Nationals announce special ticket events for 2023 season

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With Major League Spring Training just a couple weeks away and the regular season right around the corner, the Washington Nationals today announced several of the team’s 2023 special ticket events. The schedule includes fan-favorites like Pups in the Park, Cat-urday, Night OUT and Ladies Night, plus season-long series like College Days and military appreciation games.

The Nationals will celebrate the team’s furry fans on multiple occasions, including six Pups in the Park dates courtesy of Pedigree Foundation, and the return of Cat-urday presented by Temptations. Fans who select special tickets in the outfield reserved section for Pups in the Park dates are invited to bring their canine companions to Nationals Park with the purchase of a separate dog ticket, which benefits the Humane Rescue Alliance. Feline aficionados purchasing the special Cat-urday ticket for on Saturday, Aug. 19, will receive a special themed item.

Night OUT, the longest-running Pride event in MLB, will take place on Tuesday, June 6, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community during Pride month. Fans who purchase a special Night OUT ticket will receive an exclusive t-shirt with five dollars of each special ticket sold donated to Team DC, an LGBTQ non-profit focused on building community through sports. The first 20,000 fans through the gates will also receive a Screech Night OUT bobblehead.

Additional highlights of the 2023 special ticket event schedule include Ladies Night, multiple heritage nightsCollege DaysHBCU/Divine 9 Day and more. The Patriotic Series presented by PenFed and Branch Days continue the Nationals’ commitment to celebrating and serving military families. 

The latest schedule of special ticket events and theme nights can be found below. The latest promotions schedule, including previously released items like bobbleheads the already popular City Connect fedora, can be viewed at nationals.com/Promotions.

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Orioles announce single game tickets on sale Feb. 8

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The Orioles today announced that single game tickets for the 2023 season at Oriole Park at Camden Yards will go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, February 8, beginning at 10:00 a.m. ET at Orioles.com/Tickets. Fans who subscribe to the free Orioles email newsletter will receive an invitation to participate in a pre-sale opportunity beginning on Monday, February 6, at 10:00 a.m. Fans can subscribe online at Orioles.com/Newsletter.

This year as part of the on sale, a limited number of tickets will be available to purchase for Opening Day on Thursday, April 6, when the Orioles host the New York Yankees at 3:05 p.m.

Birdland Reserved and Flex Members can guarantee access to the best inventory for Opening Day by calling the Orioles at 888-848-BIRD or purchasing through Orioles.com/Memberships.

Major League Baseball’s new balanced schedule will see all 30 teams play each other for at least one series during the season. For the complete schedule, visit Orioles.com/Schedule. A complete list of current 2023 promotions and special events can also be found online at Orioles.com/Promotions. Additional initiatives will be announced at a later date.

Orioles announce spring training non-roster invitees

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The Orioles today announced that they have invited 30 non-roster players to Major League Spring Training in Sarasota, Fla. The list includes one left-handed pitcher, 10 right-handed pitchers, four catchers, 10 infielders, and five outfielders. As of today, a complete list of the Orioles’ 30 non-roster players for 2023 Spring Training is below:

PITCHERS (11)

RHP Eduard Bazardo

RHP Wandisson Charles

RHP Kyle Dowdy

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A joint statement from Governor Wes Moore and the Baltimore Orioles

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Today, Governor Wes Moore and the Baltimore Orioles announced their joint commitment to creating a long-term, multi-decade, public-private partnership that both develops and revitalizes the Camden Yards complex as a magnet for sports tourism and leverages Maryland taxpayers’ investment in the property. Governor Moore and the Orioles look forward to continuing the conversation about the next evolution of this critical partnership for Maryland and the City of Baltimore.

Since 1992, Oriole Park has hosted more than 2,500 events, generating nearly $75 million in ticket sales and more than $10 billion in economic impact for the benefit of both the City of Baltimore and the State of Maryland. Under legislation passed by the General Assembly last year, a new lease agreement will unlock $600 million in funding for upgrades and improvements to Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The entire Orioles organization will continue to dedicate the necessary time and resources to ensure a shared vision for a reimagined Camden Yards site and revitalized surrounding downtown Baltimore area.

“When Camden Yards opened thirty years ago, the Baltimore Orioles revolutionized baseball and set the bar for the fan experience,” said GOVERNOR WES MOORE. “We share the commitment of the Orioles organization to ensuring that the team is playing in a world-class facility at Camden Yards for decades to come and are excited to advance our public-private partnership. We look forward to writing the next chapter of major league baseball in Maryland as we continue to make magic for fans and meaningful investment for communities across our state.”

