It’s going to take a while to shake the odd feeling that arises upon seeing Anthony Santander trot onto the field in Blue Jays blue. 

Santander waltzed onto the diamond as Baltimore’s opposition for the first time on Thursday. He’ll do it again on Opening Day after signing a five-year, $92.5 million deal with Toronto this offseason. 

“First time in a spring training game playing against my team,” Santander told reporters down in Florida on Thursday. “They gave me the opportunity to be a big leaguer.”

There’s emotion, and then there’s baseball logic. 

From an emotional standpoint, it would be hard for an Orioles fan not to be attached to the joyous outfielder. 

SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles are playing a doubleheader today if you count Spring Breakout, which follows the Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.

The over-hyping makes me break out in a rash, but fans get a chance to see 21 of the top 30 prospects in the organization. Catcher Samuel Basallo leads the way, and outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. will try to build on his one-game hitting streak after last year’s bunt single in Bradenton.

I understand that one game doesn’t constitute a streak. Here are a few other things that we (think we) know:

* OK, this one is confirmed: Zach Eflin will be the Opening Day starter. I pegged him as the favorite when the Orioles arrived for spring training, and Grayson Rodriguez’s elbow inflammation cemented his chances.

Experience and track record gave Eflin an edge. Rodriguez has the higher ceiling but won’t reach it with a sore elbow. Check back next spring.

SARASOTA, Fla. – The best way to celebrate a safe return from Dunedin is to update the will again and empty the mailbag.

You ask ‘em, I answer ‘em, we have our latest sequel to the beloved 2008 original, and I promise myself that I’ll try harder next time.

The extent of my editing is to remove the references to politics from some of you lunatics. You worry about injuries and blame the current or former president. You say the Orioles are scrambling to find pitching and complain about the price of eggs. You attempt to make a Zach Fruit pun and only come up with the word “impeach.”

One last thing: My mailbag hits fungoes and your mailbag keeps hitting the Funyuns.

Is Hyde seriously thinking of Cedric Mullins batting first and Adley Rutschman second?
Are you reading too much into a spring training lineup? Shame on you. Haven’t you memorized the cliches about spring training lineups, and how you never fall in love with spring and September stats. Also, you don’t tug on Superman’s cape and you don’t spit into the wind. You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger. And don’t make me go over the rules regarding yellow snow. Gunnar Henderson is the leadoff hitter when healthy. MLB Network’s projected Orioles lineup had Mullins third. Third? Outrageous. Mullins could be a backup leadoff guy if Henderson is out and the matchup is favorable, but he’s far more likely to be in the lower part.

DUNEDIN, Fla. – The number was right, but the player wearing it jogged to left.

Anthony Santander faced the Orioles today for the first time since signing a five-year, $92.5 million contract with the Blue Jays. The white 25 on the back of a blue jersey didn’t fit the images created over his eight seasons in Baltimore, and he added to the weirdness by going to the other side of the outfield. The baseball world was spinning off its axis.

The visiting bullpen is beyond the left field fence at TD Ballpark, which allowed Santander to fist bump and chat with major league field coordinator Tim Cossins and reliever Bryan Baker. He joked later about Cionel Pérez and Yennier Cano being big deals and arriving later. A Grapefruit League game was scheduled and a reunion broke out.

Santander will be in Sarasota next Tuesday. He asked to make the trip. And the Orioles begin the regular season with a four-game series at Rogers Centre.

“Kind of emotional,” he said. “First time in a spring training game playing against my team. They gave me the opportunity to be a big leaguer. Looking forward to the season, especially Opening Day.

DUNEDIN, Fla. – The Orioles brought reserves and minor leaguers to TD Ballpark for today's game against the Blue Jays.

Ramón Laureano is leading off and playing center field. Dylan Carlson follows in right field and Coby Mayo is batting cleanup as the designated hitter.

Other players on the trip include Nick Gordon in left field, Emmanuel Rivera at first base, Vimael Machín at third base, Livan Soto at second and Luis Vazquez at shortstop.

Maverick Handley is catching left-hander Cade Povich, who threw four innings on a back field the last time that he faced hitters.

Povich has made two starts and tossed five scoreless innings with one hit and seven strikeouts.

The baseball gods are hardly ever kind.

Over the last few weeks, the Orioles have been hit with significant injuries. We’re not talking 2024 depths of despair level, but important enough to conjure similar emotions. Agony, dread, synonyms.

This week on “The Bird’s Nest,” Annie Klaff and I broke down the injuries and what they mean for Baltimore moving forward. While the topics will be introduced in this article, you can hear more in-depth analysis by watching the full episode here.

