The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Selected the contract of RHP Matt Bowman from Triple-A Norfolk. He will wear No. 51.
• Placed RHP Albert Suárez (right shoulder inflammation) on the 15-day Injured List, retroactive to March 29.

The Orioles’ 40-man roster currently has 40 players.

The Orioles aren’t strangers to elite prospects. 

For three consecutive seasons, Baltimore boasted the highest ranked minor leaguer in the game in Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson and Jackson Holliday. 

Now, although there’s no No. 1 overall prospect in the system, the O’s still have two of the best prospects in the game in Coby Mayo and Samuel Basallo. 

They, along with Chayce McDermott, Baltimore’s fourth-ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline, feel like the last of the great wave of youngsters. 

Take a look at the prospect list from 2023: the top six players are all contributors at the big league level and combine to help form the foundation of the young Orioles. They’ve all, of course, since graduated from prospect status. 

TORONTO – Orioles manager Brandon Hyde isn’t asking for the world. He isn’t being unreasonable and pushing his ‘pen to perform beyond its limits.

Sitting in the visiting dugout yesterday, Hyde said, “I’m looking for guys to come in and throw strikes.”

That’s pretty much the extent of it just three games into the season.

“We need a little better strike throwing ability.”

Hyde will start there and figure out the rest.

TORONTO – The power flickered and came back on at Rogers Centre.

The Orioles hit six home runs on Opening Day, only one last night and two in the top of the first inning today against future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer that went a combined 851 feet. Held to three hits last night, they doubled that total by the fourth – five for extra bases.

A two-run lead was lost again but returned to them, and Jordan Westburg registered his first career multi-homer game in a 9-5 victory over the Blue Jays before an announced crowd of 27,005.

Used in a non-save situation, Félix Bautista allowed a one-out double to Bo Bichette, walked Anthony Santander with two outs and struck out three with his splitter in a scoreless ninth in his first game since Aug. 25, 2023, and the Orioles can do no worse than split their first series.

“That was so exciting for all of us," said manager Brandon Hyde. "All the people in this room know what he’s gone through and how he was itching to be a part of our team last year so badly and unable to do that. I was hoping for a situation that was as low-pressure as possible. Maybe a three-run lead with the bottom of the order. But it worked out and great to see him out there. Everybody was pumped up that he was coming into the game.

TORONTO – Heston Kjerstad and Gary Sánchez make their first starts this afternoon against the Blue Jays.

Kjerstad is playing right field and batting sixth. Sánchez is catching and batting seventh.

Adley Rutschman is the designated hitter and Ryan O’Hearn is playing first base. Ryan Mountcastle, Tyler O’Neill and Jorge Mateo are on the bench.

Jordan Westburg is batting cleanup. Jackson Holliday is the shortstop.

Dean Kremer makes his first start today. He has a 4.82 ERA and 1.536 WHIP in 11 career games against the Blue Jays. He’s allowed 10 runs and 24 hits in 22 1/3 innings at Rogers Centre.

TORONTO – Only two games into the season and some Orioles fans are wondering why Heston Kjerstad isn’t in the lineup.

Why wait until Day 3? Do it now and avoid the rush.

Kjerstad entered Thursday’s game in the eighth inning and threw out Alejandro Kirk from right field. Asked about it afterward, manager Brandon Hyde said, “Heston and (Jorge) Mateo, quick tag, keep the tag on.”

“I gave Heston a little bit of a heads up, but not much,” Hyde added, “and goes in the game and makes a really nice play.”

Heston didn’t play last night in an 8-2 loss. No one pinch-hit, pinch-ran or entered for defense. Kjerstad sat on the bench and watched the Orioles be held to three hits.

TORONTO – Charlie Morton paced back and forth in the dugout, the frustration keeping the veteran starter on his feet. His Orioles debut lasted 80 pitches in only 3 1/3 innings, two inherited runners scored and a lead fell apart like his outing.

There will be better days and nights for Morton. This one was a challenge from the beginning with a barrage of hard-hit balls from a Blue Jays team perhaps still ornery from yesterday’s Opening Day beatdown.

