SARASOTA, Fla. – When Connor Norby slammed an RBI single to left at 94.1 mph and later Heston Kjerstad smoked an RBI double to center at 105 mph Saturday in Dunedin, those were the two most recent examples of the young kids continuing to swing the bat well and impress at O’s spring camp. Some of these prospects won’t make the Opening Day roster thi
Opening Day is less than three weeks away and the Orioles remain on hold with their most important roster decisions before flying to Boston. Don’t ask them about the five starters in their rotation or the composition of an eight-man bullpen. Don’t ask about the primary backup for first baseman Ryan Mountcastle or whether a non-roster invite could b
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Few within the Nationals clubhouse have known Keibert Ruiz longer than Josiah Gray, the two having come up together in the Dodgers’ farm system before their lives were forever changed when they were the centerpiece prospects acquired for Max Scherzer and Trea Turner. So when Ruiz officially signed an eight-year, $50 million
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Keibert Ruiz reported for his second spring training with the Nationals early last month, focused on making significant improvements to his game both at and behind the plate. The thought of leaving town at the end of camp with an eight-year, $50 million extension never crossed his mind. And what was his first reaction upon g
DUNEDIN, Fla. – Sometimes in spring training games a pitcher could be working on something new or trying to add his repertoire. O’s right-hander Austin Voth did that today as the Orioles faced the Toronto Blue Jays. Toronto hit two-run homers in the sixth and seventh off right-hander Mike Baumann as the Blue Jays beat the Orioles 8-6. The O's ralli
The Washington Nationals agreed to terms on an eight-year contract – including two club options – with catcher Keibert Ruiz on Saturday. The contract begins in 2023 and runs through the 2030 season with club options for the 2031 and 2032 seasons. Nationals President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Mike Rizzo made the announcement. Ruiz,
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – It’s a big day here at The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches. At least, big by spring training standards. The Nationals are set to hold a 3 p.m. press conference to announce their eight-year, $50 million extension with Keibert Ruiz (which, by the way, also includes club options for both 2031 and 2032). Then they’re set to take th
DUNEDIN, Fla. – The Orioles will be without infield prospect Joey Ortiz for likely a few days at least. Manager Brandon Hyde told reporters here today at TD Ballpark that Ortiz is now in concussion protocol. He took a bad-hop groundball off his head in drills a few days ago and has not yet been cleared to return to the field. The club’s fourth-roun
DUNEDIN, Fla. - The Orioles headed north today for a game with their American League East rival Toronto Blue Jays at TD Ballpark. The Orioles are 5-7-2 after a 5-5 tie last night with the Minnesota Twins at Ed Smith Stadium. Terrin Vavra is in the lineup for the second day in a row after missing seven games due to left shoulder soreness. He went 1-
SARASOTA, Fla. – Ryan Mouncastle is not exactly a veteran on the Orioles, although he has been a regular for back-to-back years and played more than half the game in the shortened season in 2020 with the club. But he’s been in enough spring training games to know what he wants to get done to prep for the year under the Florida sun. Like any player,