Andrew Kittredge 

Let’s start with the devil we know rather than the ones we don’t. Kittredge underwent an arthroscopic debridement procedure last week to repair cartilage in his left knee. The reliever told reporters yesterday that his original timeline was sometime between June and the All-Star break, but that early indications point to the earlier side of that. That’s good! What’s not good is losing one of the best setup men in baseball for multiple months. Kittredge is coming off a season in which he posted a 2.80 ERA, an off-the-charts chase rate and was money in high-leverage situations.

Camden Yards event to feature activities for fans of all ages to gear up for the Home Opener

The Orioles today announced that fans are invited to attend the Eutaw St. Block Party at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Saturday, March 29, beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET. The festival-like event will include a wide range of activations for fans of all ages on the field, along Eutaw St., and throughout the concourse. As Baltimore gears up for the team’s home opener on Monday, March 31 at 3:05 p.m., fans can join in on the excitement together and cheer on the Birds.

Fans can purchase tickets in advance at Orioles.com/BlockParty for $10. Each adult may claim two complimentary child tickets for those 14 and under. Complimentary parking will be available in Lots A, B, and C and will open at 12:30 p.m. Tickets will also be available to purchase at the Box Office windows located by Gates A and H on the day of the event. 

That afternoon’s 3:07 p.m. matchup against divisional foe the Toronto Blue Jays will be broadcast live throughout the ballpark and on the videoboard. All fans in attendance will receive a rally towel gate giveaway upon entry and have the opportunity to participate in various Q&A sessions with some of the Orioles top prospects, including FREDERICK BENCOSME, ENRIQUE BRADFIELD JR., VANCE HONEYCUTT, and GRIFF O’FERRALL along with former Orioles pitchers BRAD BRACH and ZACK BRITTON. Additional Orioles alumni including BRIAN BASS, LARRY BIGBIE, MIKE BORDICK, AL BUMBRY, DAVE JOHNSON, STEVE JOHNSON, JOE ORSULAK, and LARRY SHEETS will also participate in an autograph session open to all fans, while Orioles Legend BOOG POWELL, Brach, Britton, and the prospects will participate in one exclusive to kids. 

Fan-favorite characters, including the Oriole Bird, Mr. Splash, Ketchup, Mustard, and Relish, will be available for meet and greets and photo opportunities, alongside other activities, including music, face painting, caricatures, a petting zoo, touch a truck, and photos on the field and in both the home and visiting dugouts. Fans can also take turns playing MLB The Show 25 and purchase baseball cards or play “pack wars” at the Bel Air Sports Cards booth. Baltimore County Animal Services Cuddle Shuttle will be parked in Maryland Square, located outside of Gate C, for fans interested in adopting a new pet. All adoption fees will be waived for individuals who adopt on-site. The Legends Park Stage will feature a variety of family-friendly shows and activities including a mascot dance party, educational program from the National Aquarium, magician, and DJ.

SARASOTA, Fla. – The first two Atlanta batters reached today against Orioles reliever Seranthony Domínguez on a walk and a ball that deflected off substitute first baseman TT Bowens and rolled into right field.

The ground was opening up beneath him again.

In danger of having another inning implode, Domínguez responded with a called third strike on Charles Leblanc, a popup and liner to center field – the first scoreless appearance in his four games.

Domínguez was coming off his worst, with five runs and five hits in an inning against the Rays. He allowed two runs in each of his first two outings and four homers total.

He needed this one to go his way. It eventually did.

SARASOTA, Fla. – Reliever Andrew Kittredge is walking around the Orioles clubhouse without crutches or a brace on his surgically repaired left knee. A black sleeve is the only evidence that something is different.

Kittredge underwent an arthroscopic debridement procedure Friday to repair cartilage in the knee, with Dr. Leigh Ann Curl handling the procedure in Baltimore. He could miss most or all of the first half.

“Not really sure,” he said this morning while sitting at his locker. “It was a broad timeline, I guess. According to the doctor, the real thing that kind of drives the timeline is if the swelling can go down and so far I haven’t had much swelling, so I think that’s really encouraging on that front.

“I know the original timeline was kind of June to All-Star break, so it was kind of broad in that sense, but everything so far is leading to believe that it will be on the earlier side of that. But it’s a little more probably on the trainers and how it’s going as it unfolds, I guess.”

Kittredge said he’s never experienced any issues with his knees, and this year marks his ninth in the majors and 15^th in professional ball. The discomfort became noticeable around the time of the live batting practice sessions.

Under Armour, the Baltimore Orioles, and Baseball Factory announced today that the 2025 UA Next All-America Game will take place at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore on Saturday, Sept. 13, showcasing the nation's top 40 high school baseball players. The UA Next All-America Game has a history of featuring some of the most talented players in baseball, including MLB stars and UA athletes Gunnar Henderson and Bobby Witt Jr.

