BRADENTON, Fla. – The assignment on Opening Day is set. Trevor Rogers just needs to pad his pitch count in spring training and leave Florida without an injury.

Rogers always wants good results, too, but knows the pecking order of importance.

The left-hander allowed two runs and four hits in four-plus innings against the Pirates at LECOM Park. He threw 61 pitches, the last hitting Henry Davis leading off the fifth.

Manager Craig Albernaz confirmed yesterday that Rogers would start on March 26 against the Twins at Camden Yards, his first career honor.

“It meant a lot, just the journey that I’ve been on since I got traded over here and just the belief that they have in me to take the ball on Opening Day,” Rogers said. “Deep down I’ve always felt like I have the stuff to be an Opening Day guy and it’s been a bucket list for my career, so I don’t take it lightly and I’m extremely grateful and humble for the honor.”

Rogers often reflects on that journey – the four poor starts in 2024 after the Marlins traded him, followed by an option to Triple-A. The knee injury in 2025 that kept him from competing for a job in spring training. And the amazing comeback, with a 1.81 ERA in 18 starts, Most Valuable Oriole award and fifth-place vote in Cy Young balloting.

As if it couldn’t get much better, Rogers was chosen for the first start in 2026, ahead of Kyle Bradish and other veterans on the staff.

“It just goes back to the work that the strength department, the pitching department, training, everybody that’s helped me get back to where we all knew that I could be, and me personally,” he said.

“I think it was at first a blessing in disguise getting sent down, and talked about it 1,000 times, but just getting traded over here, and this organization has helped me so much. And finally starting to see the fruition through all of that.

“It is Opening Day, but it’s more important that I get through the next 30 starts after that. So it’s a really important honor, but just trying to be out there every five days.”

Adley Rutschman caught Rogers today and noted how the lefty arrived in camp ready to go.

“I think as far as his pitch shapes, velocity, everything’s ticked up from last offseason to this current offseason,” Rutschman said. “It just looks like he’s continually gotten better. Velo’s improved, stuff’s improved, he looks confident on the mound, and I think he knows what works and sticks to it and does a good job of game planning. Really all-encompassing, he looks better.”

Rogers has expressed his love of the home ballpark and appreciation for fans who supported him through good and bad times. He can barely contain the feelings that are percolating since getting the news yesterday.

“I was talking to my wife. She’s like, ‘You have any jitters for Opening Day?’ I’m like, ‘Damn right I’m gonna have some jitters,’” he said.

“It’s gonna be exciting just being with the best fans at Camden Yards and just a beautiful ballpark, and some of the upgrades they’ve made to the place. I’m already trying to contain my excitement right now. I’m just ready to get up there, pitch in front of those incredible fans and give them a show.”

Today marked Rogers’ first Grapefruit League appearance since he tossed three scoreless innings against the Rays on Feb. 25. He faced Team Netherlands on March 3, allowing six runs in 2 1/3 innings, and threw on a back field leading up to his outing against the Pirates.

Davis led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run on Rogers’ second pitch of the day. The Pirates loaded the bases in the second inning on back-to-back singles from Ryan O’Hearn and Nick Gonzalez and a two-out fastball that hit Jake Mangum. Davis ran the count full and walked for a 2-0 lead.

Bryan Reynolds had a leadoff single in the third, but Rogers retired the next three batters. He struck out O’Hearn.

Six Pirates in a row were retired after Rogers cruised through the fourth.

“It was fine, checked the box,” Albernaz said. “That’s what we talk about with all our guys is check the box, getting ready for Opening Day.

“It was good to get him back up, just get one hitter out there to kind of build him up. But yeah, he’ll be ready for Opening Day, so we’re good.”

Taylor Ward singled to lead off the first and third innings. Rutschman followed Ward in the third with a line drive home run to right-center field at 381 feet and 103 mph.

Colton Cowser and Blaze Alexander singled with one out but Jeremiah Jackson grounded into a double play.

Dylan Beavers singled in the second and hit a two-run homer in the sixth on a 3-0 pitch after Alexander’s second single of the afternoon. Beavers has seven hits this spring and six are for extra bases.

“He had a great day of work today,” Albernaz said. “Just like anyone, they’re kind of development and progressions are all different, and Beavs has been working really hard with Brady (North) and Dustin (Lind). Today, had some really good work and it showed.

“Was good to see him kind of unload on the 3-0 pitch. It was good to see him square that up, so his at-bat quality, too, has been great.”

Rutschman added an RBI single in the seventh.

“Adley’s been looking good all camp,” Albernaz said. “Great at-bat quality and was good to see him get into one, too.”

Marcell Ozuna hit a three-run homer off Yaramil Hiraldo in the seventh for a 6-5 lead. Hans Crouse made his spring debut in the eighth and former Orioles minor leaguer Billy Cook hit a two-run homer.

Cowser hit a left-on-left RBI double in the ninth.

“His last three at-bats versus lefties have been really great swings, working the opposite-field gap and controlling the strike zone. And that’s something where for Cowser to take the next step, it’s managing the at-bat against lefties and sticking to his approach.”

*First baseman Ryan Mountcastle said earlier in the week that he expected to be in today’s lineup after leaving Wednesday’s game when hit in the hand with a pitch, but he didn’t make the trip to Bradenton. The team had an off-day Thursday and Mountcastle was spared yesterday’s trek to Clearwater.

“There’s no need to rush him back. Just want to make sure he’s good,” Albernaz said.

Infielder Coby Mayo hasn’t played since going 4-for-4 with a home run and five RBIs Tuesday in West Palm. He’s 13-for-26 with 10 RBIs and a 1.195 OPS and could be in Sunday night’s lineup against the Yankees.

“Mayo, he’s fine,” Albernaz said.