Ah, the first week of spring training games.  The perfect time to toss out wild takes about the upcoming season based on an incredibly small sample size of games that hold minimal weight.  What takeaways are overreactions? Which far-too-early conclusions could actually come to fruition?  On this week’s edition of “The Bird’s Nest” (which you can wa

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – As he frequently heaped praise upon the majority of the players on his roster last spring, Davey Martinez also found himself regularly criticizing one guy in particular. Luis García Jr. seemed to be on the hot seat throughout camp, hearing it from his manager whenever he misplayed a ball at second base or was thrown out on t

SARASOTA, Fla. – The first exhibition game didn’t properly showcase Orioles minor league outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr. His skillset and the improvements made would become more evident. Just give it time. Bradfield was thrown out trying to steal after pinch-running for Cedric Mullins, and he went hitless in three at-bats in a loss to the Pirates.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – It was a two-out walk in the first inning on Feb. 26. Not that big a deal, right? For DJ Herz, it was a big deal. Not because the result of today’s exhibition game – a 3-0 loss to the Astros – was important. But because he knows two-out walks are among his biggest bugaboos, something the young left-hander is really trying to

BRADENTON, Fla. – Orioles manager Brandon Hyde offered simple instructions this morning for Tomoyuki Sugano before the Japanese right-hander’s much-anticipated exhibition debut. Just go out, relax and pitch. Keep it simple, Sugano. “It’s a first spring training outing, so it doesn’t mean anything,” Hyde explained. “Just want him to get his work in.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Juan Yepez didn’t enter the 2024 season as the Nationals’ starting first baseman. He didn’t even enter the season on the Nationals’ major league roster. But as Joey Gallo dealt with injuries and Joey Meneses dealt with struggles, Yepez found his way to D.C. and ultimately a semi-regular spot in the lineup. He finished the ye

BRADENTON, Fla. – Jackson Holliday gave the media an interview at his locker this morning and headed down a hallway in search of former Orioles infielder Brian Roberts. The Orioles chose Roberts as a shortstop in the supplemental round of the 1999 draft out of the University of South Carolina – their seventh selection among the top 50 and the only

BRADENTON, Fla. – Gary Sánchez is behind the plate this afternoon to catch Tomoyuki Sugano’s first Grapefruit League start versus the Pirates at LECOM Park. Jackson Holliday is leading off and playing second base. Coby Mayo is the designated hitter and Heston Kjerstad is in left field. Kjerstad is in the lineup for the third time in four exhibition

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The undefeated Nationals have looked good so far in the early stages of the exhibition season, especially a lineup that has scored 31 runs in three games. That group has done well in the first inning, scoring five runs against the Mets and three runs against the Marlins. The challenge is quite a bit tougher this afternoon wh

JUPITER, Fla. – It’s only three games, and it’s only spring training, so take everything with a healthy grain of salt. Now, having made that all-important caveat, here’s what you should know: The Nationals are off to a great start to the Grapefruit League season. With convincing victories over the Astros, Mets and Marlins, the Nats are 3-0 in exhib