“I am looking forward to continuing to collaborate with Governor Moore, his administration, and the Maryland Stadium Authority in order to bring to Baltimore the modern, sustainable, and electrifying sports and entertainment destination the State of Maryland deserves,” said JOHN ANGELOS, Orioles Chairman & CEO. “We greatly appreciate Governor Moore’s vision and commitment as we seize the tremendous opportunity to redefine the paradigm of what a Major League Baseball venue represents and thereby revitalize downtown Baltimore. It is my hope and expectation that, together with Governor Moore and the new members and new chairman of the MSA Board, we can again fully realize the potential of Camden Yards to serve as a catalyst for Baltimore’s second renaissance.”

The Orioles, the Moore administration, and the Maryland Stadium Authority look forward to reimagining Camden Yards to deliver a live, work, play theme that will bring residents, businesses, and tourists to downtown Baltimore year-round.

Nationals announce player development staff

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The Washington Nationals announced their 2023 Minor League player development staff on Wednesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo and Director of Player Development De Jon Watson made the joint announcement.

Triple-A Rochester

Double-A Harrisburg

High-A Wilmington

Manager – Matt LeCroy

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Orioles equipment trucks embark on 1,000-mile journey to Ed Smith Stadium

Earlier today, Von Paris Moving & Storage trucks carrying Orioles equipment departed from Camden Yards, making their way to Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Fla., in preparation for the 2023 Spring Training season. 

The trucks, which are carrying 320 uniforms, 300 hats, and 10 pitching machines, will travel 1,000 miles before arriving at the Orioles’ Spring Training home early next week. Also making the trip to Sarasota are 800 cases of baseballs and 300 bats.

The 2023 season will mark the Orioles’ 14th Spring Training season in Sarasota and the club’s 13th year at the renovated Ed Smith Stadium. Von Paris Moving & Storage has been the official mover of the Orioles since 1991. 

Spring Training games are slated to begin Saturday, February 25, as the Orioles host the Minnesota Twins at Ed Smith Stadium. Tickets are currently on-sale for all 17 Spring Training home games in Sarasota, which fans can purchase online at Orioles.com/SpringTickets. 

Orioles sign 1B Curtis Terry to minor league deal

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The Orioles have made the following roster move:

  • Agreed to terms on a 2023 Minor League contract with 1B Curtis Terry.

Orioles acquire lefty Cole Irvin from A's

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The Orioles today announced that they have acquired left-handed pitcher COLE IRVIN and minor league right-handed pitcher KYLE VIRBITSKY from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for minor league infielder DARELL HERNAIZ.  

Irvin, 28, made 30 starts for the A’s in 2022, pitching to a 9-13 record with a career-best 3.98 ERA (80 ER/181.0 IP). He set career highs in innings pitched and strikeouts (128) and tied his career high with 15 quality starts. The southpaw led Oakland in strikeouts, innings pitched, starts, quality starts, and wins, and ranked second among A’s pitchers in fWAR (1.4). His 14.4 pitches per inning were the second fewest in the American League, while his 1.79 BB/9 ratio ranked sixth best among qualified AL hurlers. 

A native of Anaheim, Calif., Irvin was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the fifth round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Oregon. In 81 career Major League games (65 starts), he has gone 21-30 with a 4.40 ERA (198 ER/404.2 IP) and 288 strikeouts against 92 walks. He made his MLB debut on May 12, 2019 at Kansas City (W, 7.0 IP, 5 H, ER, BB, 5 K). 

Virbitsky, 24, made 23 appearances (22 starts) between High-A Lansing and Low-A Stockton in his first full professional season in 2022, going 7-7 with a 4.63 ERA (65 ER/126.1 IP). He issued just 30 walks and struck out 140 batters, the most among A’s minor leaguers. Baseball America recently ranked him as having the best control in Oakland’s system. The right-hander was originally selected by the Athletics in the 17th round of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft out of Penn State University. 

Hernaiz, 21, played at three levels in the Orioles organization last year, slashing .273/.341/.438 (111-for-406) with 21 doubles, five triples, 12 home runs, 72 runs scored, 62 RBI, and 32 stolen bases in 105 games between Double-A Bowie, High-A Aberdeen, and Low-A Delmarva. He played 58 games at shortstop, 24 at second base, and 21 at third base between the three teams. The infielder was originally selected by the Orioles in the fifth round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of Americas (TX) High School. 

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Orioles agree to terms with Austin Voth

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The Orioles have made the following transaction:

  • Agreed to terms with RHP Austin Voth on a one-year contract for the 2023 season, avoiding arbitration. The deal includes a club option for 2024.

