Steve Melewski

Hays feeling good about his game even as hits are slow to come

March 05, 2020, 3:22pm

Orioles

Hays feeling good about his game even as hits are slow to come

SARASOTA, Fla. - There is almost certainly no reason to have any concern about a player in spring training after only 18 at-bats. But Orioles outfielder Austin Hays, who had a big spring last year, is batting .111 so far at 2-for-18. He does have four RBIs and he feels like the hits will be coming shortly. He's still penciled in as the center fielder and likely leadoff hitter come opening day, March 26 in Baltimore against the New York Yankees. "I actually feel really good," Hays said before...

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Keegan Akin on his outing today against Minnesota

March 05, 2020, 11:51am

Orioles

Keegan Akin on his outing today against Minnesota

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles lefty pitching prospect Keegan Akin made his second spring start and third appearance this afternoon. He touched 94 mph with his fastball and threw some nice changeups as he went 2 2/3 innings allowing one run against the Twins at Ed Smith Stadium. Were he at minor league camp at Twin Lakes Park, Akin might be, as they say, getting his work in. But here at big league camp for the first time, after being added to the 40-man in November, he is trying to earn a rotation...

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O's lefty John Means: "It saved my career"

March 04, 2020, 3:49pm

Orioles

O's lefty John Means: "It saved my career"

SARASOTA, Fla. - In the 2018 season on the farm, lefty John Means pitched to a 3.72 ERA between Double-A and Triple-A, with a 1.26 WHIP and .268 opponent average against. In 2019 - in the major leagues - he pitched better. He posted a 3.60 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP and a .234 average against. That ERA was the lowest by a Baltimore starter since Wei-Yin Chen posted a 3.34 mark in 2015. That ERA would have ranked seventh in the American League if Means had thrown seven more innings to qualify for league...

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Valaika homers, LeBlanc gets win, bullpen strong late as O's beat Miami

March 04, 2020, 11:22am

Orioles

Valaika homers, LeBlanc gets win, bullpen strong late as O's beat Miami

JUPITER, Fla. - On a day when the Orioles got just three hits, they beat the Miami Marlins 5-3 to split two games on their swing through the east coast of Florida. They head back to Sarasota with a record of 7-5-1 after a loss to Washington and win over Miami. Today they scored two runs on Pat Valaika's third spring homer and two more on a throwing error. Four bullpen pitchers put up zeros from the sixth on to lock down the win. Non-roster invitee lefty Wade LeBlanc continued his bid for a...

Pregame injury/illness notes and lineup changes (O's win 5-3)

March 04, 2020, 6:52am

Orioles

Pregame injury/illness notes and lineup changes (O's win 5-3)

JUPITER, Fla. - The Orioles changed their original lineup today ahead of this game with the Miami Marlins at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Catcher Austin Wynns and shortstop JosÃ© Iglesias were scratched. Wynns took a foul ball in the groin area the other day, so the Orioles left him back in Sarasota. "He (Iglesias) has a little cramp in his upper quad, we just pulled him out precautionary and hopefully he'll be in there tomorrow," manager Brandon Hyde said in the visitors dugout. "Wynns...

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Mike Elias on Chris Davis, other topics during Orioles.com coverage

March 03, 2020, 1:18pm

Orioles

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias joined our live streaming coverage of the game on Orioles.com and MLB At-Bat on Tuesday. He discussed several topics including the hot-hitting start of first baseman Chris Davis. "Well, we don't get caught up in spring training results, but that said, he looks better this spring than he did last spring," Elias said. "Just the freeness of his at-bats. He's not getting locked up like we saw last spring....

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Slow day on offense as Orioles lose to Nationals

March 03, 2020, 11:23am

Orioles

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - After scoring 36 runs in a three-game stretch last Thursday through Saturday, the Orioles have been held to exactly three runs in each of the last three games. Today they lost for the first time in a week, 5-3 to the Washington Nationals at FITTEAM Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. The Orioles did not score after the fourth inning and the last 10 batters were retired in order by Nats' pitchers. The last losses before today for the Orioles were a week ago in split-squad...

