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
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.
The Orioles have made the following transactions:
The Orioles have made the following transactions:
The Orioles made the following roster move:
The Orioles have made the following roster move:
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.
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.
The Nationals have acquired RHP Cristian Jimenez from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for RHP AJ Alexy, who was designated for assignment on Jan. 4.
The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a one-year contract with outfielder Corey Dickerson and designated right-handed pitcher Andrés Machado for assignment on Tuesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
Dickerson, 33, hit .281 with a .324 on-base percentage and a .481 slugging percentage in 1,034 games across 10 Major League seasons with the Colorado Rockies, Tampa Bay Rays, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phillies, Miami Marlins, Toronto Blue Jays and St. Louis Cardinals. He recorded 230 doubles, 36 triples, 134 home runs, 452 RBI, 220 walks and 471 runs scored in that time fame. Dickerson was named an American League All-Star in 2017 with Tampa Bay and won a National League Rawlings Gold Glove in 2018 with Pittsburgh.
Last season, Dickerson hit .267 with 17 doubles, a triple, six home runs, 36 RBI and 12 walks in 96 games for the St. Louis Cardinals. He collected two hits in six at-bats (.333) during the 2022 Postseason.
Dickerson has hit .300 or better in a season four times in his career (2014-15, 2018-19) and has hit 20 or more home runs in a season three times in his career (2014, 2016-17), including a career-high 27 homers in his 2017 All-Star campaign with Tampa Bay.
A native of McComb, Miss., Dickerson was selected in the eighth round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft out of Meridian Community College.
The Washington Nationals conclude their preseason schedule against the reigning American League East champion New York Yankees at Nationals Park on Tuesday, March 28 at 12:05 PM. Tickets are on sale now at nationals.com/Tickets.
Just two days before Opening Day, fans have the unique opportunity to watch the Nationals go up against AL home run king Aaron Judge and the rest of the Yankees in the squad’s final tune-up before the official start of the regular season. Broadcast information for the game will be announced at a later date.
Tickets for the exhibition game and all regular-season games except Opening Day are on sale now at nationals.com/Tickets. Tickets for the Nationals’ Opening Day game vs. the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, March 30, go on sale later this month with special presale access for Season Plan Holders and Fan Club members.
The Orioles today announced their 2023 promotional schedule highlighted by ADLEY RUTSCHMAN, RYAN MOUNTCASTLE, and FÉLIX BAUTISTA Bobbleheads, multiple t-shirt nights, an Orioles Floppy Hat presented by Miller Lite, Birdland Hawaiian Shirt, and an Orioles Purple Pride Jersey, presented by Royal Farms. The 2023 promotional schedule also features increased numbers of giveaway items, giving more fans the opportunity to receive promotional items at the gates prior to the game.
Baltimore will celebrate its youngest fans at Kids Opening Day, presented by Weis Markets, on Sunday, April 9. As part of the celebration, fans will take home an Oriole Bird Nickelodeon Bobblehead, presented by Weis Markets.
Orioles Legend and Hall of Famer EDDIE MURRAY will be honored as part of the 40th anniversary of the 1983 World Series on Saturday, August 5, when fans will receive an Eddie Murray Bobblehead, presented by Royal Farms.
Fans will also receive an Adley Rutschman Bobblehead Inspired By Captain America as part of the first-ever Marvel Super HeroTM Night on Saturday, June 10.
Returning this year are popular fan favorites, including the Orioles Floppy Hat, presented by Miller Lite, on Friday, June 30, Birdland Hawaiian Shirt on Saturday, July 1, and Orioles Soccer Jersey, presented by Pepsi Zero Sugar, on Saturday, July 15.
The Orioles today announced the return of the club’s ‘Birdland Caravan,’ a four-day winter tour, that will take place from Thursday, February 2, through Sunday, February 5, at multiple locations throughout the region. The first such weekend-long celebration since prior to the COVID-19 pandemic will include autograph sessions and happy hours with current Orioles players, top prospects, broadcasters, members of the front office, and the Oriole Bird.
New in 2023, the caravan will make stops at Bowlero College Park and Topgolf Baltimore to give fans a unique and fun opportunity to interact with Orioles players and staff as they bowl and tee off with fans. The tour will also feature a community service project with the Maryland Food Bank, closed to the public, as well as fan rallies at Bel Air High School, Wilde Lake High School, and Winters Mill High School that are open to fans of all ages. Designed to take the Oriole Park experience directly to the fans, the Birdland Caravan will make stops throughout Maryland in Baltimore City, Bel Air, Bowie, College Park, Columbia, Frederick, Odenton, Salisbury, Towson, and Westminster, as well as York, Pa. Fans in Elkridge and Owings Mills will also have the opportunity to meet and take photos with the Oriole Bird.
“We are excited to reintroduce the Birdland Caravan to our fans throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and engage with them beyond the ballpark,” said JENNIFER GRONDAHL, Orioles Senior Vice President, Community Development and Communications. “The weekend’s events will feature unique opportunities to interact with players, prospects, and staff, in a larger geographical circle than ever before. We’re eager to get back out into our communities and celebrate the exciting present and future of Orioles Baseball.”
