Inking catcher Samuel Basallo to an eight-year, $67 million contract extension in August, only five days after his major league debut, highlighted the strides made by the Orioles in an international market that used to keep its doors closed to them.
The shopping has continued today at the start of the international signing period, and the Orioles handed out seven-figure bonuses to four players for the first time.
Shortstop Jose Luis Acevedo of the Dominican Republic earned the largest bonus in team history at $2.3 million, according to a source, which narrowly beats out the $2.297,500 given to shortstop Luis Almeyda in 2023.
Baseball America ranked Acevedo 11th on its bonus board and MLB Pipeline ranked him 14th on its top 50 prospects list.
The Orioles also used their $8,034,900 bonus pool money on outfielder Ariel Roque at $1.7 million, outfielder Pedro Gomez at $1.25 million and catcher/outfielder Gabriel Rosario at $1.05 million. Baseball America was first to report the signings.
The publication ranked Roque at No. 22 among international prospects, Gomez at 38 and Rosario at 41.
Left-hander Andri Hidalgo, a 16-year-old who’s also from the Dominican Republic and rated by MLB Pipeline as the top pitching prospect, has signed for $625,000.
Baseball America also reported the signings of outfielders Joshddy Castillo ($375,000) and Carlos Rubecindo ($400,000). They’re also from the Dominican.
Prior to 2021, the Orioles had never given a seven-figure signing bonus to an international player.
* The Orioles addressed their catching depth today by signing Sam Huff to a minor league deal.
Huff, 28, appeared in 20 games with the Giants last season and batted .208/.259/.340 with a double and two home runs. He appeared in 78 games over parts of four seasons with the Rangers and is a career .247/.301/.430 hitter.
Huff has thrown out 11 of 59 runners attempting to steal. He’s thrown out 31 percent in eight minor league seasons.
Basallo and Adley Rutschman are the only catchers on the 40-man roster. Huff will join Maverick Handley and Silas Ardoin with Triple-A Norfolk.
* Changes with the Orioles in 2026 are reaching the spring training television schedule.
The club announced that MASN will broadcast 20 exhibition games, beginning on Feb. 20 against the Yankees, with the teams meeting at Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota.
The final broadcast is March 22, when the Orioles play the Nationals at Camden Yards.
This is the most games ever by an Orioles broadcast partner.
Five of the 20 games will be played on the road – March 1 against the Red Sox in Fort Myers, March 9 against the Cardinals in Jupiter, March 10 against the Astros in West Palm, March 14 against the Pirates in Bradenton, and March 18 against the Blue Jays in Dunedin.
Also included on the schedule is the March 20 Spring Breakout game between Orioles and Red Sox prospects in Sarasota.
MASN aired eight exhibition games in 2025, one more than in 2024 and four more than in 2023.
Pitchers and catchers participating in the World Baseball Classic must report to camp by Feb. 9, with position players due three days later. The remaining pitchers and catchers report Feb. 11, followed by position players on the 16th.
Fans will have enhanced and expanded access at Ed Smith Stadium on home and away dates, including free admission to open practices at home. Entry begins approximately four hours before the start time.
Opening Day is March 26 against the Twins at Camden Yards.
The Orioles relocated their spring home from Fort Lauderdale to Sarasota in 2010, with renovations to the complex made in 2011.
Here is the exhibition broadcast schedule:
Feb. 20, Yankees at Orioles, 1:05 p.m.
Feb. 21, Pirates at Orioles, 1:05 p.m.
Feb. 25, Rays at Orioles, 1:05 p.m.
Feb. 26, Tigers at Orioles, 1:05 p.m.
Feb. 28, Braves at Orioles, 1:05 p.m.
March 1, Orioles at Red Sox, 1:05 p.m.
March 4, Astros at Orioles, 1:05 p.m.
March 6, Cardinals at Orioles, 1:05 p.m.
March 8, Blue Jays at Orioles, 1:05 p.m.
March 9, Orioles at Cardinals, 1:05 p.m.
March 10, Orioles at Astros, 1:05 p.m.
March 11, Pirates at Orioles, 1:05 p.m.
March 14, Orioles at Pirates, 1:05 p.m.
March 15, Yankees at Orioles, 6:05 p.m.
March 16, Red Sox at Orioles, 6:05 p.m.
March 18, Orioles at Blue Jays, 1:05 p.m.
March 19, Pirates at Orioles, 6:05 p.m.
March 20, Red Sox at Orioles (spring breakout), 6:05 p.m.
March 21, Phillies at Orioles, 1:05 p.m.
March 22, Nationals at Orioles (Camden Yards), 1:30 p.m.
WBAL Radio will broadcast a dozen games: Feb. 20, Feb. 21, Feb. 22 (at Tigers), Feb. 28, March 1, March 7 (vs. Twins), March 8, March 14, March 15, March 20 (at Yankees), March 21 and March 22.
Josh Lewin returns to the radio booth to serve as a play-by-play announcer after filling in during the 1995 and ’96 seasons and hosting WBAL’s “Sports Line” show in ’94.
Lewin will continue out-of-season as the longtime play-by-play announcer for UCLA football and men’s basketball.
Kevin Brown returns for his eighth season as a member of the broadcast team and fifth as primary television play-by-play announcer. Brett Hollander returns for his seventh season and will serve as a lead play-by-play announcer on radio broadcasts. Ben Wagner enters his third season with the club and will serve as a lead play-by-play radio announcer and as the primary backup for television.
Hall of Famer Jim Palmer and Ben McDonald are back as MASN analysts, with Palmer entering his 34th season on television and 63rd in the Orioles organization. Brian Roberts will serve as an analyst for select games.
Melanie Newman and Rob Long return as pre- and post-game hosts on MASN. Newman recently was named 2025 Maryland Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association (NSMA).