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Brandon Hyde updates Mancini and other notes (O's lose 5-3)

March 03, 2020, 7:20am

Orioles

Brandon Hyde updates Mancini and other notes (O's lose 5-3)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Over the next two days during this east coast trip, the Orioles will get every position player, except Trey Mancini, into the game either today against the Washington Nationals or tomorrow versus the Miami Marlins. Mancini came out of yesterday's game not feeling well after two at-bats. "He's just not feeling great," manager Brandon Hyde said before today's game. "The right thing to do was leave him back there and not come on an overnight spring training trip. Be...

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J.J. Hardy on instructor role, possible coaching future at O's camp

March 02, 2020, 1:09pm

Orioles

J.J. Hardy on instructor role, possible coaching future at O's camp

SARASOTA, Fla. - It is a nice sight for Orioles fans. Former O's shortstop J.J. Hardy back in the orange and black. He was back wearing team colors Monday as he began a week-long run in camp as a guest instructor. A very popular Oriole from 2011-2017, Hardy was known for airtight defense and remarkable consistency at shortstop. He's also remembered for the great slide at home to score the go-ahead run on the Delmon Young three-run double in the 2014 American League Division Series. He was a...

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Asher Wojciechowski on his scoreless start against Tampa Bay

March 02, 2020, 9:29am

Orioles

Asher Wojciechowski on his scoreless start against Tampa Bay

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are starting to stack up some good outings from their starting rotation candidates. Right-hander Asher Wojciechowski was the latest to deliver today. In his second spring start, he pitched three hitless and scoreless innings, facing the minimum nine batters against the Tampa Bay Rays at Ed Smith Stadium. This followed John Means with his nine up and out outing yesterday against the Phillies. And Keegan Akin with a run allowed over two innings Saturday and Brandon...

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Melanie Newman to make O's broadcasting debut today

March 02, 2020, 6:56am

Orioles

Melanie Newman to make O's broadcasting debut today

SARASOTA, Fla. - Today is a special day for new Orioles broadcaster Melanie Newman. She'll work an Orioles broadcast for the first time and call some play-by-play alongside Geoff Arnold on the Orioles Radio Network as the O's host Tampa Bay at Ed Smith Stadium. Newman joins the Orioles from the Carolina League's Salem Red Sox, for whom she served as the lead broadcaster on baseball's first all-female broadcast team. Newman previously held various roles with the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders...

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Rio Ruiz is raking, bullpen talk and O's win streak notes

March 01, 2020, 4:35pm

Orioles

Rio Ruiz is raking, bullpen talk and O's win streak notes

SARASOTA, Fla. - He is still not outhitting Chris Davis, but Orioles third baseman Rio Ruiz had quite a day Sunday in Clearwater. In the 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies, he went 3-for-3. Ruiz hit all three balls hard, smacking a booming double to left in the first and a solo homer to left in the fourth. He pulled a line drive single into right in the fifth. He is now 10-for-15, batting .667 and trailing Davis, who is hitting .714 (5-for-7). Ruiz, who has a 1.625 OPS, has two doubles and...

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John Means rolls through three versus Phillies (O's win 3-2)

March 01, 2020, 9:38am

Orioles

John Means rolls through three versus Phillies (O's win 3-2)

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Left-hander John Means is looking ready for opening day already. He'll have several spring outings yet to go, but today he buzzed through a frontline Phillies lineup, recording nine straight outs in a three-inning outing. Means had one web gem behind him. Bryce Harper hit a hard grounder wide of first in the opening inning. First baseman Stevie Wilkerson made a diving stop to the backhand side and tossed to Means covering the bag. Means needed just 41 pitches and threw 24...

