SARASOTA – A fun golf outing among Orioles teammates a couple of weeks ago took a unique turn, like a ball sliced into the woods.

Kade Strowd didn’t get a mulligan.

Strowd was on the course when he found out that the Orioles had sent him to the Diamondbacks with two minor leaguers for utility infielder Blaze Alexander.

Jackson Holliday was in another foursome when he received a call from Dylan Beavers. Teammates Gunnar Henderson and Jeremiah Jackson also were part of the group.

“It was interesting. I don’t think I’ve been with anybody who’s gotten traded in person,” Holliday said.

“We were just playing golf. A group of eight, and we were doing two tee times, so we weren’t with him. Beaves just calls me and is like, ‘Any of you guys just get traded? Cause Strowd just got traded.’ And we’re like, ‘Ah,  no.’

“It was kind of interesting, but he was in good spirits. We’re just out golfing. Kind of a unique situation, but happy for him to get an opportunity out there. And excited to have Blaze.”

Holliday’s foursome was ahead of Strowd, but he was the one who had to catch up.

“We saw him after. We played the 18th hole together and that was that,” Holliday said, still shaking his head at the recollection.

Strowd made 25 appearances as a rookie, the first pitcher drafted by president of baseball operations Mike Elias to reach the majors, and posted a 1.71 ERA over 26 1/3 innings. He would have to fight for a job in camp but had a head start over many of the other competitors.

Elias sought a utility player to fill roles previously held by Ramón Urías and Jorge Mateo and was willing to part with Strowd and far-away prospects Wellington Aracena and Jose Mejia on Feb. 5.

“He said he was a little surprised,” Holliday said. “He didn’t play his best golf. But it’s part of the game and he’s gonna do great things. He was great for us last year. He’s a great teammate.”

Alexander homered down the left field line against Cade Povich yesterday in live batting practice. He’s out of options and, coupled with the team’s need and what it surrendered, seems assured of making the club.

“Strowd is the guy that’s going to come and compete in the bullpen for us right away,” Arizona general manager Mike Hazen said after the trade. “Felt like he took a pretty big step forward last year at the very end of the season. We like his stuff and he adds into the bullpen mix that we have – guys that have some flexibility.”

Holliday’s offseason also included workouts with Heston Kjerstad, former teammate Joey Ortiz and Pirates infielder Nick Gonzales at his home in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Kjerstad’s career keeps stalling due to his health, beginning with the heart condition myocarditis that was diagnosed shortly after the Orioles made him the second-overall pick in the 2020 draft. He strained his hamstring after being cleared to play, and was getting on a roll at the plate when Yankees reliever Clay Holmes nailed him on the helmet with a 97 mph fastball on July 12, 2024 at Camden Yards.

The concussion symptoms returned later in the summer, limiting Kjerstad to only 39 games. He made the club out of spring training last year but didn’t hit in the majors or at Triple-A Norfolk, and the Orioles shut him down in July with an explanation that he was fatigued.

Kjerstad didn’t elaborate when speaking to the media earlier this week after hitting his second live batting practice home run on the stadium field.

“Back to full health, feeling great,” he said. “Excited to be here. Got a great team rolling in this year. Really pumped to be healthy and see what I can do this season.”

Holliday is just as excited to watch Kjerstad barreling pitches again, including the line drive to left field off Shane Baz a few days ago and a pair of singles off Kyle Bradish.

“It’s been hard to watch as a friend, knowing just kind of the stuff he’s been going through,” Holliday said. “I’m just excited for him to come in healthy and do his thing, because when he’s healthy, he’s seriously one of the better hitters that I’ve seen. He has such a good approach and such a great swing that he can handle so many different pitches and shapes.

“The last year, he probably doesn’t want to remember too much about, but the other times that he was in the big leagues he’s had success and has been a great asset. I’ll be rooting for him bigtime. It’s just fun to watch him right now, live at-bats, kind of be him. He’s killing it right now, so it’s fun to watch.”