The Orioles have made the following roster moves:
- Recalled LHP Nick Vespi from Triple-A Norfolk.
- Optioned LHP Bruce Zimmermann to Triple-A Norfolk.
The Washington Nationals claimed left-handed pitcher Joe La Sorsa off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays and optioned him to Triple-A Rochester on Thursday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
La Sorsa, 25, posted a 2.08 ERA (1 ER/4.1 IP) with three strikeouts and three walks in two relief appearances with the Rays this season. He had his contract selected on May 28 and made his Major League debut the next day vs. Chicago (NL), tossing 2.0 scoreless innings of relief.
La Sorsa went 2-1 with a 3.38 ERA in 11 games (three starts) between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham before joining the Major League club. Opposing left-handed batters went 7-for-32 (.219) with one double, two walks and eight strikeouts against him prior to his contract having been selected.
A native of Jamaica, New York, La Sorsa was selected in the 18th round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of St. John’s University. He is 16-10 with 13 saves, a 2.87 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP and a .216 opponents’ batting average in 99 games (10 starts) across four Minor League seasons (2019-23).
Today's 1:05 p.m. game vs. the Arizona Diamondbacks has been rescheduled due to the poor air quality in the Washington, D.C. area.
The game will be made up on Thursday, June 22 at 1:05 p.m. All tickets and parking passes for today's game will be honored for the rescheduled game.
Wednesday night, the Washington Nationals held the club’s second annual UK-US Friendship Day at Nationals Park, celebrating the recent coronation of King Charles III and the enduring partnership between the two nations.
As the night’s guest of honor, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak personally requested that the ceremonial first pitch be given to Stuart Taylor, CEO of the Allied Forces Foundation, in recognition of Taylor’s many years of public service in support of military veterans, active-duty personnel and the trans-Atlantic relationship.
Sunak was joined on the field by Taylor and Nationals manager Davey Martinez for the UK and US national anthems, which were punctuated by a flyover performed by F/A 18s piloted by United States Navy Lt. Josh Chester and British Royal Navy Lt. Cmdr Thomas Sharp. The UK anthem was performed by the Royal Marines Band, and the US anthem by “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band.
You can watch video of the UK-US Friendship Day festivities here.
The Washington Nationals celebrated the club’s 18th annual Night OUT on Tuesday, the longest-running Pride event in Major League Baseball. The first 20,000 fans received a Screech Night OUT bobblehead, and fans who purchased the special ticket package also received an exclusive t-shirt with $5 from every special ticket benefitting Team DC. With more than 7,100 special tickets sold, tonight’s event was the largest Night OUT in the organization’s history.
As special guests of the game’s presenting partner, Team DC, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi threw out the game’s ceremonial first pitch; and Rex Wheeler, also known as Lady Camden, runner-up on Season 14 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, held the President’s Race finish line.
You can watch video of the Night OUT festivities here.
The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher Cory Abbott from Triple-A Rochester and designated Erasmo Ramírez for assignment on Wednesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
In his last two starts for Triple-A Rochester, Abbott allowed just two hits and one run in 10.0 total innings (0.90 ERA), with 12 strikeouts. Since April 28, Abbott has allowed more than one run in a game just once, working at least 5.0 innings in four of his five starts. Over that span, he has struck out 33 in 23.0 innings. In total, Abbott’s 51 strikeouts this season ranks third in Washington’s Minor League system.
Abbott, 27, joins the Nationals for the third time this season after two previous stints in May. He has allowed three hits and one run in 4.0 total innings in two appearances for Washington so far in 2023. Abbott was selected off waivers from the San Francisco Giants on May 4, 2022, and went on to enjoy five stints with Washington last season. He made nine starts (0-5, 6.00 ERA, 36 SO) and seven relief appearances (2.00 ERA, 9 SO), held opponents to a .186 average at home. In his last two starts of 2022, Abbott struck out a total of 13 (seven in 5.0 IP vs. Atlanta, Sept. 26 and six in 4.0 IP at New York (NL), Oct. 4).
Ramírez, 33, was 2-3 with a 6.33 ERA in 23 games this season.
The Orioles have made the following roster moves:
- Reinstated LHP Danny Coulombe from the Bereavement List.
- Optioned INF/OF Terrin Vavra to Triple-A Norfolk.