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O's close in on first cuts, plus other pregame notes

March 01, 2020, 7:38am

Orioles

O's close in on first cuts, plus other pregame notes

CLEARWATER, Fla. - As they prepare to play the Phillies today at Spectrum Field, the Orioles are closing in on their first round of spring cuts. It will likely happen in the next day or two before the club heads for the east coast of Florida for two games starting Tuesday. "It is starting to get around that time, so we're starting to discuss (that)," manager Brandon Hyde said before the game in the visitor's dugout. "We need to start paring down our numbers a little bit." Hyde said...

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A couple of young hitters are showing their smarts too

March 01, 2020, 3:10am

Orioles

A couple of young hitters are showing their smarts too

SARASOTA, Fla. - They are subtle changes and tweaks that are made. But they show the Orioles that a couple of their top young hitting prospects in Austin Hays and Ryan Mountcastle can make needed adjustments that will serve them well as they try to consistently hit major league pitching. Hays posted a walk rate of just 4.3 percent in 2019 at Triple-A and 4.2 the season before at Double-A. But he's learning to harness his aggressive swinging at key times to help produce more loud contact. He is...

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Zac Lowther soaks in the experience at O's camp

February 28, 2020, 2:32pm

Orioles

Zac Lowther soaks in the experience at O's camp

SARASOTA, Fla. - Coming off another strong minor league season, Orioles left-handed pitching prospect Zac Lowther is in big league camp for the first time. He's trying to soak up the experience, learn from the older players and show the staff what he can do when he gets his chance. He certainly has done that since the Orioles drafted him No. 74 overall in 2017 out of Xavier. In 61 career games he is 23-13 with a 2.26 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. The Orioles' co-Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2018...

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Outfielder Cedric Mullins gets off to a strong start in camp

February 27, 2020, 1:13pm

Orioles

Outfielder Cedric Mullins gets off to a strong start in camp

SARASOTA, Fla. - He was the Orioles' Minor League Player of the Year in 2018 and their starting center fielder on opening day in 2019. But in 2020, Cedric Mullins is out to prove he can still play and still be a key part of the O's future. In August 2018, Adam Jones moved to right field with Mullins taking over in center with the veteran's blessing. But Mullins hit just .094 (6-for-64) to start last season and he held the job in center field for just 22 games. After hitting .205 in 66 games...

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Ryan Mountcastle on playing left and his early spring offense

February 27, 2020, 4:38am

Orioles

Ryan Mountcastle on playing left and his early spring offense

SARASOTA, Fla. - With all the change of positions he has undergone and all the talk about his defense and whether it will be good enough for the majors, here's another question about Orioles prospect Ryan Mountcastle. Has he found a home in left field? "I hope so," he said this morning in the Orioles' clubhouse. "I like the outfield. I feel like I've been learning a lot and making a lot of progress. But wherever they want to put me, I'm willing to do it. Just need to keep learning how to...

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Bleier and Givens: Keeping Orioles teams loose since 2017

February 26, 2020, 12:45pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - One was drafted by the Orioles in 2009 as a shortstop. The other was originally a Texas Ranger, selected in round six of 2008. He found his way to three other teams before the Orioles acquired him from the Yankees before the 2017 season. Right-hander Mychal Givens, once the Orioles converted him to the mound, made the majors pretty fast. He's thrown only 159 minor league innings and went from Double-A to the big leagues in 2015. Lefty Richard Bleier pitched in Double-A for...

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Asher Wojciechowski on his outing against Atlanta

February 26, 2020, 9:23am

Orioles

Asher Wojciechowski on his outing against Atlanta

SARASOTA, Fla. - Above all else, right-hander Asher Wojciechowski passed the health test today as he threw two innings against the Atlanta Braves at Ed Smith Stadium. He showed the blister on his right middle finger is indeed no longer an issue. He said that is important because just about every pitch he throws comes off that finger. "None at all," he said when asked if there were any problems. "I've dealt with that before in my career. Nothing new. Fingers held up good. We've been doing...