Steve Melewski

Jorge LÃ³pez makes strong case (O's win with Hyde quotes)

March 26, 2021, 4:48pm

Orioles

Jorge LÃ³pez makes strong case (O's win with Hyde quotes)

It was a night when the Orioles rotation competition got reduced by one pitcher. Meanwhile, another stated his case, pitching very well against an American League East rival. Lefty Keegan Akin was optioned to Triple-A during a game where right-hander Jorge LÃ³pez was mowing down the New York Yankees in Tampa with pretty solid regularity. LÃ³pez threw five scoreless innings, his best outing of a good spring, allowing just two hits, and he matched Yankees ace Gerrit Cole in a scoreless duel...

J.J. Hardy and Mike Devereaux on the O's Hall of Fame

March 26, 2021, 11:31am

Orioles

J.J. Hardy and Mike Devereaux on the O's Hall of Fame

Former Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy remembered being a part of the group of players that turned the Orioles from losers into winners and returned the club to the playoffs. Former outfielder Mike Devereaux remembered his great 1992 season and being a part of the first team to play at Camden Yards. The former O's duo has been elected to the Orioles Hall of Fame. They are joined by radio broadcaster Joe Angel, who will be inducted as this year's Herb Armstrong Award winner. The trio will be...

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Hays has a big night, but Akin struggles (O's win, 10-9)

March 25, 2021, 4:05pm

Orioles

Hays has a big night, but Akin struggles (O's win, 10-9)

With the games dwindling and the rotation competition still apparently very much open, it was not a good time for a rough outing on the mound. But 25-year-old Orioles lefty pitching prospect Keegan Akin had one tonight. He could not make it through the third inning as the Orioles hosted the Pittsburgh Pirates at Ed Smith Stadium. Making his first appearance in a spring game since March 15 - he certainly had pitched on the back fields on other days - Akin allowed six runs and eight hits over 2...

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Will nine scoreless innings lead local kid to opening day roster?

March 25, 2021, 1:49pm

Orioles

Will nine scoreless innings lead local kid to opening day roster?

We don't know what the stats say about a couple of Bruce Zimmermann outings in B games and/or on the back fields, but we do know his stats in three spring training games have been close to perfect. Hard to top a zero ERA over nine innings. The Baltimore native, 2013 Loyola High School grad and former player at Towson University got his feet wet with two games in the majors late last year. He gave up five runs in three innings in a start against Tampa Bay and allowed one run over four innings...

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From the shadows to the spotlight: John Means ready for opener

March 24, 2021, 6:02pm

Orioles

From the shadows to the spotlight: John Means ready for opener

When he takes the ball a week from today at Boston, Orioles left-hander John Means can check off another box: opening day starter. A tired arm kept it from happening last July. But Means' rise from 11th-round draft pick and overlooked prospect continues on an upward trajectory. He followed up an All-Star nod and second-place finish for American League Rookie of the Year in 2019 with a stunning end to his 2020 season. One where Means went 2-1 with a 1.52 ERA in his last four starts. He walked...

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Dean Kremer takes positive steps (O's lose to Red Sox)

March 24, 2021, 4:21pm

Orioles

Dean Kremer takes positive steps (O's lose to Red Sox)

It could have been his last spring training game of 2021. Or right-hander Dean Kremer could pitch one last time in the spring finale on Monday. That would be his fifth day to pitch. Tonight he threw one pitch that cost him, but otherwise had a solid outing against the Boston Red Sox in Fort Myers. Kremer went 4 2/3 innings and that is the longest outing by an Orioles starter this spring. He allowed five hits and two runs with one walk and five strikeouts. His ERA is 6.32 through five spring...

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Valdez's role and more on the new Dominican complex

March 23, 2021, 1:55pm

Orioles

Valdez's role and more on the new Dominican complex

In case we forgot how effective right-hander CÃ©sar Valdez can be with his "dead fish" changeup, we were reminded watching the second and third innings on MASN on Tuesday. He kept the ball down in the zone and retired six straight batters on three groundouts and three strikeouts. Nothing to it. He elevated some balls and got hit in the first inning. But in three spring games, Valdez has allowed one run in five innings with eight strikeouts. No doubt the Orioles have kept him on the back...

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Versatile Valdez on today's outing (O's beat Rays)

March 23, 2021, 11:44am

Orioles

Versatile Valdez on today's outing (O's beat Rays)

He might be the most versatile Orioles pitcher. Right-hander CÃ©sar Valdez could pitch in late relief or long relief. He could start the game. He could serve as an opener. He's ready for anything. Today, he was the starter and pitched three innings at Ed Smith Stadium against the defending American League East champion Tampa Bay Rays. And his outing got better as he went on. Valdez was leaving many of his pitches up in the top of the first and Tampa Bay was putting good swings on them....

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Orioles talk about plans for new Dominican facility

March 23, 2021, 8:49am

Orioles

The Orioles continue to step up their game in the international market. The club today announced plans to develop a new, state-of-the-art training academy in Guerra, Dominican Republic. The 22.5-acre complex will be home to the Orioles' Dominican player development operations, which will include three full fields, a sports-turf agility field, batting and pitching tunnels, administrative buildings, dormitories and educational facilities. The Guerra project is set to begin construction in April...

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Back with Orioles, Gray Fenter sizes up his Rule 5 experience

March 22, 2021, 3:26pm

Orioles

It was the top of the fifth inning on March 2 at Sloan Park in Mesa, Ariz. For most of those watching that day, it was just another spring training baseball game with the Chicago Cubs hosting Kansas City. But for right-hander Gray Fenter, it was not just another day. He was about to pitch in a big league game for the first time. Taken by the Cubs from the Orioles organization in December's Rule 5 draft, Fenter was trying to beat long odds and win a bullpen job for a team that has been in the...

