Steve Melewski

For Stevie Wilkerson: New year, same challenge

February 26, 2020, 6:45am

Orioles

For Stevie Wilkerson: New year, same challenge

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles' versatile infielder and outfielder Stevie Wilkerson was designated for assignment last March 23 when the club added catcher Pedro Severino via waivers. But in this case the DFA was not very damaging for his career. Less than a month later - on April 22 - Wilkerson was called up from the minors and added back to the major league roster. He didn't know it then, but after playing 16 games for Triple-A Norfolk, he would go on to play 117 for the 2019 Orioles. He...

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Pedro Severino on his 2019 and the O's catcher of the future

February 25, 2020, 2:37pm

Orioles

Pedro Severino on his 2019 and the O's catcher of the future

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles might have lost 108 games last year, but for 26-year-old catcher Pedro Severino, the season was still special. He was given his first chance to play extensively in the major leagues. He was not even in the organization this time last year. He was claimed on waivers from Washington on March 23, 2019 and then made his first opening day roster. In parts of four seasons with the Nationals through 2018, Severino got a total of 282 plate appearances. In 2019 he got 341...

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Thomas Eshelman on scoreless outing versus Boston (O's lose 12-4)

February 25, 2020, 9:58am

Orioles

Thomas Eshelman on scoreless outing versus Boston (O's lose 12-4)

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Right-hander Thomas Eshelman, one of a large number of rotation candidates in Orioles camp, made a nice first impression today. He pitched two scoreless against Boston on 19 pitches at JetBlue Park. After his outing, Eshelman said he made some winter changes and adjustments, and today provided good feedback that suggests they may work for him. "Definitely," he said outside the Baltimore clubhouse. "The slider, that is the one (Andrew) Benintendi hit (for an out) to center,...

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Was September surge a glimpse of the future for Trey Mancini?

February 24, 2020, 4:27pm

Orioles

Was September surge a glimpse of the future for Trey Mancini?

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles' Trey Mancini has made a few general references to an adjustment he's made to his offensive approach. He's not going to get very specific, because he doesn't want opposing pitchers to get a sense of what he has done. He recently mentioned he's often aiming to hit the ball at the second baseman - essentially drive the ball to right-center - and that he might be aiming a bit over the second baseman's head to presumably help him drive the ball. He already wears...

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Alex Cobb on outing, Brandon Hyde on Chris Davis (O's lose 8-7)

February 24, 2020, 9:26am

Orioles

Alex Cobb on outing, Brandon Hyde on Chris Davis (O's lose 8-7)

CLEARWATER, Fla. - In his first game action since late last April, Orioles right-hander Alex Cobb threw a scoreless last of the first inning today versus the Philadelphia Phillies at Spectrum Field. It was curious initially that he didn't pitch a second inning as planned, coming off a season when he made just three starts. But Cobb, who has been feeling ill for several days, said it was that illness and nothing else that limited him to one frame today. "I told you I wasn't feeling that good,...

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Pregame updates on Diaz, K. Stewart and Wojciechowski

February 24, 2020, 7:35am

Orioles

Pregame updates on Diaz, K. Stewart and Wojciechowski

CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Orioles have played two spring games, with a third coming today here at Spectrum Field versus the Philadelphia Phillies. Yusniel Diaz, in camp as a non-roster outfielder, has yet to play and didn't make this trip either. "Sore left shoulder," manager Brandon Hyde said of Diaz's absence. "No long-term concern. Just giving it a couple of days to let it calm down, but not concerned about it. He's anxious to get out there. He's a great kid, man. I get there early in...

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O's bullpen righty Shawn Armstrong on his winter adjustments

February 23, 2020, 12:50pm

Orioles

O's bullpen righty Shawn Armstrong on his winter adjustments

Orioles bullpen right-hander Shawn Armstrong saw his performance fall off last year. Over four days in January at an O's mini-camp in Florida, the coaches had him make some changes and adjustments. He feels it has already paid off and that his progress will continue during the upcoming season. In his first four years in the big leagues, in parts of 2015 through 2018, he pitched to an ERA of 2.95 in 53 games with a WHIP of 1.138, a walk rate of 3.1 and a strikeout rate of 8.2 per every nine...

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Wade LeBlanc on his two scoreless against Boston

February 23, 2020, 9:34am

Orioles

Wade LeBlanc on his two scoreless against Boston

SARASOTA, Fla. - In his first shot to show the Orioles he's worthy of a starting rotation spot, veteran lefty Wade LeBlanc made a good opening impression this afternoon at Ed Smith Stadium. Two scoreless innings on 23 pitches against the Boston Red Sox. He retired six of the seven batters he faced, two on strikeouts, and pitched around a two-out single in the top of the first. LeBlanc got ahead of four of the seven hitters he faced. "For me, it's everything," he said of pitching ahead in...

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Trey Mancini on approach in early spring games

February 23, 2020, 6:26am

Orioles

Trey Mancini on approach in early spring games

SARASOTA, Fla. - As he is about to begin his fourth full season in the majors, the Orioles' Trey Mancini is way past the days of trying to make an impression in camp to win a job. He's got one that is secure and doesn't need to worry about taking any spring training 0-fers. He'll see his first spring action today, batting second in right field against Boston in a game that will be televised live on MASN. So has his spring training approach to get ready for a season changed, now that his...

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After season of improving pitches, Akin ready to put that to work

February 22, 2020, 1:46pm

Orioles

After season of improving pitches, Akin ready to put that to work

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles lefty pitching prospect Keegan Akin calls spring training "a great experience" so far. He's doing a lot of listening and learning. He's got a good clubhouse locker spot. He sits between 2019 American League All-Star John Means and right-hander Alex Cobb, a veteran of eight major league seasons and 146 starts. "That's a great seat. Can't get much better in my mind," Akin said. "Rookie All-Star and a vet like Cobb. I'm just a sponge. Absorb everything. Talk to...

