SARASOTA–What’s happening? Tyler Wells, who’ll begin the season in the bullpen for the Orioles, started Sunday’s game. Ten pitches later, his afternoon was over.
Wells completed his sixth scoreless inning of the spring in the Orioles’ 1-0 loss to a Toronto Blue Jays split squad before 6,360 at Ed Smith Stadium.
He allowed a single to leadoff hitter Myles Straw. He’s allowed two in six innings.
The Orioles optioned outfielder Reed Trimble to minor league camp. Trimble was 4-for-15 (.267) with two RBIs in seven Grapefruit League games.
“First year on the 40-man, get to see him up play close and personal,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “Obviously, there were injuries in the minor leagues, but to see him healthy in camp. He has potential to be a real impact player. The way he plays defense at all three outfield spots, switch-hitter, manages the at-bat, has power, and also he can steal bases, and he’s a smart baserunner. He was very impressive in camp. I’m looking forward to seeing his impact progression.”
Albernaz was excited to watch Team USA’s win over Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic Saturday night. Gunnar Henderson played shortstop and was 4-for-5.
“I was fired up watching it,” Albernaz said. “It was so cool for Gunnar, and he rest of the fans will se what Gunnar can do on the big stage and the impact player we all know he is, and to see him do it on that stage is awesome.”
What happened? Wells is eager for the 2026 season to begin.
“Right now, I’m really into just getting into the season,” Wells said. “Carry over the momentum. I know it’s spring training and all, but being able to face the top of the lineup today definitely gave me a little bit of the feel of getting into full-on games, regular-season games. Really happy about that, really excited.”
Pitching late in regular-season games is much different than starting games in Florida in March.
“As spring training goes on, you’ll get more of those situations, where I’ll have to come in later in the game, but they’re getting me ready for anything.”
In 2021, Wells was a closer. He’s been a starter since then. He knows he needs to be flexible.
“A lot of it is taking pride in my mentality,” Wells said. “Being able to be as consistent as I can is important. I invested a lot of time and money into my mental performance this offseason. I worked with a coach. It’s been paying a lot of dividends.”
Jackson Kower allowed the game’s only run in the third.
Toronto didn’t score against Ryan Helsley, Enoli Paredes, Sebastian Gongora, Joe Glassey Joseph Dzierwa, Cameron Foster or Anthony Nunez.
The Orioles had just five hits. Centerfielder Colton Cowser was 1-for-3 and is batting .273 this spring.
“It’s been approach more rather than swing,” Cowser said. “I’ve been meeting with the hitting guys. We’re trying to develop a good routine, a good plan.”
Albernaz has noticed an improvement.
“He’s fine-tuning it,” Albernaz said. “He’s trending in the right direction.”
What’s up with Bryan Ramos? The 23-year-old third baseman was claimed off waivers from St. Louis on February 20th. It was the second time in less than three weeks he’d been acquired by the Orioles. On February 1st his contract was purchased from Chicago and was lost on waivers on February 6th to the Cardinals.
“The first time I’ve experienced that, obviously something different,” Ramos said. “This is a business. Anything can happen at any moment. This is something you have to deal with the best way you can.”
Ramos, who’s 3-for-15 (.200) with an RBI, could benefit from the injury to third baseman Jordan Westburg, who’s out with a partially torn ligament in his right elbow.
“I don’t even know we have anybody hurt,” Ramos said.
Ramos defected from his native Cuba at 14 and went to the Dominican Republic and signed with the White Sox at 16.
Coincidentally, Ramos and José Barrero, another infielder in camp, went to the same school in Cuba.
“It’s cool to have somebody you grew up playing [with], and you’re here in the big leagues playing on the same team,” Ramos said.
What’s what? The Orioles have fewer than two weeks before they leave Florida, and they’re more than halfway through the Grapefruit League schedule.
Albernaz notices a change.
“The intensity just gets organically turned up as the guys start playing longer in games,” he said. “Guys have been playing six, seven, sometimes eight innings … They know that the other players are staying in longer and that’s when the competitive juices start really flowing.”
What’s the word? “Being able to go out there in the first, the ninth, the seventh, sixth, fifth, doesn’t really matter, it’s all the same thing. It’s all about going out there and execute pitches.”–Wells on his 2026 role.
What’s the number? .900. The last two Orioles’ No. 1 draft choices, Vance Honeycutt (2024) and Ike Irish (2025) have combined for nine hits in 10 at-bats during Grapefruit League games. Honeycutt, who had four home runs and a single in his first five at-bats, flied to left in his at-bat. Irish is 4-for-4.
What’s the record? 7-7-2. The Orioles will visit the St. Louis Cardinals in the first of two games on Florida’s East Coast at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter at 1:05 p.m. on Monday. Nestor German, who’s allowed one hit in 2 1/3 scoreless innings, will start for the Orioles against Matthew Liberatore.
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