LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Orioles' first exhibition game is in the books and it goes down as a 4-4 tie in 10 innings. Free baseball on the first day. What more could you want? Hyun Soo Kim hoped for a better debut. He went 0-for-3 in five innings and made one play in the field, catching A.J. Pierzynski's line drive with two runners on base and no outs in the fourth. "I could have done better. I didn't put my best performance out there. I wish I can do better next time," Kim said through...

At 22, Trea Turner is one of the Nationals' top prospects after arriving in a trade from the San Diego Padres. He hit .322 in 116 games for three minor league teams in two organizations last season. And with Ian Desmond now the Texas Rangers left fielder, Turner is the Nationals shortstop of the future. The question is, "When will the future begin?" The answer starts to unfold this week as the Nationals open Grapefruit League play. Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo says that Turner can be...

VIERA, Fla - There comes a point every spring where the monotony of workouts really sets in, when pitchers' fielding practice and defensive fundamentals and pick-off drills just don't cut it anymore. That point came today, the final day of workouts before Grapefruit League play commences. Recognizing this, Nationals pitching coach Mike Maddux figured out a way to get his players the work they needed while at the same time breaking up the monotony with a fun contest: Wiffle ball. Yes, Wiffle...

ORIOLES QUICK WRAP Score: Orioles 4, Braves 4 Recap: Mike Wright allowed one hit and struck out two batters over two scoreless innings. He threw 20 of 27 pitches for strikes. Tyler Wilson allowed two hits and struck out a batter in a scoreless third. Christian Walker hit a two-run homer and lifted a sacrifice fly. Ryan Flaherty singled and homered to left field. Chris Lee stranded two runners in the fourth. Ashur Tolliver and Andrew Triggs each gave up a run and the Braves scored twice off...

The six outfielders the Nationals have on the early-camp roster are a great demonstration of that athletic talent level the club has recognized rising this season as they get working out in Viera, Fla. "We've got a good group of talent. I think it's probably one of our most athletic groups we've had," said Nationals director of player development Mark Scialabba. The early-camp outfield roster consists of 22-year-old Rafael Bautista, as well as Telmito Agustin, Blake Perkins, Victor Robles,...

VIERA, Fla - When the Nationals embark early Wednesday morning on the three-hour drive to Port Charlotte for their Grapefruit League opener against the Rays, Ryan Zimmerman won't be on the bus. Then again, neither will any of the projected regular members of their starting lineup, veterans who generally don't have to make such a long spring training road trip. Zimmerman, though, isn't expected to be in the lineup for Thursday's home opener at Space Coast Stadium, even though several other...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Mike Wright worked two scoreless innings this afternoon in the Orioles' exhibition opener against the Braves. He allowed a Freddie Freeman double in the first and struck out two batters, including former Oriole Nick Markakis. Wright's fastball was clocked at 94-96 mph. He threw 19 pitches in the first inning, 13 for strikes, and eight pitches in the second, seven for strikes. Ryan Flaherty singled and homered in his first two at-bats. The home run was an...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - Orioles pitcher Chris Tillman will receive a precautionary cortisone injection in his left hip this afternoon following his morning bullpen session. Tillman didn't have any discomfort in the hip and manager Buck Showalter was pleased with the results. Showalter stayed back in camp to watch the bullpen sessions, which also included Yovani Gallardo. "Chris was good and Gallardo was good," Showalter said. "We had a lot of sides back there we wanted to see before we...

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - The Orioles are taking batting practice at Champion Stadium, which is near the happiest place on earth. The sun is scorching and its long reach extends into the press box, where applying sunscreen is advised before filing the next blog entry. Mike Wright is starting for the Orioles, who also brought Tyler Wilson, Pedro Beato, Chris Lee, Parker Bridwell, Chris Jones, Oliver Drake, Andrew Triggs and Ashur Tolliver. The bench includes Trey Mancini, Ozzie Martinez, Rule 5...

Former Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond not only has a new team and a new league, he has a new position. At 30, Desmond signed for $8 million to play left field for the Texas Rangers. Desmond has played four games in the outfield during his career. He'll get the advantage of playing 15 home games in Texas during April. Desmond, who hit .233 last season, goes to Boston's Fenway Park to battle the Green Monster the first week in July. The Rangers' plan was to use Josh Hamilton in left field,...