For the first time since 1955, the Baseball Writers' Association of America has elected four players to the Hall of Fame. Pitchers Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz, as well as Craig Biggio, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on July 26 in Cooperstown, N.Y. The BBWAA has not voted in four players in one vote since electing Joe DiMaggio, Gabby Hartnett, Ted Lyons and Dazzy Vance six decades ago. The three pitchers were elected on their first try, Biggio on his third. The...

The Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., will open its doors to four inductees this summer, the largest class in 55 years. The Baseball Writers' Association of America has voted in second baseman Craig Biggio and pitchers Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz. Biggio fell short by two votes last year. Candidates must be named on 75 percent of ballots cast by BBWAA members with 10 or more consecutive years of Major League Baseball coverage to gain election. Johnson received 97.3...

There are few Nationals prospects that get more buzz when I talk to coaches, scouts and baseball people in the know than infielder Wilmer Difo. He splashed on the scene for me last year when I interviewed strength and conditioning coordinator Landon Brandes on the Nationals prospects annual strength and conditioning camp. Brandes said Difo was the top total points leader in the camp in three competitions: team conditioning, team weight lifting and individual weight lifting. Difo played very...

The Orioles announced that tickets for their annual FanFest go on sale today. The event will be held Jan. 31 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Baltimore Convention Center, with early entry for Orioles season plan members to begin at 10 a.m. as part of the Orange Carpet Program. Tickets are available online at www.orioles.com/fanfest, via phone at 1-888-848-BIRD, at the Camden Yards box office and at the official team store at the York Galleria in York, Pa. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for...

FanFest autograph vouchers will go on sale January 17 The launch to the 2015 baseball season will begin on Saturday, January 31, as the Orioles host their annual FanFest event at the Baltimore Convention Center. 2015 FanFest, presented by Visit Sarasota County, will feature appearances by current and former Orioles players and coaches as part of a day-long celebration of baseball that will also include clinics, exhibits, and interactive games. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.,...

It is officially the new year, Birdland. This means we are that much closer to the start of a new baseball season. As winter weather appears to be in full swing this week, you can stay warm by reliving some Orioles magic from this past season, as well as the 2012 campaign. Here's what's on deck this week: Wednesday, Jan. 7, 9 a.m.: It was the bottom of the ninth on June 23, 2014, and the Orioles were trailing the White Sox 4-3 with two on and one out. Chris Davis stepped to the plate,...

Happy new year from the MASNsports.com staff! As the snow continues to fall this morning, remember we are just 44 days away from the date Nationals pitchers and catchers report to spring training. While you're trying to stay warm from today's snow, check out which "Nationals Classics" MASN HD is airing this week. Here's what's on deck: Tuesday, Jan. 6, 11:30 p.m.: The Nationals kicked off the 2013 season with a bang from young stars Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg. Harper hit two home...

The ability and potential that Sammy Solis possesses are clear. A 6-foot-5, 250-lb. left-hander who was a second-round pick out of the University of San Diego in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, Solis has been highly ranked on various lists of the top prospects in the Nationals organization since being drafted. The question now is whether Solis, 26, can stay healthy long enough to showcase the talent that has led scouts to believe he could one day be a middle to top-of-the-rotation big league...

Two years ago, the Orioles signed veteran left-hander Mark Hendrickson to a minor league deal after he threw at Camden Yards during their minicamp. He spent the entire season at Triple-A Norfolk. Hendrickson will take another shot at it next week. He's been invited to attend the minicamp at the Ed Smith Stadium complex in Sarasota, where he will throw for manager Buck Showalter, pitching coach Dave Wallace and bullpen coach Dom Chiti. Hendrickson, 40, hasn't pitched in the majors since making...

In a recent post, I took a look at the Orioles' solid pitching rotation and how some of the hurlers fared during the 2014 season. Today, here are some notes and stats looking back on some of the key Orioles position players from 2014. Chris Davis: While he hit nearly 100 points lower in 2014 (.196 after .286 in 2013), Davis hit under .200 against both left- (.188) and right-handed pitching (.199). He also hit under .200 both before (.199) and after (.189) the All-Star break. Davis hit two...