Jackson Holliday homered in the third inning and Tyler O’Neill had a sacrifice fly in the fourth, but the Jays put five runs on the board in the bottom half and won 8-2 at Rogers Centre.

No one’s getting a sweep in this series.

The Orioles raised the bar yesterday with 12 runs and six homers, but the bats calmed tonight. They were held to three hits and committed two errors.

TORONTO – Grayson Rodriguez did some long tossing in the outfield this afternoon and headed to the visiting bullpen for his second session since the Orioles put him on the injured list with inflammation in his right elbow/triceps area. Rodriguez was shut down after a cortisone injection, but he’s started a throwing progression.

Manager Brandon Hyde clarified that the two sessions were a “short box,” with the catcher set up closer than 60 feet six inches. Rodriguez will have a light session Sunday from regular distance.

“Kind of a mini side, a really, really light side,” Hyde said. "So the side progression starts Sunday.”

Reliever Andrew Kittredge stood next to Rodriguez in the outfield and did some throwing. He’s recovering from left knee surgery.

Gunnar Henderson is leading off and playing shortstop with Triple-A Norfolk to begin his rehab assignment. Hyde said Henderson probably will play at least seven innings.

TORONTO – Jorge Mateo is in tonight’s Orioles lineup at shortstop, with Jackson Holliday moving to second base and Jordan Westburg to third.

Mateo is batting ninth and Holliday rises to eighth.

Colton Cowser is leading off again and playing left field. Westburg remains the No. 3 hitter. Cedric Mullins moves up to sixth and Ryan Mountcastle drops to seventh.

Charlie Morton makes his Orioles debut. He’s started only twice at Rogers Centre and allowed two runs in 10 2/3 innings.

Bo Bichette is 5-for-16 with a double and home run against Morton, who at 41 years and 136 days is the oldest pitcher to start for the Orioles.

Just one spot in the O’s Opening Day lineup felt “different.” Batting fifth and playing right field for Baltimore, No. 9, Tyler O’Neill.

Anthony Santander, who had manned the corner outfield for the O’s for parts of the last eight seasons, trotted onto the Rogers Centre grass in Toronto blue. He hit third for Toronto and went 0-for-4 with a couple of runners stranded on base. 

All O’Neill did in his team debut was hit a home run in his sixth consecutive Opening Day, extending his own MLB record. That was part of his 3-for-3 day, plus two walks. Ho hum. 

So much has been made of the changes on the other side of the ball for Baltimore. The Orioles’ rotation was the hot topic of conversation all offseason long. 

After one year in an O’s uniform, Corbin Burnes is out in Arizona. Enter a full season of Zach Eflin, and free agents Charlie Morton, Tomoyuki Sugano and Kyle Gibson. 

The Orioles have made the following roster move:

• RHP Roansy Contreras has cleared outright waivers and has been assigned to Triple-A Norfolk.

TORONTO – Jorge Mateo had a locker set up this morning in the visiting clubhouse at Rogers Centre that belonged to Livan Soto for yesterday’s workout. The media saw Mateo as he walked into the room before the Orioles headed onto the field for stretching and batting practice.

His arrival in Toronto was confirmed. And he wasn’t here just to visit teammates.

Mateo made the Opening Day roster. He overcame elbow surgery and odds that didn't favor him.

“At the beginning of camp I thought it was doubtful, just because he hadn’t done a whole lot and there was still some rehab left to accomplish,” said manager Brandon Hyde. “We got him a lot of at-bats over the last seven-to-10 days, and he played a lot of shortstop, played a lot of second base, stuff people couldn’t see. There was a lot of back field. We had a lot of arms throw to him and Gunnar (Henderson) just to get those guys a lot of at-bats.

“I thought it was getting closer to being an option of him breaking with us a few days ago, and then the last few days he had good at-bats, he played a lot defensively, he recovered really, really well, so we made the decision to have him start with us.”

TORONTO – Jorge Mateo flew into Toronto last night and is on the Opening Day roster after collecting a sufficient number of at-bats down in Sarasota.

Livan Soto worked out yesterday, but he didn’t make the final cut. The Orioles reassigned him to Triple-A Norfolk.

Reliever Bryan Baker is on the roster. Matt Bowman cleared waivers and was outrighted to Norfolk. Roansy Contreras was designated for assignment.

