Anyone else want to play the outfield?

The Orioles aren’t holding tryouts but there’s a little experimenting with Jeremiah Jackson, who started in right again yesterday. Dylan Beavers will get plenty of starts in the corners – right Saturday and left yesterday. Interim manager Tony Mansolino said the organization’s No. 3 prospect isn’t here to sit.

Colton Cowser moves back to center field after being planted in left prior to his concussion. Greg Allen, Jordyn Adams, Daniel Johnson and Ryan Noda are gone. Tyler O’Neill is coming back, perhaps in early September.

(Adams had a triple and home run Friday night with Triple-A Norfolk and was ejected by the plate umpire after striking out. But we digress …)

Noda was listed as an infielder on the active roster, but he made three of his five career starts in right field with the Orioles.

Beavers is the 16^th outfielder used by the Orioles to set the franchise record. They used 15 in 2019, 2015, 2012, 2005 and 1988, per STATS.

His inclusion in Saturday night’s lineup gave the Orioles 14 players with starts in the outfield, tying the 2019 team for second behind the 2015 team’s 15.

Name the two Orioles this season who came off the bench to play the outfield in a game. Answer below.

The flow of outfielders could finally stop after Beavers. Five of the Orioles’ top 10 prospects as ranked by MLB Pipeline play the position, but Ike Irish, Enrique Bradfield Jr., Slater De Brun and Nate George aren’t debuting in 2025. Jud Fabian and Reed Trimble won’t get the call from Norfolk.

Cedric Mullins had the most appearances with 88, but he’s a Met. Ramón Laureano was next with 71 but he’s a Padre. The others in order are Dylan Carlson, Cowser, Heston Kjerstad, O’Neill, Ryan O’Hearn, Jackson, Adams, Jorge Mateo, Allen, Noda, Johnson, Beavers, and the two answers to my earlier question.

Jackson is a 25-year-old rookie who signed with the Orioles in November, hit .377/.400/.673 in 40 games after moving up from Double-A Chesapeake to Norfolk, and had three more hits yesterday to raise his average to .333 with an .812 OPS in 13 games. He’s playing right field part-time but is primarily a shortstop, second baseman and third baseman.

A 12-0 blowout yesterday – tied for the fourth-largest road shutout victory in club history - enabled the Orioles to move Jackson to third base in the eighth inning and he bounced a throw to first base on an infield single in the ninth. Nice pick by Coby Mayo.

The ridiculously early 2026 mocks should have Jackson listed in a utility role. The Orioles probably will seek at least one versatile infielder over the winter after trading Ramón Urías, but Jackson is passing his audition with flying colors. He understood the assignment.

Samuel Basallo was the designated hitter yesterday in his major league debut and will catch tonight in Boston, where the Orioles begin a two-game series.

Astros right fielder Jesús Sánchez robbed Gunnar Henderson of a grand slam yesterday and Basallo of a three-run homer. Basallo rounded first base, removed his batting helmet and shouted in frustration, but nothing could ruin his day.

He capped it with a two-run single in the eighth inning at 101.1 mph.

Basallo is the ninth Oriole to make his major league debut this season, joining Beavers, Jackson, Tomoyuki Sugano, Brandon Young, Maverick Handley, Yaramil Hiraldo, Kade Strowd and Grant Wolfram. Basallo, at 21 years and 4 days old, is the youngest position player to appear in a game this season.

The left side of the plate has the potential to be lethal with Basallo and Beavers joining Henderson, Cowser, and Jackson Holliday, plus the switch-hitting Adley Rutschman. Just need a few guys to step up their game. And the Red Sox are starting two right-handers against the Orioles.  

Basallo, who faced five different pitchers yesterday, was the 62^nd player used to tie the franchise record in 2021. Who’s going to set the new mark?

Kyle Bradish is expected to make one more rehab start and be reinstated from the 60-day injured list. He’s going to arrive ahead of Tyler Wells, who may require two more starts.

“They’ve both been pitching really good,” said Norfolk manager Tim Federowicz. “Bradish, this last one was his best. And the closer they get to their major league outings, they’re gonna get a little bit better, a little bit sharper. We saw that the last game.”

Handley (right wrist sprain) was returned from his injury rehab assignment, reinstated from the IL and optioned to Norfolk.

Alex Jackson is staying as a third catcher. The Orioles want to evaluate Basallo behind the plate but also use him at first base and as the DH to keep his bat in the lineup.

Like Beavers, he isn’t here to sit.

Albert Suárez had his rehab assignment transferred to Norfolk yesterday and he allowed one run and one hit with two walks, a strikeout, a wild pitch and a balk in three innings. He threw 39 pitches, 23 strikes

Suárez allowed four runs and five hits in two innings with Chesapeake in his first start. The Orioles want him in a bulk relief role.

Here are the starters for the series at Fenway Park:

Tonight: LHP Trevor Rogers vs. RHP Dustin May
Tuesday: RHP Tomoyuki Sugano vs. RHP Walker Buehler

Answer: Vidal Bruján (three innings) and Cooper Hummel (two).