The Washington Nationals recalled right-handed pitcher Jordan Weems from Triple-A Rochester and designated right-handed pitcher Andrés Machado for assignment on Tuesday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
Weems, 30, returns for his second stint with the Nationals this season after he pitched in both halves of a doubleheader on April 29 against Pittsburgh. He combined to allow one hit and two walks in 2.1 innings with three strikeouts in those games.
In his last six appearances for Triple-A Rochester, Weems allowed just one hit and one run over 6.1 innings (1.42 ERA, 0.63 WHIP, .053 opponents' average). He went 2-for-2 in save opportunities in that span, including a four-out save on May 28 at Toledo.
In his first season with Washington in 2022, Weems enjoyed four Major League stints, pitching in 32 games. He finished the season strong, posting a 3.00 ERA (5 ER/15.0 IP) with 17 strikeouts, two walks and a .182 opponents' average (10-for-55) in his final 11 games after being recalled on Sept. 8.
Machado, 30, posted an 8.47 ERA in 14 games out of Washington’s bullpen.
Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi will throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Washington Nationals’ Night OUT celebration on Tuesday, June 6, as a special guest of the game’s presenting partner, Team DC.
This year’s Night OUT celebration is the club’s 18th, making it the longest-running Pride event in Major League Baseball. The first 20,000 fans in attendance will receive a Screech Night OUT bobblehead, and fans who purchase a special Night OUT ticket will also receive an exclusive t-shirt with $5 of every special ticket purchased donated to Team DC, a charitable organization that educates the LGBTQ community on the benefits of individual and team sports participation.
Speaker Emerita Pelosi is being recognized for her long-standing commitment to fighting for the rights and dignities of the LGBTQ+ community, dating from her first congressional speech in 1987 on the AIDS crisis, up through leading recent legislation guaranteeing civil rights protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
The Orioles have made the following roster moves:
- Selected the contract of INF/OF Josh Lester from Triple-A Norfolk. He will wear #49.
- Placed LHP Danny Coulombe on the Bereavement List.
- Transferred RHP Dillon Tate to the 60-day Injured List with a right elbow flexor strain.
The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.
The Orioles have made the following roster moves:
- Recalled LHP Bruce Zimmermann from Triple-A Norfolk.
- Placed RHP Mychal Givens on the 15-day Injured List with right shoulder inflammation, retroactive to June 1.
The Orioles today announced that they have signed outfielder AARON HICKS to a Major League contract. He will wear No. 34 and be active for tonight’s game. Additionally, outfielder CEDRIC MULLINS has been placed on the 10-day Injured List with a right groin strain. The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.
Hicks, 33, appeared in 28 games with the New York Yankees this season, making 15 starts in left field and five in center field. He slashed .188/.263/.261 (13-for-69) with two doubles, one home run, nine runs scored, five RBI, and seven walks. He ranked in the top 11 percent of the majors in Statcast Arm Strength with a 90.8 mph average on the top 10 percent of his throws.
Hicks has appeared in 898 games across 11 Major League seasons with the Minnesota Twins (2013-15) and New York Yankees, slashing .230/.329/.384 (661-for-2,878) with 113 doubles, 14 triples, 101 home runs, 428 runs scored, 356 RBI, 420 walks, and 65 stolen bases. He has appeared at all three outfield positions in his career, making 619 starts in center field, 104 in left, and 69 in right, and owns a career fielding percentage of .993 (13 E/1,811 TC). From 2013-15, he led Twins outfielders in assists (22) and games played in the outfield (243). He has made nine career Opening Day rosters (2013-14, 2016-18, 2020-23), including seven as a Yankee. From 2017-18, he posted an .838 OPS and a .368 on-base percentage, one of just eight American Leaguers over the stretch to reach both of those marks with at least 200 games played, along with Jose Altuve, Mookie Betts, Alex Bregman, Aaron Judge, J.D. Martinez, José Ramírez, and Mike Trout.
A native of San Pedro, Calif., Hicks was selected by the Twins in the first round (No. 14) overall of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, Calif. He made his Major League debut with Minnesota on April 3, 2013, after making his first career Opening Day roster. He was acquired by the Yankees from the Twins in exchange for catcher John Ryan Murphy on November 11, 2015, and signed a seven-year contract extending through the 2025 season with a team option for 2026 on February 25, 2019. He is a product of Major League Baseball’s Urban Youth Academy in Compton, Calif. Hicks played golf growing up and has participated in numerous charity golf tournaments.
