Steve Melewski

Jace Peterson looks to make roster, help his teammates in O's camp

March 12, 2019, 8:36pm

Orioles

Jace Peterson looks to make roster, help his teammates in O's camp

SARASOTA, Fla. - He's played in 479 major league games with over 1,500 career plate appearances for four teams, but 28-year-old Jace Peterson finds himself in familiar territory as this spring training is winding down. He's trying to make a team. After batting .195/.308/.325 in 235 plate appearances for the 2018 Orioles, the versatile Peterson is in a real battle - maybe an uphill battle - to make this team. But he said he can only control what he can and he's enjoying every minute under the...

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Mychal Givens struggles again as O's fall to Yankees

March 12, 2019, 6:30pm

Orioles

Mychal Givens struggles again as O's fall to Yankees

TAMPA - The Orioles built an early four-run lead tonight, but right-hander Mychal Givens struggled again as the New York Yankees rallied against him in the last of the eighth for an 8-7 win. The Orioles fell to 9-8-2 in front of 9,743 at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Givens, who had allowed six runs in 2 1/3 innings in his first three outings, entered with a lead of 7-5. But he allowed a leadoff homer to Kyle Higashioka and he went on to just get one out as two runs scored to tie the game...

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Chris Davis talks about returning to the lineup tonight (O's fall 8-7)

March 12, 2019, 5:03pm

Orioles

Chris Davis talks about returning to the lineup tonight (O's fall 8-7)

TAMPA - Orioles first baseman Chris Davis returned to the lineup tonight here versus the Yankees and went 1-for-2 with an RBI single. It was his first game action since March 3, as he's been out with a sore left hip. Davis began this game 1-for-12 with a homer and seven strikeouts in spring games. In the O's first, batting as the designated hitter versus right-hander Jonathan Loaisiga, he took three straight strikes. But an inning later, with the Orioles rallying for five runs, he lined a...

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O's pregame notes on Trumbo, Davis, Wynns and more (game update)

March 12, 2019, 2:38pm

Orioles

O's pregame notes on Trumbo, Davis, Wynns and more (game update)

TAMPA - Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that Mark Trumbo will not necessarily have to play in the field to be on the active roster on opening day. Trumbo, who had right knee surgery in September, will make his spring training debut tomorrow in Sarasota when he serves as the designated hitter for the Orioles against Toronto. "We're going to give him a couple of at-bats tomorrow," Hyde said before tonight's game with the Yankees. "Hopefully, he comes out of the game feeling great and...

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Mark Trumbo is set for his first game action on Wednesday

March 12, 2019, 10:03am

Orioles

Mark Trumbo is set for his first game action on Wednesday

SARASOTA, Fla. - When the Orioles take the field at Ed Smith Stadium tomorrow afternoon versus Toronto, Mark Trumbo will play in a game for the first time since last Aug. 19 and the first time since his knee surgery in September. Trumbo didn't play after that August game in Cleveland and underwent surgery on this right knee the following month, a relatively new procedure for a cartilage defect known as DeNovo. It's a juvenile cartilage implant from a donor that's packed into the opening and...

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A look at the spring training bullpen battles

March 11, 2019, 5:24pm

Orioles

A look at the spring training bullpen battles

SARASOTA, Fla. - As the Orioles get back in action tonight at 6:35 p.m. versus the Yankees in Tampa, after the only spring off day Monday, let's take time to look at the competition for bullpen spots. If the Orioles do proclaim anyone as their closer for 2019 - at least for the start of it - that remains very likely to be right-hander Mychal Givens. Don't let Givens' spring stats - he's allowed six runs over 2 1/3 innings - dissuade you at this point. He's the best candidate to close and...

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Orioles' preparations heat up on the No. 1 draft pick

March 10, 2019, 1:43pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - For just the second time in their history, the Orioles will pick first overall in the First-Year Player Draft in June. In 1989, the Orioles selected LSU right-hander and current O's broadcaster Ben McDonald with the No. 1 pick. The process to decide who they'll take 1/1 on June 3 is well underway, said executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias when he was a recent guest with me on an Orioles.com broadcast. Elias will pull the trigger on the pick and he's...