“At Ripken Baseball, we always strive to provide the ball players at our facilities with the big league experience – playing at Camden Yards is as big league as it gets,”  said Cal Ripken, Jr., co-founder of Ripken Baseball and part-owner of the Orioles. “I am excited for these extraordinary athletes to play in the park where our Orioles play and Orioles fans will have the chance to watch the next generation compete. I appreciate that the Orioles and Under Armour have come together for this special event and look forward to it.”

The path to the UA Next All-America Game starts through the UA Next Prospect Tour Powered by Baseball Factory. Launched in 2025, the tour offers middle and high school players an elite competitive platform and comprehensive scouting experience. In future years, top high school performers from the tour will be considered for the UA Next All-America Game.

The weekend will kick off on Friday, Sept. 12, with a Workout Day presented by Rawlings Sporting Goods. This exclusive event offers players, coaching staff, families, VIPs, and MLB scouts an up-close look at the next generation of baseball talent. Athletes will undergo skills assessments, batting practice, and defensive drills, setting the tone for Saturday’s marquee event.

“Under Armour is committed to growing the next generation of athletes through our UA Next program. The highest level of competition can only be earned, and with opportunities to elevate their game, we help athletes who are striving for more unlock the best version of themselves on their journey to compete,” said Sean Eggert, SVP, Global Sports Marketing at Under Armour. “We’re thrilled to support these athletes on such a meaningful stage. Baltimore is the heart of Under Armour, and Camden Yards is the perfect place to celebrate the best young baseball players in the country.”

Over the last few seasons, you may have heard of a relatively new pitch: a “sweeper."

Popularized by pitchers like Yu Darvish and Adam Ottavino, a sweeper features more horizontal movement than a traditional slider. “Sweeping” action, to be exact. According to Major League Baseball's glossary, a slider typically has about six inches of horizontal movement, while a sweeper averages closer to 15.

While the sweeper is a variant of the slider, pitchers can throw both. The two offerings, with their drastic difference in movement, attack hitters in very different ways. The sweeper has been used around the league enough to earn a spot in MLB’s pitch type glossary, and its popularity will most likely continue to grow across the game.

There’s a new popular pitch in town that may earn its way there soon enough, too: the “kick-changeup.”

Perhaps you’ve seen highlights of this relatively new offering from pitchers like Clay Holmes and Andrés Muñoz. So what the heck is it?

BRADENTON, Fla. – The Orioles remain hopeful that Gunnar Henderson is on their Opening Day roster, but they know the importance of a good contingency plan.

Jackson Holliday made his first spring start at shortstop tonight against the Pirates, hitting a double and single to left field and committing an error on his first and only chance.

“With Gunnar out right now, unsure of the timetable, but he’s doing really well,” manager Brandon Hyde said this afternoon. “He’s progressing well, but we’re not sure when we can get him back into game action. Jackson’s going to be playing shortstop here periodically the rest of camp.”

Henderson’s strained rib cage muscle led the Orioles down an alternate path with Holliday. They wanted him to get more comfortable at second base. Guest instructor Brian Roberts corrected his footwork, trying to strip him of a shortstop’s approach to fielding the ball and making feeds. But he could do more switching to the left side.

“It’s definitely different,” Holliday said. “It’s one thing to practice it, but to play it in a game and read the ball off the bat, kind of the angle that it comes in, it’s obviously very different, but I should make that play every single time. But hopefully I don’t have to play both. Hopefully, Gunnar gets healthy real quick and I can just stick over at second until they tell me they need me. But if that is the case, I’m up to the challenge.”

BRADENTON, Fla. – The Orioles made nine camp cuts this afternoon to bring the roster down to 48 players, including 12 invitees.

Pitchers Luis González and Kade Strowd were optioned to minor league camp. Pitchers Rodolfo Martinez, Dylan Coleman and Raúl Alcantara, outfielders Jordyn Adams and Franklin Barreto, infielder/outfielder Terrin Vavra, and catcher David Bañuelos were reassigned.

Players on the 40-man roster are optioned and the others reassigned.

None of the moves are classified as unexpected. The camp injuries didn’t open any doors.

Martinez was the talk of camp after his bullpen and live batting practice sessions, but he allowed nine runs and five hits with six walks in 3 2/3 innings. In yesterday’s split-squad game in Clearwater, he retired only two batters and was charged with three runs on three walks and two wild pitches. He threw only seven strikes among 24 pitches.

The Orioles have made the following roster moves:

• Optioned LHP Luis González and RHP Kade Strowd to minor league camp.
• Reassigned OF Jordyn Adams, LHP Raúl Alcantara, C David Bañuelos, OF Franklin Barreto, RHP Dylan Coleman, RHP Rodolfo Martinez, and INF/OF Terrin Vavra to minor league camp.

