minicamp - Blog

Kjerstad recounts his small world moment

February 11, 2022, 5:51am

Orioles

Kjerstad recounts his small world moment

Heston Kjerstad won't claim that he never forgets a face, but the young outfielder was certain that he recognized one of the players who showed up in Sarasota last month to work out at the minicamps for hitters. The stranger wasn't at the fall instructional camp. He wasn't in the organization until January. Who was this guy? A little detective work revealed his identity and proved again that it's a small baseball world. Kjerstad already lived the coincidence of being teammates with...

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Hearing from Hess and Akin at minicamp

January 10, 2018, 4:46pm

Orioles

Only eight of the 17 pitchers at the Orioles minicamp in Sarasota threw off a bullpen mound over the course of three days. Richard Bleier had sessions on Monday and yesterday. I'm including Ryan O'Rourke in the group of invitees because the Orioles wanted to check on him following ligament-reconstructive surgery on his left elbow that forced him to miss the 2017 season. O'Rourke and Dariel Ãlvarez, who had the same procedure on his right elbow, are in rehab mode. David Hess played catch,...

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More on Orioles minicamp (2018 game times set)

January 10, 2018, 10:57am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles' latest minicamp provided an opportunity for manager Buck Showalter and some of his coaches to check on the Ed Smith Stadium complex after it incurred damage from Hurricane Irma and with new sod being laid on the Camden Yards replica field. A scoreboard is going up later this winter and the batter's eye must be replaced. Netting beyond the outfield fence will save baseballs from being lost in the pond or oncoming traffic. Trees have been cleared out - some by...

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Dariel Ãlvarez nearing return to mound

January 10, 2018, 5:25am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Dariel Ãlvarez no longer is resistant to making the switch from outfielder to pitcher. He's embracing the idea with a surgically repaired elbow and a new attitude. Ãlvarez is playing catch at minicamp, which wraps up later today, and said via translator Ramon Martinez that he's scheduled to throw off a flat mound by the end of the month. "I've been doing the rehabilitation and I feel pretty good so far," said Ãlvarez, who had the procedure in April, was released...

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Could Yacabonis become a starter?

January 09, 2018, 5:27pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - We've come upon the third and final day of the Orioles minicamp at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota. It feels like we just arrived and got reacquainted with the facility. Like we just checked the nameplates above the lockers to make certain that no one signed during the flight. Pitching coach Roger McDowell will meet briefly with the three beat writers before everyone heads home. This is, after all, a gathering of pitchers with no position players. It will be good to...

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Pondering the closer situation as Day Two of minicamp concludes

January 09, 2018, 10:44am

Orioles

Pondering the closer situation as Day Two of minicamp concludes

SARASOTA, Fla. - As Zach Britton sits at home with a boot covering his foot following Achilles surgery, the backend of the Orioles bullpen now fractured, manager Buck Showalter won't anoint one reliever as his closer moving forward. Britton could miss the first half of the season depending on his recovery, with no firm timeline in place. He's hoping to be back in May or June. "We have some people that are capable of doing it," Showalter said. "Obviously, nobody of the track record of the...

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Orioles aren't ready to place restrictions on Hunter Harvey

January 09, 2018, 8:26am

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter won't put an innings limit on Hunter Harvey, the former first-round pick who's recovered from ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow. No decision has been made on where he'll be assigned. Keeping Harvey healthy is job No. 1. The rest should take care of itself. Watching Harvey throw his bullpen session today "brings a smile to my face," Showalter said. "Think about how far he's come and the similarities with Dylan (Bundy). I...

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Miguel Castro preparing for chance to start

January 09, 2018, 6:36am

Orioles

Miguel Castro preparing for chance to start

SARASOTA, Fla. - The second day of Orioles minicamp concluded this morning with Hunter Harvey, Joely RodrÃguez, Luis Gonzalez, Lucas Long and Yefri RamÃrez throwing bullpen sessions. Harvey's sessions always will attract interest, but manager Buck Showalter also has varying levels of praise for the other four pitchers in the group. He's relieved that Gonzalez, a left-hander who went 6-2 with a 2.47 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in 36 relief appearances at Single-A Frederick and didn't give up an...

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Chris Lee on a difficult season and a fresh start

January 08, 2018, 4:17pm

Orioles

Chris Lee on a difficult season and a fresh start

SARASOTA, Fla. - We're only one day into the Orioles minicamp and manager Buck Showalter is accomplishing everything on the list. Pitchers coming off surgeries are checked, the newbies are evaluated, meetings are held with everyone who received an invitation. Chris Tillman's workouts while the club retains interest in re-signing him are an added bonus. I'll just assume that he remains out of view of the three beat writers who made the trip. "The criteria for being here, and we have a lot of...

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More on Cortes, Bleier and Givens on Britton, amateur signing

January 08, 2018, 11:45am

Orioles

More on Cortes, Bleier and Givens on Britton, amateur signing

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles set up their yearly minicamps, initially at Camden Yards and for the past five years at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota, in part to gather early impressions on pitchers they've mostly known through scouting reports, video and word of mouth. Manager Buck Showalter already held a favorable opinion of left-hander Nestor Cortes Jr. and it heightened after the first day of minicamp. "Cortes can spin the ball. Did you all see that?" Showalter asked following...

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Showalter on Machado, Beckham, the roster and more

January 08, 2018, 9:29am

Orioles

Showalter on Machado, Beckham, the roster and more

SARASOTA, Fla. - Orioles manager Buck Showalter continues to proceed as if Manny Machado will be part of his opening day lineup, though trade discussions haven't closed. There's no other way to handle the matter. Showalter has talked to Machado and Tim Beckham about the left side of the infield and how it might unfold. Machado could move over to shortstop, the spot where Beckham prefers to play. It's a delicate situation. "It's further along than it was," Showalter said. Any...