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Brandon Bailey's to-do list: Get to know teammates, make O's roster

February 21, 2020, 12:47pm

Orioles

Brandon Bailey's to-do list: Get to know teammates, make O's roster

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles right-hander Brandon Bailey admits he has spent his first few days of spring training with his new team getting to know all of his teammates' names. That is understandable, with so many players new to him. But he's slowly starting to settle in at O's spring training and looking forward to the best opportunity of his young career. He wasn't drafted by the Houston Astros, but an Astros front office that included Mike Elias and Sig Mejdal traded for him not long after...

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What to make of the spring training stats

February 20, 2020, 1:52pm

Orioles

What to make of the spring training stats

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles play their first 2020 spring training game tomorrow when they meet the Atlanta Braves in North Port, Fla., at the Braves' new spring home. Starting then we begin keeping score and keeping stats. Some players will have strong springs on the stat sheet and some will not. A few things to keep in mind about the spring games: The win-loss record means nothing: This one should be obvious. A great or poor spring record does not foretell what the club will do once the...

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For the Orioles, there is no shortage of utility candidates

February 19, 2020, 1:17pm

Orioles

When it comes to the start of spring training games for the Orioles this Saturday, fans and reporters alike will begin tracking the chase for rotation spots. Is Alex Cobb healthy? Who will join him and John Means in the rotation? There are other areas in camp where there will be competition for a spot or spots. One area that is probably not going to garner a lot of media or fan attention is the battle to be the club's utility infielder. Or maybe they expand that to a super utility type as a...

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Dwight Smith Jr. looking for a repeat spring performance

February 18, 2020, 2:18pm

Orioles

Dwight Smith Jr. looking for a repeat spring performance

When spring training games began last year, outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. was still with the Toronto Blue Jays. But he would end the spring season on a hitting tear for the Orioles. That led to him making his first big league opening day roster. The Orioles acquired Smith last March 8 for international bonus money. The Blue Jays had designated him for assignment three days earlier. Smith joined the Orioles and started mashing the ball. In 12 games, he hit .429 (12-for-28). He homered five times,...

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Ryan McKenna out to make an impression, plus Chris Davis' comments

February 17, 2020, 5:27pm

Orioles

Ryan McKenna out to make an impression, plus Chris Davis' comments

Since he has yet to play at Triple-A, outfielder Ryan McKenna is unlikely to break north with the Orioles to start the 2020 season. But he's back in major league camp for the second year in a row, trying to making an impression and set himself up for a good season. The O's outfield picture is a bit crowed right now, with seven outfielders on the 40-man roster. There are three non-roster outfielders in camp with Yusniel Diaz, Mason Williams and Stevie Wilkerson, who is listed with the...

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What's next?: Can Grayson Rodriguez repeat his strong 2019?

February 16, 2020, 12:31pm

Orioles

What's next?: Can Grayson Rodriguez repeat his strong 2019?

So what can 20-year-old right-hander Grayson Rodriguez do for an encore? In 2019, he had a great season for Single-A Delmarva, pitched a scoreless inning in the All-Star Futures Game and ended his year as co-winner of the Jim Palmer Award as the Orioles Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Rodriguez, who shared that award with right-hander Michael Baumann, went 10-4 with an ERA of 2.68 for the Shorebirds. Held to 94 innings, Rodriguez gave up just 57 hits and only four homers with 36 walks and 129...

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A take on the proposed new MLB playoff format

February 15, 2020, 1:51pm

Orioles

A take on the proposed new MLB playoff format

In Major League Baseball, 10 teams currently make the playoffs with three division winners and two wild card teams in each league. Under a new proposal from MLB that came out this week, that number would jump to 14 teams. Each league would have a top seed getting a first-round bye. The other six teams would play each in other in best-of-three series, all in one city. Teams seeded second and third would pick their opponents with the fourth seed playing the remaining team not selected. The three...

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Doug Brocail's strong praise for John Means and Alex Cobb

February 14, 2020, 1:07pm

Orioles

Doug Brocail's strong praise for John Means and Alex Cobb

The Orioles may have plenty of uncertainty in their rotation at the start of spring training. They've got plenty of candidates competing for spots in the starting five. But they feel they've got two players that are a given at the top of the rotation, good health willing, of course. They are lefty John Means and righty Alex Cobb. Second-year pitching coach Doug Brocail was heaping some big praise on both during an interview on the "Orioles Hot Stove Show" on 105.7 FM the Fan this...

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Former O's ticket holder will try to help team become a winner again

February 13, 2020, 3:35pm

Orioles

Former O's ticket holder will try to help team become a winner again

She is Harvard-educated and Bethesda, Md., born and raised. Her impressive resume at a young age includes time in both Major League Baseball and the National Football League. As a kid, she spent hours upon hours attending games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, and now Eve Rosenbaum has an office in that warehouse she used to look at from the stands. On Nov. 25, the Orioles hired Rosenbaum as director of baseball development. She worked with executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias...

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One player looking to repeat his offense and some shortstop talk

February 12, 2020, 12:09pm

Orioles

One player looking to repeat his offense and some shortstop talk

Happy Hanser Alberto is back with the Orioles in 2020 trying to duplicate his special 2019 season for the club. He's always smiling, always happy and seems always thrilled to be an Oriole. And why not? How does a player claimed on waivers four times between the 2018 and 2019 seasons - twice by the Orioles - wind up batting .305? That ranked as the eighth-best batting average in the American League and 16th-best in the majors. He ended 2018 with his original team, the Texas Rangers, who had...