The Orioles’ Spring Training roster currently has 48 players (36+12 NRI).

BRADENTON, Fla. – Jackson Holliday is starting at shortstop tonight, as the Orioles head to LECOM Park for another game against the Pirates.

Manager Brandon Hyde indicated that Holliday could make a start at short with Gunnar Henderson unable to play since Feb. 27 due to a strained right intercostal. This is one of them.

Holliday made three appearances (one start) at short with the Orioles last season.

Jordan Westburg is playing third base. Ramón Urías sliders over to second base. Ryan O’Hearn is at first.

Samuel Basallo is catching. Heston Kjerstad is the right fielder.

 The Orioles will bring back their orange-on-orange uniforms for select home games throughout the 2025 season. Fans can see them in person for the first time on Saturday, April 12, when the O’s take on the Toronto Blue Jays at 4:05 p.m. ET. The first 15,000 fans in attendance will receive an orange Cedric Mullins T-shirt. To purchase tickets, visit Orioles.com/Tickets.

The orange-on-orange uniforms, inspired by Orioles Legend and National Baseball Hall of Famer BROOKS ROBINSON, first debuted in 1971 and were worn a handful of times throughout the 1971-72 seasons before reappearing in a throwback game at Tampa Bay on August 13, 2010. The April 12 game will mark the first time the Orioles wear the orange-on-orange uniform since 2010.

Orange jerseys and t-shirts are available for purchase in-person at the Orioles Team Store and online at MLBShop.com/Orioles.

SARASOTA, Fla. – Tomoyuki Sugano can’t be disappointed today with his command. He’d be hard-pressed to complain about anything. Even the perfectionist in him should be satisfied.

Well, mostly.

What bothered Sugano in Monday’s start didn’t exist with the same force this afternoon against the Twins at Ed Smith Stadium. He was razor sharp, retiring all nine batters faced and striking out five.

The Japanese right-hander hasn’t allowed a run in seven exhibition innings.

“It wasn’t perfect. I would say 90 percent,” he said, remaining his toughest critic.

SARASOTA, Fla. – Grayson Rodriguez received a cortisone injection in his right elbow to combat the inflammation that’s caused the Orioles to shut him down.

Rodriguez hasn’t pitched since Wednesday in Fort Myers, when he exhibited another noticeable decline in velocity and spoke afterward about feeling “sluggish.” The club initially said that Rodriguez was experiencing discomfort in his right triceps, but later pinpointed the back of the elbow.

The plan calls for Rodriguez to wait seven-to-10 days before starting a throwing progression.

Manager Brandon Hyde referred to the shot as “successful.”

“Timeline after a week, I’m not really sure at this point,” Hyde said. “We’ll see how it goes. But we’re gonna give him a week to not throw and let the cortisone do what it does.”

SARASOTA, Fla. – Tyler O’Neill has returned to the Orioles’ lineup this afternoon after being scratched Thursday night with a sore left rib cage.

O’Neill is batting cleanup in the split-squad game against the Twins in Sarasota.

Jackson Holliday is leading off and playing second base. Livan Soto is the shortstop with Gunnar Henderson receiving treatment for a strained right intercostal.

Adley Rutschman is the designated hitter, with Gary Sánchez catching Tomoyuki Sugano. Sugano is making his third exhibition start.

Colton Cowser is in right field.

SARASOTA, Fla. – There must be a voodoo curse in the Orioles déjà vu.

Their rotation was ravaged by injuries last season, and five starters at the major or minor league levels are headed for the IL – Kyle Bradish, Tyler Wells, Trevor Rogers, Chayce McDermott and Grayson Rodriguez, who joined a club that’s about as exclusive as the local Publix.

Rodriguez is receiving multiple opinions to determine the cause of the discomfort in the back of his right elbow, the severity of it and how long he’s going to be out. He won’t be ready for Opening Day, which punches a hole in a rotation that lost ace Corbin Burnes to free agency.

“It’s a huge loss, but at the end of the day we need Grayson for pretty much the majority of the whole season,” said Zach Eflin, the uncontested starter on March 27 in Toronto. “If it’s something that happens, preferably it would be now and get it out of the way and come back stronger. It’s a blow, but fortunately for us we have depth and we have the next guy up mentality, so we’ll be prepared for any situation we encounter.”

“It’s tough I think whenever you have an injury,” said Cade Povich. “We saw it unfortunately too many times last year with guys going down. It’s tough. I see how hard he worked to get back last year. Got here early, I’ve seen how hard he’s worked to come back, so hopefully it’s nothing big. Hopefully it’s something short and he can get back quick.”