SARASOTA – The first batter that Grant Wolfram faced yesterday pulled a curveball into left field for a double.

Brooks Lee would be the only Twins hitter to get on base against Wolfram, who snagged James Outman’s sharp bouncer to the mound and retired the side in order in the fifth inning on two fly balls and a strikeout.

The official Grapefruit League stats list Wolfram with four scoreless innings in four appearances. They cheat him out of a scoreless and hitless frame against Team Netherlands – an exhibition that doesn’t count among fake games.

Yesterday marked the first time that Wolfram had two ups after replacing starter Cade Povich with two outs in the fourth at Ed Smith Stadium.

“It was good to see Wolfie get one out, sit down and come back out. Checked that box, too,” said manager Craig Albernaz.

“That’s what we talk about in spring, to kind of get those guys those reps.”

Wolfram has allowed only two hits, walked one and struck out nine, however his appearances are counted. Few players on the bubble have popped as loudly as Wolfram, who registered a 5.40 ERA and 1.875 WHIP last summer in 21 games.

“He looks great,” Albernaz said. “Every time I’ve seen him, he’s been throwing strikes, the velocity’s there, break stuff’s there. And then the lefties in the box just look really uncomfortable with him. So I’ve been pleasantly surprised with him and his showing in camp so far.”

Keegan Akin and Dietrich Enns are assumed to be on the club, and Wolfram would give the bullpen a third left-hander. President of baseball operations Mike Elias said earlier in camp that Wolfram has a chance to develop into more of a situational lefty. They slashed .313/.393/.375 against him last season.

“I think Grant has that potential and has looked good so far in camp, and he gives us an intriguing option that can be a little tougher on lefties with his velocity and arm angle,” Elias said last month. “But we’ll also keep looking from the outside.”

Albernaz believes in the importance of a dominant left-on-left reliever despite the three-batter minimum rule.

“Absolutely,” he said, “and that’s why those lefty ‘specialists’ who have the ability to get both handedness out is a real thing. But also having a lefty specialist or lefties in the ‘pen, when you get into matchup situations late in the game, it might deter the other team of popping that lefty, when you have a guy like that in the ‘pen waiting in the wings or guys like that waiting in the wings. So there is still a lot of value in lefties … but it’s more importantly that they can get the opposite handedness out, as well.”

*Jhonkensy Noel is expected to be among the camp cuts before the Orioles set their Opening Day roster, but he’s showing a side of himself that tends to get ignored.

Noel is more than just a big guy with big-time power and strikeout totals.

Sprinkled into his eight exhibition appearances are an infield single on a slow roller up the third base line, a diving catch in right field and a diving stop and throw at first base.

“Oh, he’s sneaky athletic,” Albernaz said.

Albernaz would know after serving as bench coach and assistant manager with the Guardians the past two seasons. The Orioles hired him as their manager on Oct.27 and claimed Noel on waivers Jan. 5.

“In Cleveland, rumor has it coming up through the minor leagues he was a really good third baseman, and they moved him off third because of a third baseman that’s there, No. 11, Josie (José Ramírez), which is why he went to first and right field,” Albernaz said. “But he’s extremely athletic, and I’m glad that he gets to showcase it and show everyone what he can do because it’s in there. And I love the adjustments he’s making in the batter’s box.”

Noel is 4-for-11 with a double in camp. He totaled seven doubles, a triple and 13 home runs in 67 games with the Guardians in 2024, and his popularity with fans skyrocketed after belting a game-tying two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 3 of the American League Championship Series against the Yankees. However, he slashed .162/.183/.297 with two doubles and six homers in 69 games last season and was designated for assignment Dec. 17.

Careers can turn on a dime.

The Orioles made the waiver claim on “Big Christmas” and outrighted him a few weeks later.

“It’s gonna be a slow process for him,” Albernaz said, “but the at-bat quality is trending in the right direction.”

It’s important for Noel to present himself as more than a slugger.

“Oh yeah, of course,” he said. “I played third base, too. I’ve been taking some ground balls at third because I might play everywhere when the manager needs me. I try to be ready for it.”

Albernaz doesn’t need a refresher on the rest of Noel’s skill set.

“He’s one of the most sneaky, athletic people in the game.”