NORTH PORT, Fla. – Alex Call believes in himself. Just as any professional athlete does, but maybe ratcheted up just a little extra. It’s what you have to do when you’re an undersized, non-first-round pick from Ball State who has had to earn his way onto every roster he’s ever played on. “Bottom line, I think I’m a good player and I think I’m capab

SARASOTA, Fla. – The Orioles are playing a doubleheader today if you count Spring Breakout, which follows the Grapefruit League game against the Pirates. The over-hyping makes me break out in a rash, but fans get a chance to see 21 of the top 30 prospects in the organization. Catcher Samuel Basallo leads the way, and outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr

SARASOTA, Fla. – Tomoyuki Sugano may never give up a run as an Oriole. That’s the pace he’s on right now. Just let it ride. Sugano entered tonight’s game with seven scoreless innings in his three outings. He went 3 1/3 against the Twins, leaving after Christian Vázquez’s one-out single in the fourth that was the only hit against him. The crowd gave

SARASOTA, Fla. – Zach Eflin threw in the bullpen earlier today to prepare for his Sunday start against the Phillies at Ed Smith Stadium. His last time facing hitters occurred on a back field. He’s got two more appearances lined up before it gets real. In Eflin’s case, that’s Opening Day on March 27 in Toronto. Eflin received confirmation this morni

NORTH PORT, Fla. – Major leaguers usually have to learn how to hit the ball the other way. Some never figure it out and develop reputations as dead-pull hitters. James Wood has already established his ability to crush the ball to the opposite field in a manner few hitters of any age can. Now the Nationals' young star is learning how to pull it, ful

SARASOTA, Fla. – Zach Eflin entered camp this spring as the favorite to receive the Opening Day start on March 27. Grayson Rodriguez’s injury seemed to make it official. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde did so this afternoon. It’s happening as expected. Hyde announced that Eflin, 30, will face the Blue Jays on March 27 at Rogers Centre, the right-hande

NORTH PORT, Fla. – Injuries are the last thing any player wants to experience at this stage of spring training, all the more so for any player battling for a spot on the Opening Day roster. So when Andrés Chaparro had to be scratched from today’s lineup after experiencing some kind of discomfort during batting practice, the competition for the fina

NORTH PORT, Fla. – Hello, for the first time ever, from CoolToday Park, home of the Braves. It’s the first time the Nationals have ever played here, and it’s the first time your humble beat writer has ever been here, which officially completes my lifetime Grapefruit League circuit. I’ve now been to every active spring training site in Florida at le

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – CJ Abrams’ quads appear to be just fine, thank you very much. And the young trio atop the Nationals lineup appears to be primed for some big things this season if Thursday’s performance was a sign of things to come. With Abrams back playing one day after departing in the first inning with bilateral quadriceps cramps, manager

SARASOTA, Fla. – The best way to celebrate a safe return from Dunedin is to update the will again and empty the mailbag. You ask ‘em, I answer ‘em, we have our latest sequel to the beloved 2008 original, and I promise myself that I’ll try harder next time. The extent of my editing is to remove the references to politics from some of you lunatics. Y