Orioles announce Levy as hospitality partner for Oriole Park at Camden Yards

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The Baltimore Orioles have teamed up with Levy, the market leader in creating unforgettable hospitality experiences at sports and entertainment venues, to craft an elevated food and beverage experience for fans visiting Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The partnership will kick off with the 2023 season, when Levy’s team will welcome fans with new signature offerings highlighting the iconic tastes of Baltimore and the Chesapeake Bay, upgraded technology to allow faster and frictionless check-out options, and new culinary training opportunities for up-and-coming hospitality talent.

“Oriole Park has been a first-class destination for sports and music entertainment fans for over three decades, and as we look to the future to enhance the footprint and impact of Camden Yards, we are excited to welcome Levy onboard,” said JOHN ANGELOS, Orioles Chairman and CEO. “Together with Levy, we will provide world-class hospitality, food, and beverage experiences, to further develop Camden Yards as a top destination for sports, entertainment, and community service.”

“We’re so proud to partner with the Orioles at the truly iconic Camden Yards and build upon their vision for the ballpark,” said ANDY LANSING, CEO of Levy. “Camden Yards is a truly special place, and it sparked the evolutionary thinking that brought the fan experience to the forefront. With this inspiration, we look forward to collaborating with the Orioles and their fans to bring forward a hospitality experience that creates long-lasting memories on game day and throughout the Baltimore community.”

“We are thrilled to embark on a new partnership with Levy and bring exciting and innovative options to our ballpark,” said GREG BADER, Orioles Senior Vice President Administration and Experience. “We will work seamlessly with Levy to elevate the fan experience at Oriole Park from the concession stands to the Club Level suites, all while providing further opportunities to Strengthen Our Community and Empower Our Youth.”

Core to the partnership with Levy will be creating opportunities for up-and-coming chefs, restaurateurs, and food and beverage tastemakers in the Baltimore area. Hospitality enrichment and training programs will also be created to provide hospitality career advancement opportunities at the ballpark. Fans can also expect a food and beverage experience with local twists, as well as frictionless experiences that provide faster, more convenient ways to access food and beverage.

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Orioles agree to minor league contract with RHP Reed Garrett

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The Orioles have made the following roster move:

  • Agreed to terms on a 2023 Minor League contract with RHP Reed Garrett.

Lewin Díaz clears waivers, assigned to Triple-A Norfolk

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The Orioles have made the following roster move:

INF Lewin Díaz has cleared outright waivers and been assigned to Triple-A Norfolk.

Orioles announce long-term reinvestment in Baltimore

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Orioles Chairman and CEO JOHN ANGELOS, alongside Baltimore Mayor BRANDON M. SCOTT, today announced a $5 million commitment to CollegeBound Foundation in support of the next Baltimore renaissance. The CollegeBound Foundation empowers Baltimore City Schools’ students to successfully pursue and complete a college degree or other post-secondary option. As part of the initiative and in addition to the College Completion Program and scholarships, the Orioles will provide paid internships to former Baltimore City students and current College Completion Program scholars.

“We are thrilled to announce our pledge to support the CollegeBound Foundation and its College Completion Program, which is just a catalyst to further support Baltimore City youth, leading to the development and retention of invaluable local talent,” said Angelos. “After being introduced to the program by Mayor Scott, a former CollegeBound Foundation scholar, it quickly became a top priority for myself and the Orioles to get involved and find the most impactful avenue of support. This significant pledge is a testament to the club’s commitment to the City of Baltimore, the State of Maryland, and its youth. We hope our contribution acts as a kickstart, and now challenges other Baltimore City businesses to support the CollegeBound Foundation and its mission.”

By providing paid internships to College Completion Program scholars, the Orioles will expose local students to the vast career opportunities existing within the club and help develop the local talent pipeline, with a goal of ultimately offering those students positions within the organization and retaining talent in our region.

"As someone who has lived his entire life in Baltimore and has been a lifelong fan of the Baltimore Orioles, it warms my heart to see this franchise understand and once again embrace its commitment to serving the people of Baltimore – especially Baltimore’s youth," said Mayor Scott. "Today's announcement shows that the Orioles are committed to making a major investment into the future of Baltimore and playing a very active role in the renaissance that is taking place here."

Since being founded in 2017, the CollegeBound College Completion Program, a multi-year support network dedicated to guiding Baltimore City public school graduates through college by offering academic and personal guidance, has made a significant difference in the college graduation rate of Baltimore City public school graduates. The inaugural class, which matriculated in 2017, is on track for a 75 percent graduation rate, and the 2018 scholars are on track for a 78 percent graduation rate, nearly double the college graduation rate of Baltimore City public school graduates attending a four-year college.