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John Means on outing against the Pirates (O's lose)

March 22, 2021, 11:22am

Orioles

John Means on outing against the Pirates (O's lose)

In his next to last start before his opening day assignment in Boston, Orioles lefty John Means saw the Pittsburgh Pirates produce a load of foul balls against him and he got his pitch count up, working into the fourth inning in Bradenton. Means had quite a wild ride as the Pirates batted in bottom of the first. Shortstop Kevin Newman jumped on a first-pitch fastball and doubled to deep left. Erik GonzÃ¡lez then produced a single on a swinging bunt toward shortstop to leave runners on the...

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The pitch making a difference for Harvey, plus Mountcastle heats up

March 21, 2021, 2:23pm

Orioles

The pitch making a difference for Harvey, plus Mountcastle heats up

One reason right-hander Matt Harvey is having a good spring and making a strong push for an Orioles rotation spot is because he has found a new pitch. It's not at all new to the sport, but the power sinker is new to Harvey. It's really just a two-seam fastball being used by a pitcher who seldom threw one during a career that spans eight seasons. But when Harvey spent time before reporting to Sarasota at Baseball Performance Center in Pleasantville, N.J., they found he could throw the power...

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Jorge LÃ³pez on struggles in the third today (O's lose)

March 21, 2021, 10:58am

Orioles

Jorge LÃ³pez on struggles in the third today (O's lose)

He came into his start today at Ed Smith Stadium having allowed just one run in his last nine innings. Orioles right-hander Jorge LÃ³pez was quietly having a strong camp. But he ran into big trouble in the third inning this afternoon in Sarasota against the Minnesota Twins. The O's fell behind by six runs in that inning, but Maikel Franco, in his O's debut, and Ryan Mountcastle have hit them back into the game. LÃ³pez came into this outing on a roll. For the spring, over four appearances,...

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Matt Harvey on his strong outing against the Yankees

March 20, 2021, 4:47pm

Orioles

Matt Harvey on his strong outing against the Yankees

After feeling he was making solid progress with his mechanics and in his work with the Orioles pitching coaches after his last start, right-hander Matt Harvey went out tonight and topped that performance. Five days ago he allowed five hits and two runs over four innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tonight he allowed just one hit and one run - that on a solo homer - over four innings at Ed Smith Stadium against the New York Yankees. Harvey walked one and fanned two and the Yankees went just...

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Farm system on the move: O's get No. 5 ranking

March 20, 2021, 3:05pm

Orioles

Farm system on the move: O's get No. 5 ranking

In January, it was a nice moment and recognition for the Orioles player development operation when it achieved its highest ranking ever in Baseball America's organizational rankings. They came in at No. 7 among all 30 clubs. On Thursday, MLBPipeline.com released its latest top 10 and the Orioles came in at No. 5. Yep, they keep movin' on up. The goal, set by executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias in his first day on the job, was to build an elite talent pipeline. These...

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Sisco continues swing adjustments, plus other notes

March 19, 2021, 6:32pm

Orioles

Sisco continues swing adjustments, plus other notes

It might surprise some to learn that Orioles catcher Chance Sisco was a better-than-league-average hitter in 2020. While his batting average was .214, an OBP of .364 led to a .741 OPS. That was five percent better than the league and better than teammates Cedric Mullins and Austin Hays. For the year, just five Orioles topped that number. But Sisco, 26, is still trying to find the consistent success on offense in the majors that he had on the farm. He was the 2016 O's Minor League Player of the...

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Kremer sizes up outing, Mancini on homer (O's win 11-9)

March 19, 2021, 4:44pm

Orioles

Kremer sizes up outing, Mancini on homer (O's win 11-9)

Orioles right-hander Dean Kremer had allowed just one run in six innings in his previous two spring starts. He looked headed for another good outing tonight until the Pittsburgh Pirates struck quickly after two were out in the third. Then a few misadventures on defense didn't help his cause, as he failed to get through the fourth inning. Kremer went 3 1/3 innings, allowing five hits and five runs with two walks and three strikeouts. He threw 71 pitches, 42 for strikes, and got nine swings and...

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Taking the rotation for another spin

March 18, 2021, 3:49pm

Orioles

Teams don't set their season-opening starting rotations going only by spring training stats. But if they did it that way in Sarasota, here is how it might look for the Orioles. Left-hander John Means, as we have known since last season ended, will get the opening day start at Boston. Manager Brandon Hyde will probably make that official today. Then Means will have two spring starts to build up to six or seven innings and be a full-go at Fenway Park. Means' ERA was 12.29 after his second...

Santander works to improve his game, plus other notes

March 17, 2021, 5:09pm

Orioles

Santander works to improve his game, plus other notes

Coming off an outstanding season, one that earned him the Most Valuable Oriole award even though he only played in 37 of the 60 games, Orioles right fielder Anthony Santander is now working on ways to take his game to an even higher level. In 2020, he batted .261/.315/.575 in 165 plate appearances with 13 doubles, 11 homers, 32 RBIs and an .890 OPS. His OPS was over 1.000 before his bat cooled off late in his year. A year that ended for him on Sept. 5, when he went on the injured list with a...

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John Means pleased with his outing (O's beat Braves)

March 17, 2021, 3:58pm

Orioles

John Means pleased with his outing (O's beat Braves)

With opening day fast approaching, the Orioles pitcher who is expected to be on the mound that afternoon is very much rounding into game shape. Lefty John Means had a second straight strong tonight, retiring the first 10 batters he faced, as the Orioles faced the Atlanta Braves at Ed Smith Stadium. If Means continues to pitch every fifth day, he would line up for spring starts on March 22 and 27, then the opening game start at Boston on April 1. Tonight, Means made quick work of the Braves in...