On September 25, 2013, Buck Showalter started Jonathan Schoop at second base, setting him up to play in his first major league game. In his first at-bat of his career, Schoop connected for a line drive up the middle, giving him his first major league hit. Later in the game, Schoop hit another shot up the middle, but this time it left the yard for his first career home run. After a night packed with firsts, Adam Jones took it upon himself to add to the list by delivering Schoop's first pie...

We're less than two months from the Nats' home opener. That means we are less than two months away from witnessing home runs, enjoying ballpark food and most importantly, watching the Presidents Race. OK, maybe it's not the most important aspect of Nationals home games, but it is a staple at Nats Park. Every game, before the bottom of the fourth inning, George, Abe, Tom, Teddy, and Bill face off in a good, old-fashioned foot race. While you wait patiently to watch another season full of...

The Orioles have added to their spring training roster, signing right-hander Evan Meek to a minor league deal, according to a team official. Meek, 30, will report to the Ed Smith Stadium complex, giving the Orioles 31 pitchers in camp. Meek is 7-7 with a 3.34 ERA in 156 major league relief appearances with the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2008-2012. The Texas Rangers signed Meek as a free agent on Dec. 6, 2012, and he went 6-9 with a 4.50 ERA in 33 games, including 15 starts, with Triple-A Round...

The Orioles announced today the hiring of special assignment scout Dave Machemer and amateur scouts Jeff Stevens and Dan Durst. Not quite the same as a starting pitcher or the official list of spring training invites, but I'll take it. Seriously, though, the list of invites should be coming fairly soon, considering that I leave for Sarasota in exactly one week. Machemer managed in the Orioles organization from 1998-2001 and possesses 39 years of experience in professional baseball as a...

The Orioles also announced today the hiring of special assignment scout Dave Machemer and amateur scouts Jeff Stevens and Dan Durst. Machemer, who managed in the Orioles organization from 1998-2001, has 39 years of experience in professional baseball as a manager, instructor and player, including over 1,600 wins as a manager. Stevens, who appeared in 33 games as a reliever for the Cubs from 2009-11, will cover Northern California and Nevada. Stevens was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the...

The Orioles today announced they have added three new members to their corporate partnerships department as Ray Naimoli, Cathy Jerome and Bill Marriott have joined the organization. Naimoli will serve as Senior Manager of Corporate Partnership Sales, where he will develop strategic, customized marketing plans for new and returning corporate partners. Naimoli joins the Orioles after spending 10 years in sponsorship sales with the Baltimore Ravens. Naimoli is a graduate of St. Joseph's...

Stephen Strasburg. Jordan Zimmermann. Sammy Solis. Lucas Giolito. Taylor Jordan. The list goes on and on of Nationals pitchers that have undergone Tommy John surgery and returned. Even a position player, Matt Skole had to undergo the procedure after a freak injury to his elbow at first base early last season. It is a surgery that is much more commonplace in today's baseball world. No one wants to have to go through the procedure or have the injury occur in the first place. But the...

The Nationals have increased the competition for their backup catcher job, signing veteran Koyie Hill to a minor league deal with an invitation to big league spring training. Hill, 34, has played in parts of 10 big league seasons, seeing time with the Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Cubs and Marlins. He appeared in 18 games with Miami last season, hitting .155 with a .373 OPS in 58 at-bats. A career .206 hitter, Hill had his best big league season in 2009, when he posted a .636 OPS in 83 games with...

Even though we're around a week away from the start of spring training, there are still a handful of big names left out there on the free agent market, guys that can make a significant impact on a team. Starters A.J. Burnett, Ubaldo Jimenez, Ervin Santana and Bronson Arroyo are still without a team for the 2014 season. Closer Fernando Rodney will bolster the back of some team's bullpen and add some flair to the ninth inning. First baseman/DH Kendrys Morales, right fielder Nelson Cruz and...

Have the Orioles found a late bloomer in outfielder David Lough? Manager Buck Showalter talks often about players sometimes finding themselves in their late 20s and Lough, who was acquired in a trade with Kansas City in December, turned 28 on Jan. 20. Lough has paid his dues and maybe this is his time. He's played 677 games with 2,593 at-bats in the minors. He's played 401 games at the Triple-A level since 2010. By contrast, Manny Machado played 219 minor league games - none at Triple-A -...