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Quick hits from Showalter following Day One of minicamp

January 08, 2018, 8:14am

Orioles

Quick hits from Showalter following Day One of minicamp

SARASOTA, Fla. - Pitcher Chris Tillman, who has a home here, is working out at the Ed Smith Stadium complex after receiving permission from the Orioles. Tillman is a free agent and manager Buck Showalter expressed interest today in bringing back the veteran right-hander. Showalter also said he'd like to hold onto free agent outfielder Craig Gentry, whose defense and speed are valuable assets. Showalter didn't dismiss the idea of bringing back Pedro Ãlvarez, but conceded it would be...

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Day One of Orioles minicamp

January 07, 2018, 12:23pm

Orioles

SARASOTA, Fla. - The first day of Orioles minicamp begins this morning at the Ed Smith Stadium complex, with pitchers scheduled to head outdoors at 10 a.m. A small group of beat writers will have clubhouse access for an hour. Temperatures climb into the 70s this week, but rain is in the forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday, which could move some of the bullpen sessions to the covered cages. Or, because it's Florida, the sun could come out two minutes after a downpour. In case you need a...

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Previewing next week's minicamp in Sarasota (updated twice)

January 02, 2018, 11:20am

Orioles

Previewing next week's minicamp in Sarasota (updated twice)

While the extended forecast calls for snow possible later this week and temperatures so low that they can turn your thoughts to ice, the highs in Sarasota are stuck in the 50s until Sunday. Until the Orioles begin trickling into the Ed Smith Stadium complex for their annual three-day minicamp. Temperatures are supposed to climb back into the 70s by Monday's first workout with only a 10 percent chance of rain before everyone returns home. The guys living up north may leave kicking and...

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Wrapping up the final day of minicamp (with pictures and video)

January 11, 2017, 8:20am

Orioles

Wrapping up the final day of minicamp (with pictures and video)

SARASOTA, Fla. - Jesus Liranzo, Brian Gonzalez and Garrett Cleavinger completed their bullpen sessions this morning. Liranzo had the area to himself after Gonzalez and Cleavinger threw off adjoining mounds. Chris Tillman stuck around again to watch the sessions after working out earlier in the day. This guy is a leader on the pitching staff and it shows. The beard is an added bonus. "He likes baseball," said manager Buck Showalter. "There's a confidence in what he can do. He doesn't look...

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Kim reportedly off WBC roster, Liranzo on health and progress

January 11, 2017, 5:17am

Orioles

Kim reportedly off WBC roster, Liranzo on health and progress

SARASOTA, Fla. - The Orioles are down to four players participating in the World Baseball Classic. Outfielder Hyun Soo Kim has declined an offer to join South Korea's team, according to a report from the Yonhap News Agency. Kim was on the preliminary roster. The report includes the following note on Kim: "Kim, entering his second big league season, told the manager a few hours after the team meeting that he wouldn't be available for the WBC. Kim was a part-time player as a rookie last year...

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Notes on minicamp and Brian Gonzalez's progress

January 10, 2017, 4:18pm

Orioles

Notes on minicamp and Brian Gonzalez's progress

SARASOTA, Fla. - We've reached the final day of the Orioles' minicamp at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. A few more bullpen sessions, maybe a few more meetings between the pitchers and coaches Roger McDowell and Alan Mills, followed by flights back home later in the afternoon. The Orioles apparently will leave without signing any new players. No surprises like Delmon Young and Alfredo Aceves. Not even a tryout for a former pitcher hoping to land a minor league deal. This isn't to suggest that...

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O's keeping Mountcastle on shortstop throwing program

January 10, 2017, 10:19am

Orioles

O's keeping Mountcastle on shortstop throwing program

SARASOTA, Fla. - The three-day minicamp at the Ed Smith Stadium complex has enabled the Orioles to offer a unique experience to one of their prospects: a throwing program for an infielder. It isn't routine in baseball. Such programs usually are associated with pitchers. But the Orioles are providing one to Single-A Delmarva shortstop Ryan Mountcastle, the 36th overall pick in the 2015 draft who's trying to stay at his current position. Mountcastle wants to play shortstop, but there are...

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Branden Kline gets back on the mound (with pictures and videos)

January 10, 2017, 6:34am

Orioles

Branden Kline gets back on the mound (with pictures and videos)

SARASOTA, Fla. - The second day of minicamp held more importance for Branden Kline than perhaps anyone else in attendance. Kline, 25, threw off a bullpen mound this morning, another important step in his recovery from ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow in October 2015. Dr. James Andrews handled the procedure in Florida. Jason Garcia joined Kline for the first round. Others followed while manager Buck Showalter, bench coach John Russell, pitching coach Roger McDowell and bullpen...

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Chris Lee on his health, Mychal Givens on pitching in WBC

January 10, 2017, 5:06am

Orioles

Chris Lee on his health, Mychal Givens on pitching in WBC

SARASOTA, Fla. - The second day of Orioles minicamp this morning will include multiple bullpen sessions. Pitchers scheduled to throw include Jason Garcia, Mike Wright, Logan Verrett, Joe Gunkel, Jesus Liranzo, Stefan Crichton, John Means and Jimmy Yacabonis. Chris Lee isn't ready to step on a mound, but it could happen within the next two weeks. Lee threw off flat ground yesterday while continuing his recovery from a lat injury that limited him to eight appearances and only seven starts at...