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Trying to regain previous form, Dylan Bundy struggles early on in camp

March 09, 2019, 5:18pm

Orioles

Trying to regain previous form, Dylan Bundy struggles early on in camp

SARASOTA, Fla. - For a pitcher selected fourth overall in the 2011 draft, who had an ERA of 4.02 in 2016 and 4.24 a year later, pitching to a 5.45 last year and leading the majors in homers allowed was not nearly what he had in mind. "Absolutely. You don't ever want to see that ERA or that many homers given up. That just gives me more motivation to come back and fix that problem," said Dylan Bundy, who went 8-16 in 2018 and led the majors in homers allowed with 41. I interviewed Bundy a few...

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Orioles slug four homers in wild split-squad win over Rays

March 09, 2019, 12:24pm

Orioles

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. - In a game where Dylan Bundy gave up six runs and the Orioles made six errors and lost an eight-run lead, they still won today. A Baltimore split squad beat the Tampa Bay Rays 17-15 at Charlotte Sports Park in the wildest game of spring training to date. It was every bit as crazy as the score might suggest. The game did feature two long home runs by O's prospects Ryan Mountcastle and Austin Hays, and four homers in all for the Orioles. Rio Ruiz had a three-run shot and...

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A look at the MLB veteran who is helping an Orioles rookie

March 08, 2019, 6:02pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - It happened on Tuesday afternoon at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota. Two pitchers from the same high school pitched in the same spring training game. They graduated six years apart from Clayton High School in North Carolina, which is about 30 minutes from Raleigh. But they've developed a close friendship and bond, and the star pitcher from Clayton has been trying to help the rookie find his way in the majors. The vet is 30-year-old right-hander Chris Archer of the Pittsburgh...

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Andrew Cashner on his short outing versus the Red Sox

March 08, 2019, 10:02am

Orioles

Andrew Cashner on his short outing versus the Red Sox

SARASOTA, Fla. - For Orioles right-hander Andrew Cashner, the makings of a strong outing today quickly went south within a span of three Boston batters in the top of the second inning. In his first spring game on Sunday versus Detroit at Ed Smith Stadium, Cashner allowed six hits and four runs over three innings. But today versus the Red Sox he retired the side in order in the first on just 11 pitches. He then got Steve Pearce and Christian VÃ¡zquez quickly to start the second. But a 10-pitch...

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Lefty Josh Osich on joining the O's and his quest for a roster spot

March 08, 2019, 5:10am

Orioles

Lefty Josh Osich on joining the O's and his quest for a roster spot

SARASOTA, Fla. - After leaving the only organization he has ever known as a professional reliever, pitcher Josh Osich is starting to get used to his new team. He's been an Oriole since Feb. 19, when they claimed him on waivers from the San Francisco Giants. A lefty reliever with a mid 90s fastball, he's trying to make the opening day roster against stiff competition. There are four bullpen lefties on the O's 40-man roster, and the other three are Richard Bleier, Tanner Scott and Paul Fry....

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Getting an update on the O's analytics efforts from Sig Mejdal

March 07, 2019, 5:24pm

Orioles

Getting an update on the O's analytics efforts from Sig Mejdal

SARASOTA, Fla. - Sig Mejdal is the Orioles' assistant general manager, analytics. He was hired by Mike Elias in November, five days after Elias was named the Orioles' executive vice president and general manager. Mejdal was hired by the club to build an analytics department, and also to advise Elias in all baseball operations decisions. Upon his hire, Elias said: "Sig Mejdal is one of the most experienced and accomplished analysts working in baseball today. To have him join our Orioles...

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After latest run-scoring hit, is Yusniel Diaz pushing for a roster spot?

March 06, 2019, 5:59pm

Orioles

After latest run-scoring hit, is Yusniel Diaz pushing for a roster spot?