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Nationals agree to terms with 14 international free agents

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The Washington Nationals agreed to terms with 14 international free agents on Sunday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo and Vice President and Assistant General Manager of International Operations Johnny DiPuglia made the joint announcement. 

COLOMBIA

PLAYER                POS        B/T         HT          WT         AGE        D.O.B.                  HOMETOWN                       SIGNING SCOUT

Agustin Marcano    C                R/R           6’0”          160           16              6/28/06                    Bogota                                          Miguel Ruiz

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

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Orioles open the 2022-23 international signing period by adding 27 players

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The Orioles today announced that they have opened the 2022-23 International Signing Period with 27 contract agreements, tied for the most in club history (2019-20). Highlighting the Orioles’ 2022-23 international signing class are: shortstop LUIS ALMEYDA, the highest-paid international signee in club history, shortstop JOSHUA LIRANZO, infielder JOSÉ MEJÍA, shortstop FÉLIX AMPARO, right-handed pitcher KEELER MORFE, shortstop LUIS GUEVARA, and left-handed pitcher FRANCISCO MORAO. Additionally, six more of the group are six-figure agreements. Of the 27 total agreements, 14 are from the Dominican Republic, 11 are from Venezuela, and one each from Colombia and Cuba. The signing class includes nine pitchers, eight infielders, six catchers, and four outfielders. 

Almeyda, 16, was born and grew up in New Jersey before moving to the Dominican Republic. He is ranked as the No. 17 international prospect by Baseball America and No. 20 by MLB Pipeline. He is a solid, everyday type of player who can impact the game with his combination of power and hit tools. He is short to the ball with a quick and explosive swing, flashing plus power potential. At six feet, two inches tall, Almeyda has the ball skills to play shortstop, but could move to third base as he matures. He is a solid defender with plus arm strength.

Liranzo, 16, is a shortstop from the Dominican Republic who showcases immense power with a loose swing and plus-plus bat speed. His power and hit tools give him the makings to be an everyday player capable of plus offensive production. In the field, he shows loose defensive action with good footwork and a plus arm. 

Mejía, 17, a native of the Dominican Republic, profiles as an offensive second baseman. He is regarded as one of the best hitters in the 2022-23 class. A strong fastball hitter who can see spin, he projects to have a hit tool of 60 with a chance to develop 50 power. Defensively, he is solid in the infield and makes the routine plays. A natural leader with good instincts, Mejía also speaks English, which can make for an easier transition to playing in the United States.

Amparo, 16, is a shortstop from the Dominican Republic with a chance to be a plus hitter in the future. Standing five feet, 10 inches tall and weighing in at 145 pounds, he showcases surprising pop for his frame and is an excellent fastball hitter. On the dirt, he has good feet and soft hands with superb body control and a plus arm. A plus runner, his combination of offense and speed will see him stick at shortstop. 

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Orioles agree to terms with five players

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The Orioles have made the following transactions:

  • Agreed to terms with OF Austin HaysSS Jorge MateoCF Cedric MullinsOF Anthony Santander, and RHP Dillon Tate on one-year contracts for the 2023 season, avoiding arbitration.

Orioles agree to terms with five arbitration-eligible players

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The Orioles have made the following transactions:

  • Agreed to terms with OF Austin HaysSS Jorge MateoCF Cedric MullinsOF Anthony Santander, and RHP Dillon Tate on one-year contracts for the 2023 season, avoiding arbitration.

Orioles send Luis De La Cruz to Mets to complete James McCann trade

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The Orioles made the following roster move:

  • Sent OF Luis De La Cruz to the New York Mets as the player to be named later to complete the C James McCann trade from December 21, 2022.

Ryan O’Hearn clears waivers, accepts assignment to Triple-A Norfolk

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The Orioles have made the following roster move:

  • INF/OF Ryan O’Hearn has cleared outright waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Norfolk.

Orioles acquire lefty Darwinzon Hernandez from Red Sox

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The Orioles today announced that they have acquired left-handed pitcher DARWINZON HERNANDEZ from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for cash considerations.

Hernandez, 26, went 0-1 with a 21.60 ERA (16 ER/6.2 IP), 14 hits, 17 total runs, four home runs, two hit batters, eight walks, and nine strikeouts in seven games with the Red Sox last season. He also appeared in 23 games (seven starts) for Triple-A Worcester in 2022. The left-hander is 3-4 with a 5.06 ERA (48 ER/85.1 IP) in 91 career MLB games (one start), all with Boston since 2019, including a 3.17 mark (17 ER/48.1 IP) in 55 combined games from 2020-21. A native of Venezuela, he was originally signed by the Red Sox as an international free agent in 2013.

Additionally, infielder LEWIN DÍAZ has been designated for assignment. The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.