Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, is a baseball nut. His voice fills with excitement talking about the Nationals' World Series title. His coronavirus mask is covered with Nationals logos. An autographed Patrick Corbin jersey hangs in his D.C. home. And even though a deadly coronavirus outbreak has hammered the United States and caused Major League Baseball to reduce this season's schedule to 60 games played in stadiums with no fans, hope springs eternal with...

Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander, made available earlier today to the media, confirmed that he tested positive to COVID-19 after arriving in Baltimore for the intake process and was quarantined for two weeks. Santander said he had "mild" symptoms, which included a low fever, and considers himself lucky. "Now I'm healthy, I'm not contagious, happy to be back on the field with my teammates and ready to work out," Santander said during a Zoom conference call, answering most questions...

We are 12 days into summer training at Nationals Park, and we're now only eight days from opening night against the Yankees. (Wow, that happened quick, didn't it?) Though they've accomplished a lot over these last 12 days, the Nationals still have a lot to straighten out before they're playing for real. That includes getting Juan Soto, Victor Robles and Howie Kendrick in camp for the first time. It includes lineup decisions, rotation decisions and 30-man roster decisions. I know it's been...

Major League Baseball is attempting to start up a season. That much we can agree on. Is it a legitimate season? Don't get me started. I respect most opinions. You won't sell me on Caddyshack II or Gary Cherone fronting Van Halen. You won't convince me that a plant-based burger is a burger and zoodles replicate a bowl of pasta. Or that pickleball is equal to or better than tennis. But I'll accept most opinions because you're entitled to them. Baseball in 2020 is a shell of its former self,...

If rules are going to change in the 2020 season, the Orioles must keep up by implementing special drills in workouts and intrasquad games. This is a matter of baseball survival beyond staying safe in a pandemic. Beginning with Hunter Harvey in the bottom of the first inning, the Orioles sent a succession of relievers to the mound for the "visitors" and placed a runner on second base to simulate extra innings. Because this team has been known to stretch games beyond regulation. Mason Williams...

Tonight's workout at Nationals Park featured a parade of relief pitchers, a trial run of baseball's new extra-inning rule and the return of a key member of the coaching staff. Rather than put two separate teams on the field that switched sides every half-inning like they did Monday, the Nationals mixed and matched their defensive players and batters throughout the hour-long intrasquad game. No starting pitchers participated because they need to build in a day between Max Scherzer (who starts...

Orioles catcher Austin Wynns doesn't duck the question. He was asked if the 2020 season represents a big year for him. "Every year is huge," he said during an interview Tuesday afternoon. "Every year, for everyone. You can't take anything for granted. Each year, you have to take in strides. You have to improve, you have to be better and make adjustments. This game is built on adjustments. And physically, mentally you have to be there. To answer your question, it's huge. Every year,...

Baseball, more than most team sports, naturally creates social distance. There aren't many circumstances that bring people together in close quarters for more than a second or two during a specific play. With one major exception: The catcher and the plate umpire. For all the extensive changes and protocols Major League Baseball is putting in place to protect everyone on the field during a game, there isn't much that can be done about the need to have an umpire peering over the catcher's...

Orioles outfielder Anthony Santander has reported to Camden Yards and is participating in this afternoon's workout. Manager Brandon Hyde didn't provide any details on Santander's prolonged absence from summer training camp, which likely has been related to COVID-19 testing. Outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. remains absent. The club is rushing to get Santander ready for the July 24 opener against the Red Sox in Boston, with a multitude of factors in play. "We're going to try our best," Hyde...

Another Orioles prospect is taking a dip in the player pool. The team announced today that right-hander Dean Kremer has been added to the 60-man pool and is headed to the alternate training site in Bowie. Pitcher Hector Velázquez, viewed as a long relief candidate when summer training camp began, has been optioned to the alternate site. He's no longer in the running for a bullpen role. Also, infielder Richie Martin has been placed on the 60-day injured list and removed from the player pool...