick Maton from Triple-A Norfolk.
  • Designated C David Bañuelos for assignment.

The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.

RHP Houser comes to Orioles on minor league deal

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The Orioles have made the following roster move:

  • Agreed to terms on a 2024 Minor League contract with RHP Adrian Houser.

Orioles agree to minor league contract with Nick Anderson

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The Orioles have made the following roster move:

  • Agreed to terms on a 2024 Minor League contract with RHP Nick Anderson.

Jorge Mateo has successful UCL reconstruction surgery

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Jorge Mateo had successful left elbow ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction with internal brace and flexor repair today. The surgery was performed by Dr. Keith Meister at Trinity Park Surgery Center in Arlington, Texas.