Three more exhibition games and the Orioles can break camp. Three more and they can put the finishing touches on their active roster, which must get down to 26 players prior to Thursday afternoon's opening day in Boston. Last night's hatchet job got them to 36. More on that confusion later. Spring training statistics can't always be trusted, but we've been reminded again that Austin Hays is a special talent. "We just need to keep him healthy" should be printed on orange T-shirts. What...

It was a night when the Orioles rotation competition got reduced by one pitcher. Meanwhile, another stated his case, pitching very well against an American League East rival. Lefty Keegan Akin was optioned to Triple-A during a game where right-hander Jorge López was mowing down the New York Yankees in Tampa with pretty solid regularity. López threw five scoreless innings, his best outing of a good spring, allowing just two hits, and he matched Yankees ace Gerrit Cole in a scoreless duel...

Keegan Akin has fallen out of the rotation competition in Orioles camp. First baseman Chris Davis has gone on the 60-day injured list. There's more activity this evening than the game against the Yankees in Tampa. Akin, second baseman/outfielder Jahmai Jones and middle infielder Richie Martin were optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Left-hander Fernando Abad and infielder/outfielder Chris Shaw were reassigned to Twin Lakes camp. The Orioles also announced the signing of left-hander Wade LeBlanc to a...

One day after left-hander Wade LeBlanc was granted his release from the Orioles, he's on the verge of returning to them on a split contract. The Orioles are working on finalizing the latest agreement, according to an industry source. LeBlanc will go back on the camp roster and earn $700,000 if he's in the majors, as first reported by USA Today. The minor league deal that he signed in late January reportedly paid $800,000. The pitching staff remains unsettled with opening day less than a week...

Despite an initial diagnosis of a blood clot in Will Harris' pitching arm, the Nationals learned tonight a procedure performed on the veteran reliever today found no such evidence, and now they're suddenly hoping to have him back pitching for the team soon. "Tonight, not only did we win, but we got some really, really good news," manager Davey Martinez said during his Zoom session with reporters following a 7-3 exhibition victory over the Mets. "We're excited about that." Only seven...

Former Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy remembered being a part of the group of players that turned the Orioles from losers into winners and returned the club to the playoffs. Former outfielder Mike Devereaux remembered his great 1992 season and being a part of the first team to play at Camden Yards. The former O's duo has been elected to the Orioles Hall of Fame. They are joined by radio broadcaster Joe Angel, who will be inducted as this year's Herb Armstrong Award winner. The trio will be...

The bad news: Neither Juan Soto nor Starlin Castro is in the Nationals lineup for tonight's game against the Mets. The good news: Both players appear to be fine, and their statuses for opening night (also against the Mets) do not appear to be in danger. Soto was upbeat today talking to reporters after departing Thursday night's game when his right calf cramped during his one and only at-bat. He wanted to play tonight, but manager Davey Martinez wants him to sit out "just to make sure he's...

Maikel Franco is starting at first base tonight and Rio Ruiz is at third base for the Orioles' 6:35 p.m. game against the Yankees in Tampa. Cedric Mullins is in center field, Ryan Mountcastle is in left and Austin Hays is in right. Trey Mancini is the designated hitter and Chance Sisco is catching. Anthony Santander is out of the lineup again. Jorge López is making his sixth appearance and third start. He's allowed one run and three hits with 11 strikeouts in nine innings out of the...

Former Orioles shortstop JJ Hardy and outfielder Mike Devereaux have been elected to the club's Hall of Fame. Long-time radio broadcaster Joe Angel will be inducted as this year's Herb Armstrong Award winner. The trio will be honored along with the 2020 "Wild Bill Hagy Award" winner, Mo Gaba, during an on-field ceremony prior to the Aug. 7 game against the Rays at Camden Yards. Hardy spent the last seven seasons of his 13-year career with the Orioles from 2011-17 and won three straight Gold...

The Orioles today announced that former shortstop J.J. Hardy and former outfielder Mike Devereaux have been elected to the Orioles Hall of Fame. Additionally, long-time Orioles radio broadcaster Joe Angel will be inducted as this year's Herb Armstrong Award winner. That trio, along with the previously announced Wild Bill Hagy Award winner, Mossila "Mo" Gaba, will be honored during an on-field ceremony prior to the Orioles game on Saturday, August 7, against the Tampa Bay Rays. Hardy played...