Yesterday's exhibition opener felt more like an orange carpet event marking the latest inspiring achievement in Trey Mancini's comeback from colon cancer surgery. Today's game against the Phillies in Clearwater, Fla., which ended in a 4-4 tie after seven innings, placed the spotlight on a former first-round draft pick and a couple of Rule 5 selections. Less emotion, for sure, but an important day for evaluating talent. DJ Stewart said he's more of a "line drive, base hit guy," but he...

The Orioles today announced that Katie Karuse has joined the organization as Director, Public Relations. Krause will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Orioles' Public Relations department and generate creative opportunities to publicize the club's efforts on the field and in the community. She will begin her duties today, reporting directly to Jennifer Grondahl, Senior Vice President, Community Development and Communications. The 2021 season will mark Krause's 10th in professional...

Orioles outfielder DJ Stewart hit a two-run homer in the first inning today. It provided half of the O's runs as they played to a 4-4 tie in seven innings against the Philadelphia Phillies in Clearwater, Fla. The Orioles, who are 0-1-1, host the Yankees in Sarasota tomorrow with John Means scheduled to start. Baltimore took a 2-0 lead on Stewart's blast to right field. Austin Hays led off the game with a line single to center and scored ahead of Stewart's homer. It came on a 2-2 pitch off an...

Juan Soto was all set to make his 2021 spring debut today in the Nationals' home opener in West Palm Beach, Fla. Then an errant foul ball foiled those plans and delayed the slugger's debut for at least a couple of days. Soto fouled a ball off his right foot during a live batting practice session Sunday, manager Davey Martinez said. Though the Nationals aren't considering this a serious injury, they didn't want to risk putting their young star on the field today, a full month before the...

Eight games into his major league career, Keegan Akin has become a go-to guy inside the Orioles clubhouse and on the back fields at their spring training complex. Eight games make him appear worldly in this environment. The camp is loaded with players waiting to make their debuts and seeking advice. They gravitate toward experience. Akin is willing to offer his assistance with just 25 2/3 innings of his own. Akin is paying it forward after John Means mentored him last year. "It's pretty cool...

The Nationals play their first home game of the spring this afternoon, and there's good news and bad news. The good news: Ryan Zimmerman is in the lineup for the first time in nearly a year. The bad news: Juan Soto, who was supposed to be in the lineup, is not. Soto fouled a ball off his right foot during a live batting practice session Sunday, according to Davey Martinez. The manager said they're just being cautious, and Soto should be good to go in a day or two. But as always with these...

Austin Hays is leading off today as the Orioles make their first spring road trip, traveling to Clearwater, Fla., to play the Phillies. Hays is in center field, Ryan Mountcastle is in left and DJ Stewart is in right. Rio Ruiz is the third baseman and cleanup hitter. Manager Brandon Hyde's lineup includes Tyler Nevin at first base and Brett Cumberland as the designated hitter. Chance Sisco is behind the plate. For the Orioles Austin Hays CF DJ Stewart RF Ryan Mountcastle LF Rio Ruiz 3B Chance...

The last thing Erick Fedde wanted to do in his first inning of the spring Sunday was get into a bases-loaded jam before recording an out, then watch as Nolan Arenado strode to the plate and received a standing ovation for his first at-bat with the Cardinals. And when he promptly spiked a sinker in the dirt to bring home a run, Fedde's 2021 debut appeared on the brink of collapse. But then, an adjustment. And a flip of the script, turning a potentially disastrous first inning in Jupiter, Fla.,...

I'm continuing a check-in around Birdland today by talking with the general managers of the four full-season minor league clubs. In this entry, I spoke with Norfolk Tides GM Joe Gregory. Each interview will have a Zoom interview for you to watch, with some material not covered here in the text. Today, I check in with Brian Shallcross, who has a long history with the Double-A Bowie Baysox, having worked with the club since 2000 and serving as Bowie's GM since 2002. It's a first-rate operation...

The first exhibition game won't be remembered for the three errors and the five walks issued by Orioles pitching in the first five innings. The high pitch counts that prompted manager Brandon Hyde to pull his team off the field before the last out. Details, details. Hyde wasn't happy about any of it, but he didn't lose his perspective while the Orioles lost to the Pirates. Openers have a tendency to get ugly, and Trey Mancini's return from colon cancer and his first at-bats in a year - in...