2022 Spring Training Tracker

[Tony-OH]

On 3/13/2022 at 11:19 PM, Tony-OH said:

This is where we will track significant activity throughout spring training. This will be updated with cuts and additional players acquired throughout the spring.

Pitchers
Starters
1. John Means
3/14 - Comes into camp as the clear #1 starter

2. Jordan Lyles
3/14 - The only other starter besides Means to have a spot in the rotation barring injury.

Bruce Zimmermann
3/14 - Comes into camp as a leading candidate for the rotation.

Zac Lowther
3/14 - Pitches well in September last year for the most part in the rotation but needs a good spring to make the club.

Tyler Wells
3/14 - Rule 5 pick spent all of 2021 in relief, but will get stretched out and could end up a Piggy back starter

Keegan Akin
3/14 - Had a disappointing rookie year and needs to throw well to end up in rotation. May be better suited for pen.

Kyle Bradish
3/14 - Finished the year strong in AAA and is certainly a candidate to make the rotation with a good spring.

Chris Ellis (NR)
3/16 - Signed a minor league contract w/ spring invite. Could put himself in the running for a long relief or even 5th starter.

Dean Kremer
3/14 - Very disappointing rookie year saw him take major steps backwards. Needs a great spring to make club.

Mike Baumann
3/14 - Finished fairly strong in AAA but showed poorly in his September call up. Needs to refind his 2019 arm strength.

Alexander Wells
3/14 - Made his major league debut and had some decent starts, but overall struggled. Pitched well in AAA after slow start.

Grayson Rodriguez (NR)
3/14 - #1 pitching prospect in the organization is probably set to start 2022 in AAA, but should make his debut this season.

Spenser Watkins (NR)
3/14 - Depth guy who the league caught up to after a few good starts. Ticketed for AAA or long relief at best.

D.L. Hall
3/14 - The other top pitching prospect, he needs to stay healthy, but is ticketed back to the minors. 

Relievers
1. Cole Sulser
3/14 - Whether he's the closer or not is up for debate, but he's going to be in the bullpen barring an injury

2. Dillon Tate
3/14 - Have to imagine he has a spot in the bullpen even though he still hasn't found that consistency.

3. Jorge López
3/14 - Stuff played up when he was moved to the pen at the end of last year and could end up the closer at some point.
3/17 - In our first dose of the Orioles "are insane or incompetent", Hyde said the Orioles intend to stretch Lopez out once again because carrying a 6.36 ERA in 273 starter innings does not seem to be enough information that he's not fit for that role. 

4. Tanner Scott
3/14 - Mr. Inconsistent would have to pitch his way off the club but hard to imagine he won't be in the pen.

Bryan Baker
3/14 - Waiver pickup who dominated AAA last year will get every opportunity to win a spot.

Cionel Pérez
3/14 - Left-hander with a great arm but similar to Scott, still trying to find his command.

Felix Bautista
3/14 - Big hulking right-hander sits in the high 90s and will hit triple digits. Has a good chance of starting season with Orioles.

Joey Krehbiel
3/14 - Another waiver wire picker who will get his shot, but he's also a DFA candidate if they need 40-man roster room.

Paul Fry
3/14 - Literally had Steve Blass syndrome and lost the ability to throw strikes last year. O's will give him one last chance.

Connor Greene
3/14 - Signed to minor league contract. Hard throwing right-hander needs to find consistency but should be decent AAA depth.

Logan Gillaspie
3/14 - Surprise add to the 40-man, Gillaspie has a good arm but is very inconsistent. 
 
Isaac Mattson
3/14 - A poor year last year makes his hold on a 40-man spot very tenuous.
3/15 - Is out for a month with a sore shoulder. (injured) 

Ofelky Peralta (NR)
3/14 - Hard throwing RHP could be a guy in relief, but command problems and lack of swing and miss pitch hold him back.

Nick Vespi (NR)
3/14 - Left-hander with the big breaking ball can be tough to hit. Pitched well down stretch in AAA and could see majors.

Kevin Smith
3/14 - Struggled mightily in AAA as a starter but may be a better fit as a Paul Fry-like left-handed reliever.

Denyi Reyes (NR)
3/14 - Former Red Sox farm hand with good arm, but ticketed back to minors

Rico Garcia (NR)
3/14 - Short right-hander with a 95-96 MPH fastball, good changeup and a curve. Probably ticketed for AAA depth.

Ryan Hartman (NR)
3/14 - DFA'd by Orioles after 2021 then resigned. Left-hander could be transition to relief role.

Blaine Knight (NR)
3/14 - A surprise invite, Knight has a good arm but definitely struggled in his AAA in 2021. Heading back to AAA.

Cody Sedlock (NR)
3/14 - Former 1st round pick has one of the best changeups in the system, but little other consistent weapons.


Catchers
Robinson Chirinos
3/14 - Officially signed to a $900k, one year contract. Should be a solid back up catcher to Rutschman. 

Jacob Nottingham (NR)
3/14 - Will need an injury or the Orioles playing service manipulation games with Rutschman to win a spot
3/16 - Could very well see opening day with the Orioles now that Rutschman went down with an injury. 

Adley Rutschman (NR)
3/14 - #1 ppropect in all of baseball, this 24-year old should be the Orioles everyday catcher 
3/16 - Has a strained right triceps and is shut down 2-3 weeks ruining any chance of him being on the opening day roster. (injured)

Anthony Bemboom (NR)
3/14 - Depth to Nottingham, he'll be heading to AAA

Maverick Handley (NR)
3/14 - Best defensive catcher in the system, Handley needs to stay healthy and hit well in AA to get on the prospect scene

Brett Cumberland (NR)
3/14 - Depth catcher here to catch bullpens. He may have a hard time finding playing time in the org this year.