SARASOTA, Fla. - After his latest important and attention-grabbing hit - a three-run double for the lead yesterday versus the Tampa Bay Rays - the question may be asked again: Can 22-year-old outfielder Yusniel Diaz make the Orioles' opening day roster, and should he be a strong candidate to start in right field? The young outfielder who is the club's No. 1 ranked prospect initially struggled after he was traded to Baltimore last year. He came to the club in the Manny Machado deal from the...

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With increased velocity, lefty John Means is chasing a roster spot at O's camp

March 05, 2019, 2:18pm

Orioles

With increased velocity, lefty John Means is chasing a roster spot at O's camp

SARASOTA, Fla. - After starting and throwing two scoreless innings versus the Yankees in Tampa Friday night, left-hander John Means gets another start on the mound today as the Orioles play the Rays in Port Charlotte. Means, an 11th-round pick out of West Virginia University in 2014, might currently be on the fringes of the fifth-starter competition, but another solid outing could enhance his shot to make this roster. He made his big league debut late last season, got into one game at Boston...

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After whirlwind winter, Hanser Alberto is back with the Orioles

March 05, 2019, 4:42am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - After a winter that started with him playing for Texas, infielder Hanser Alberto was claimed via waivers by the Yankees, and then by the Orioles, and then by the Giants, and then again by the Orioles. He'd like to stay in one place for a while. The Yankees claimed him Nov. 2 from the Rangers and the Orioles claimed him Jan. 11, but he was designated for assignment by Baltimore on Feb. 19 when the club added lefty reliever Josh Osich. Three days later the Giants claimed the...

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O's Mike Elias on Martin, Bundy, service time considerations and more

March 04, 2019, 5:33pm

Orioles

O's Mike Elias on Martin, Bundy, service time considerations and more

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias has, to no one's surprise, been a very busy man in Florida. He's checking out the O's spring roster and watching the team play often. He's swung a couple of trades since camp started and has taken time to do some amateur scouting as well. Yesterday, when the Orioles beat the Twins 9-4 in Fort Myers, he took some time to hang out with me during the live-streamed audio-only broadcast of the Birds on Orioles.com....

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Rule 5 pick Richie Martin makes a strong first impression

March 03, 2019, 4:12pm

Orioles

Rule 5 pick Richie Martin makes a strong first impression

SARASOTA, Fla. - He's got new teammates here in Birdland since coming over from Oakland as a Rule 5 pick in December. But the process of blending in has been smooth, quick and easy for infielder Richie Martin. "I feel comfortable," he said. "At the end of the day it's baseball. Doesn't matter really what level you are at, it's the same game. It's going good for me. Getting in the swing of things. Everyone around here is real comforting and helpful and showing us young guys the ropes....

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Anthony Santander had a big day in O's win over Detroit

March 03, 2019, 1:57pm

Orioles

Anthony Santander had a big day in O's win over Detroit

SARASOTA, Fla. - In a situation where several young outfielders are trying to put their best foot forward at Orioles camp and a few are doing it, Anthony Santander can sometimes get overlooked. But today was not one of those times. Beginning the game 3-for-10 in spring training, he went 3-for-3 with a walk in the team's 7-5 win over Detroit that improved the O's record to 5-3-2. Batting ninth as the DH, the switch-hitter doubled off lefty starter Matthew Boyd in the third. In the next inning...

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Chance Sisco on his hot start in spring training

March 02, 2019, 3:32pm

Orioles

Chance Sisco on his hot start in spring training

SARASOTA, Fla. - The seeds for a great start to spring camp for catcher Chance Sisco were planted not long after last season ended. He made some tweaks to his swing, but to hear him tell it, regaining lost confidence is the biggest reason he's mashing the ball right now. He came to Sarasota with a fresh and confident outlook that got a boost from new manager Brandon Hyde and the new coaching staff, who seem to daily be filling the young players with doses of confidence. They keep it positive...