Here’s the roster:

Starters
Zach Eflin
Charlie Morton
Dean Kremer
Tomoyuki Sugano
Cade Povich

he Orioles today announced the club’s 2025 Opening Day roster. The 26-man roster includes:

TORONTO – The games start counting today. And not a moment too soon.

No more exhibitions, reentries and extras from minor league camp. The rules aren’t bent. Statistical declines aren’t excused because it’s spring training.

Let’s get serious.

The Orioles will try to finish above .500 for a fourth consecutive year, their longest streak since 1968-1985. They will try to make the playoffs in three straight seasons for the first time since 1969-71.

It begins with their leadoff hitter, probably Colton Cowser, stepping into the box against Blue Jays right-hander José Berríos in the top of the first inning at Rogers Centre. Zach Eflin starts for the Orioles, reliving his Opening Day matchup with Berríos last year at Tropicana Field.

Happy Hollidays everyone! The day is finally here: the start of Major League Baseball’s regular season. 

The O’s open up their new campaign north of the border in Toronto. With consecutive playoff appearances but no October victories to show for it, Baltimore has something to prove. 

An energy and hunger was palpable at spring training. The locker room is eager to compete for an AL East crown and find more postseason success. 

Who will lead the team in home runs? Who will be the breakout star? Who will have the best facial hair? A new season means new predictions; dart throws that certainly won’t be held against us at a later time. 

Yesterday on “The Bird’s Nest,” Annie Klaff and I handed out some superlatives. I’ve provided my predictions below, but for Annie’s picks and more in-depth analysis, be sure to check out the full episode here: https://masn.me/qt7qjk0i

TORONTO – Orioles reliever Bryan Baker hasn’t been told anything.

Infielder Livan Soto hasn’t been told anything.

They have lockers in the visiting clubhouse at Rogers Center and they participated in this afternoon’s workout. However, they didn’t receive confirmations that they’re on the Opening Day roster. Those conversations are on hold.

The assumptions are understandable, of course.

Matt Bowman and Roansy Contreras, the in-house competitors with Baker for the last bullpen spot, didn’t have lockers and they weren’t seen in the clubhouse or on the field.

Cade Povich looked sharp yesterday. 

No hits, no walks and no earned runs at Nationals Park for the final exhibition game of the season. 

“Really good. Wanted to get the guys in, get them out quickly and get to Toronto,” Povich said with a laugh. “Everything felt good.”

The goose eggs on the box score would’ve looked better if there was a box score. The rain in the nation’s capital didn’t let the Orioles and Nationals take the field for their final tune-up of spring training. There wasn’t a game, but Povich did look sharp. 

His outfit did, at least.

The Orioles have made the following roster move:

• Rule 5 Draft selection RHP Juan Nuñez has cleared waivers and been returned from the San Diego Padres. He has been assigned to minor league camp.

The renovations are completed on the left field wall at Camden Yards. It’s moved closer to home plate and lowered, a “happier medium,” as executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias said in November. Mr. Splash was given a platform and more space to spray fans in sections 84 and 86, with the drenching distance extended from last season.

Fans also will notice a long platform to the left that serves as a viewing area for kids ages 12 and younger to be escorted and get a closer view of the action. They must be seated in sections 78, 80 and 82 to be eligible.

“We’re excited about the home run porch,” said president of baseball operations Catie Griggs. “We think it’s a really unique opportunity to welcome kids 12 and under closer to the field, escorted by parents, where they can have the opportunity to really feel part of the game in a way that’s pretty unique to this ballpark. Between that and Mr. Splash, we know that was a section that was sold out almost every single game last year. We want to make sure that we create experiences that are accessible to more people.”

The Orioles invited media to Camden Yards this morning to check out the newest additions to the ballpark, starting with an improved sound system that blared “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” – the long-time, seventh-inning stretch song in Baltimore. Further upgrades will be made for the 2026 season.

The old sound and control systems were “fairly antiquated,” Griggs said, and recent changes have enabled the Orioles to create much sharper audio "not only for music on the field, which our players are pretty excited about, but also throughout the ballpark."