Cody Roberts (NR)
3/14 - Here to catch bullpens

1st Base
Ryan Mountcastle
3/14 - The everyday 1B

Trey Mancini  (DH)
3/14 - The everyday DH.

2nd Base
Rougned Odor
3/14 - FA signee for league minimum, Odor could win the 2B spot with a good spring

Jahmai Jones 
3/14 - Also plays left field, Jones has to improve his bat to keep his 40-man spot

Terrin Vavra
3/14 - #10 prospect in the organization, Vavra is going back to the minors but gets a chance to show what he can do.

Shed Long Jr. (NR)
3/14 - Depth 2B/OF, Long will try to open some eyes in his new organization

Chris Owings (NR)
3/15 - Signed as utility depth

Shortstop
Ramón Urías 
3/14 - Showed well with the stick in his rookie season and will get an opportunity to win the SS or 2B spot. 

Jorge Mateo
3/14 - Toolsy INF/Of is probably a better fit as super utility guy but seems to need everyday PAs to produce.

Richie Martin (NR)
3/14 - Here to show his versatility but heading to Norfolk

3rd Base 
Kelvin Gutierrez
3/14 - Heads into camp as the third baseman but his bat needs to show improvements to stay on the team

Rylan Bannon
3/14 - Amazingly kept his 40-man spot after a horrid 2021 campaign. Will need to show better this year.

Patrick Dorrian  (NR)
3/14 - Solid season in AA playing mostly 3B, he's a left-handed platoon guy with some pop who has a good arm at 3B.

Outfielders  
LF
Austin Hays
3/14 - The everyday left fielder IF he can stay healthy.

Robert Neustrom (NR)
3/14 - Gets his first real taste of major league spring training and here to show that he can help this year as OF depth.

Tyler Nevin
3/14 - Versatile player but not good defensively wherever he plays. Has to show more pop as a 3B/1B/LF guy.

CF
Cedric Mullins
3/14 - An Orioles All-Star last season, he's the best offensive player on the team

Ryan McKenna
3/14 - Comes into camp trying to win the 4th outfielders spot. Defensively is good at all three spots but stick has to improve.

RF
Anthony Santander
3/14 - Comes into camp as the RF, but has to stay healthy and hit this year. Talent is there, but hasn't been able to stay on field.

DJ Stewart
3/14 - Will fight to be the 4th outfielder but his poor defense really makes him a DH. Needs a big spring to make team.

Kyle Stowers (NR)
3/14 - #8 prospect is heading to AAA to start year, but could make his debut this season. Huge power.

Yusniel Diaz 
3/14 - Probably last chance to show something or is a DFA candidate.

Transactions
3/14 - Signed Robinson Chirinos (C) to one year $900K contract to fill 40-man roster.
3/14 -  Signed Connor Greene (RHP) to minor league contract with spring training invite.
3/15 - Signed  Chris Owings (UTL) to minor league contract with spring training invite.
3/16 - Signed Chris Ellis (RHP)  to a minor league contract with spring training invite.

 

[Tony-OH]

Update with 3/18 game action.

 

[Tony-OH]

Updated through 3/20...

[Tony-OH]

3/21 - Reassigned Cody Roberts (C) to minor league camp.

[SteveA]

58 minutes ago, Tony-OH said:

3/21 - Reassigned Cody Roberts (C) to minor league camp.

He had a nice hard double off the pretend Green Monster in Fort Myers Sunday.   He can tell his grandkids about that someday.   A little video editing of the crowd and maybe he can convince them it was at the real Fenway.

[waroriole]

Felix Bautista tosses a perfect inning, with 2 Ks. Would be nice to see him against some ML hitters too. 

[Tony-OH]

Added info from yesterday's game that includes information that suggests Tanner Scott may be trying a new pitch? 

Plus much more thanks to a statcast game!

[Il BuonO]

55 minutes ago, Tony-OH said:

Added info from yesterday's game that includes information that suggests Tanner Scott may be trying a new pitch? 

Plus much more thanks to a statcast game!

Lol, he has a hard time commanding the two he throws and he’s adding another? Sure.

[Tony-OH]

Updated thru 3/25

[Frobby]

So far this spring the O’s are 10th in OPS at .818, but 27th in ERA at 6.23.   I think those stats are hints of what we’ll see this season — increasingly respectable offense, but continued terrible pitching.   I doubt our offense will be above average, but it will be better than last year.    Our pitching will be lousy but we can hope it will be a little less lousy than last year.

[Tony-OH]

Updated thru 3/26...

[justD]

On 3/23/2022 at 4:55 PM, Tony-OH said:

Added info from yesterday's game that includes information that suggests Tanner Scott may be trying a new pitch? 

Plus much more thanks to a statcast game!

Showing my ignorance or lack of game watching the past year or so, but where does one find Statcast info?

[Can_of_corn]

https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/statcast_search

[justD]

I wonder how much the stomach flu that’s making its rounds has been impacting lineups? Like with DJ Stewart for instance. 

[Tony-OH]

6 minutes ago, justD said:

I wonder how much the stomach flu that’s making its rounds has been impacting lineups? Like with DJ Stewart for instance. 

He may have it too, but I believe he's been slowed after getting hit by a pitch Wednesday in the hand.