Current Orioles participating in select events include BRYAN BAKER, FÉLIX BAUTISTA, DL HALL, AUSTIN HAYS, GUNNAR HENDERSON, JOEY KREHBIEL, DEAN KREMER, RYAN McKENNA, JOHN MEANS, RYAN MOUNTCASTLE, ADLEY RUTSCHMAN, KYLE STOWERS, RAMÓN URÍAS, TERRIN VAVRA, and NICK VESPI, along with Orioles prospects HESTON KJERSTAD and GRAYSON RODRIGUEZ. Additionally, Orioles Executive Vice President and General Manager MIKE ELIAS, Vice President and Assistant General Manager, Analytics SIG MEJDAL, Assistant General Manager, Baseball Operations EVE ROSENBAUM, and Manager BRANDON HYDE, a BBWAA American League Manager of the Year finalist, Baseball America Manager of the Year, and the Sporting News AL Manager of the Year, will attend select events throughout the weekend.
Tickets are required for autograph signings, Bowlero, and Topgolf events. Fans must purchase tickets in advance as availability will be limited. Tickets will go on sale online this Wednesday, January 11 at 10:00 a.m. ET, at Orioles.com/Caravan.
The Orioles have made the following roster moves:
The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.
The Nationals have signed the following players to Minor League contracts with invites to 2023 MLB Spring Training: LHP Anthony Banda, INF Michael Chavis and LHP Francisco Pérez.
The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on a one-year contract with first baseman Dominic Smith and designated right-handed pitcher A.J. Alexy for assignment on Wednesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
Smith, 27, hit .246 with a .308 on-base percentage and a .424 slugging percentage in 447 games across six Major League seasons with the New York Mets. He recorded 78 doubles, three triples, 46 home runs, 179 RBI, 95 walks and 147 runs scored in that time fame. Smith hit double-digit home runs in three of his last four seasons.
From 2019 through 2021, Smith slashed .269/.332/.455 while clubbing 51 doubles, one triple, 32 homers and 125 RBI in 284 games. He set or matched career marks in nearly every offensive category in 2021, including home runs (11), runs (43), hits (109), RBI (58), walks (32) and stolen bases (two).
Smith ranked among National League hitters in doubles (2nd, 21), extra-base hits (T2nd, 32), OPS (4th, .993), slugging percentage (4th, .616), RBI (T5th, 42) and batting average (8th, .316) during the 60-game season in 2020.
Smith appeared in 58 Major League games in 2022, hitting .194 with 10 doubles, one triple, 17 RBI, 12 walks and 11 runs scored. He hit .284/.367/.472 with 11 doubles, 10 homers, 38 RBI, 25 walks, four stolen bases and 42 runs scored in 54 games with Triple-A Syracuse.
The Orioles today announced that they have acquired infielder/outfielder RYAN O’HEARN from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for cash considerations.
O’Hearn, 29, slashed .239/.290/.321 (32-for-134) with six doubles, one triple, one home run, 14 runs scored, 16 RBI, and eight walks in 67 games with the Royals last season. He spent the entire year on the active roster and led all Major League players with 11 hits as a pinch-hitter, becoming the seventh Royal in team history with 10-or-more pinch-hit hits in one season. In 342 career MLB games, all with Kansas City, he has batted .219/.293/.390 (210-for-960) with 40 doubles, five triples, 38 home runs, 99 runs scored, 131 RBI, and 98 walks. He was originally selected by the Royals in the eighth round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Sam Houston State University (TX).
Additionally, right-handed pitcher CHRIS VALLIMONT has been designated for assignment. The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.
The Orioles have traded Tyler Nevin to the Detroit Tigers for cash considerations.
Nevin was designated for assignment on Dec. 21.
The Orioles today announced that CAL PERRY has joined the organization as Senior Vice President and Chief Content Officer. Perry will oversee the Orioles’ creative content efforts and be responsible for integrating the team’s content throughout the organization and with club partners. In this role, he joins the club’s Senior Leadership Team that manages all aspects of the organization’s business and baseball operations, consisting of seven veteran executives each holding decades of industry experience.
“Today, I am extremely proud to announce that yet another highly sought-after, world-class executive from the entertainment, sports, or media industries has accepted my invitation to join the Orioles, as the Club continues to recruit the most talented, forward-thinking individuals inside or outside of MLB and the media space,” said Orioles Chairman and CEO JOHN ANGELOS. “During his two decades covering the world’s biggest stories for the most prestigious media organizations, including CNN, MSNBC, and Al Jazeera, Cal Perry’s reputation as a master storyteller and journalist who brings his audience to the front lines of generational news and human-interest stories, from middle America to the Middle East, is unmatched. Cal joins the Orioles’ Senior Leadership Team at a transformational moment, when there are countless stories to tell, memories to make, and visitors to attract to this community as we expand the Club’s on-field progress and important leadership role in helping the City of Baltimore reach its full potential.”
Perry began his journalism career at CNN as an assignment editor on the International Desk before being promoted to Baghdad-based producer, where he served as an embedded reporter during the Iraq War. At CNN, he gained experience as both a Bureau Chief and correspondent, serving in posts around the world and covering a variety of stories. Perry also spent time with Al Jazeera Media Network as a Senior Correspondent in the Middle East. He later worked as an executive at Voice of America before joining MSNBC. There, Perry has served both as the Global News Editor, Digital Content and most recently as an on-air network correspondent.
A native of Washington, D.C., Perry received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York.
The Nationals have claimed infielder Jeter Downs on outright waivers from the Boston Red Sox.
In order to make room on the 40-man roster, the Nationals have designated Reed Garrett for assignment.
The 40-man roster stands at 40.