BARCS’ BFF Waggin’ will be at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Sunday, May 28 and Monday, May 29 for fans looking to adopt a dog or cat. The mobile adoption vehicle will be parked at Maryland Square, located near Gate A.
Over the past week, BARCS has taken in more than 300 new animals, putting them in a state of emergency. In order to help these animals, BARCS is waiving all adoption fees, effective immediately. Fans with game tickets who adopt an animal can pick up their pet after the game.
The Orioles have made the following roster moves:
- Recalled LHP Keegan Akin from Triple-A Norfolk.
- Optioned RHP Grayson Rodriguez to Triple-A Norfolk after yesterday’s game.
The Orioles today announced plans for the latest mural installations as part of the Birdland Murals series, powered by PNC Bank. The first mural will be unveiled at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Friday, May 26, as part of the Orioles City Connect campaign. The second mural, which is expected to be completed by late summer, will be located in downtown Baltimore. The collaboration will continue to honor Baltimore’s rich culture, storied history, unique neighborhoods, and incredible people, while allowing Orioles fans to experience the remarkable talents of several local artists.
“We are proud that we are able to utilize our partnership with PNC to continue to amplify Baltimore’s vibrant arts community and use it as another avenue to connect to our city and community, highlighting the people and things that make Baltimore so special,” said JENNIFER GRONDAHL, Orioles Senior Vice President, Community Development & Communications.
“PNC Bank is again honored to sponsor this important work for the benefit all Oriole baseball fans,” said LAURA GAMBLE, PNC Regional President for Greater Maryland. “The mural offers a visual connection into Baltimore’s remarkable community and celebrates the diversity of our great city.”
The Oriole Park mural, which will be located on the concourse behind home plate, was created by SHAN WALLACE, an award-winning visual artist, photographer, and educator from East Baltimore. The vinyl mural will depict scenes from Baltimore’s iconic neighborhoods, while blending in elements from the team’s City Connect uniforms.
Inspired by her day-to-day experiences in Baltimore, SHAN’s work is focused on demonstrating the cultural and political narratives of black life, confronting and challenging the ideas that surround existing collections, cultures, and archives of Blackness. Her artwork has received national attention from publications like The Daily Beast, Essence Magazine, Black Entertainment Television (BET), the Washington Post, VICE, and the New York Times. SHAN’s work has also been featured in public and private collections across the United States, including the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles.
The Orioles have made the following roster moves:
- Reinstated INF Ramón Urías from the 10-day Injured List (left hamstring strain).
- Optioned INF Joey Ortiz to Triple-A Norfolk.
The Orioles have made the following roster moves:
- Reinstated RHP Mychal Givens from the 15-day Injured List (left knee inflammation).
- Optioned LHP Cole Irvin to Triple-A Norfolk.
The Washington Nationals welcomed 2022 Heisman Trophy winner, USC quarterback and graduate of D.C.’s Gonzaga College High School Caleb Williams to Nationals Park for today’s game vs. the Detroit Tigers. Williams threw out the ceremonial first pitch, which was caught by Nationals pitcher Mason Thompson.
You can watch Williams' first pitch here.
City Connect merch will be available exclusively at the Orioles Team Store at Oriole Park on Monday, May 22. Join us for the opportunity to purchase from the complete line of Orioles City Connect gear. It's the fastest way to get your merch including jerseys, caps, hoodies, t-shirts and more. Plus, enjoy exclusive fan photo ops, ballpark food options at SuperBook Bar & Restaurant and Boog's BBQ, and more.
- Date: Monday, May 22
- Location: Orioles Team Store
- Time: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m.
- Free Parking: Lots C
- Entrance: Gate A Eutaw Street Entrance
The Washington Nationals reinstated right-handed pitcher Chad Kuhl from the 15-day Injured List and optioned right-handed pitcher Hobie Harris to Triple-A Rochester on Saturday. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement.
Kuhl, 30, returns after being placed on the Injured List on May 1 with right foot metatarsalgia. Prior to being placed on the Injured List, he appeared in five games, going 0-2 with a 9.41 ERA.
For his career, Kuhl is 31-43 with a 4.92 ERA in 132 games (116 starts) across seven Major League seasons with Washington (2023), Colorado (2022) and Pittsburgh (2016-21). He’s made 16 appearances out of the bullpen in his career, going 2-1 with a 5.40 ERA.
Harris, 29, posted a 5.40 ERA in 15 games out of the bullpen in his first Major League season.