Feb 20, 2026; Sarasota, Florida, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Trevor Rogers (28) throws a pitch in the first inning against the New York Yankees during spring training at Ed Smith Stadium. Mandatory SARASOTA-What’s happening? In the Orioles’ sixth Grapefruit League game, Trevor Rogers got his second start. Rogers pitched brilliantly for the second straight start, allowing just one hit in three scoreless innings, striking out three in the Orioles’ 4-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays before 5.074 at Ed Smith Stadium on Wednesday. In his first two starts, Rogers allowed two hits in five scoreless innings, striking out five without a walk. Rogers appears to be continuing his fine work of 2025, when he had a 1.81 ERA and was elected Most Valuable Oriole. “It’s been so much fun to watch,” manager Craig Albernaz said before the game. “It’s a testament to the work that he’s put in, to come back to form the way he has and keeps on getting better…Find those little margins where they can keep turning the dial up for further development. Rog has been leaning into that with our pitching group to keep him where he is and to try to find those little margins. Trevor has been outstanding in this camp.” Chris Bassitt, who threw live batting practice at Ed Smith Stadium on Tuesday and Zach Eflin have yet to start. Shane Baz starts for the first time on Friday against Pittsburgh in Bradenton. Albernaz thinks all his potential starters will have the necessary work to be ready for the start of the season on March 26th. “It’s not innings,” Albernaz said. “The sweet spot is at least five times out in spring training. That’s the minimum to get guys out in competition, not on the back fields. We’re on pace to do that.” What’s happened? Rogers was satisfied with how he pitched. “The main thing is with all the lefties they had out here today, really establishing the space early in the count,” Rogers said. “I think [catcher Adley Rutschman] and I were in synch from the get-go. He did a great job. I think I called two or three pitches. Other than that, we were synched in for those three innings. We accomplished a lot today, so I was happy with how it went.” Rogers agreed that he’s picked up where he left off from last season. “I would say I’m probably halfway there,” Rogers said. “The arm isn’t ‘in shape to go five, six, seven innings yet. I’m executing my pitches the way I want to, spinning them, moving the ball around, so I’m really happy.” Albernaz liked what he saw from Rogers. “Just check another box from him in his progression,” Albernaz said. “He looked great, throwing strikes, especially with the offspeed stuff. That was a fun outing to watch.” In his first appearance of the spring, Andrew Kittredge retired only one of the four batters he faced. Jonny DeLuca hit a three-run home run. One run scored due to third baseman Weston Wilson’s error. Kittredge, who walked leadoff batter Nick Fortes and struck out Jacob Melton was removed after 23 pitches. “First spring training outing,” Albernaz said. “Slightly smaller pitch count for him.” Tyler Wells pitched a spotless fifth inning, striking out two. Anthony Nunez threw a scoreless sixth and Nestor German allowed one hit in 2 1/3 innings, walking two and striking out four. Tyler O’Neill, who’ll be heading to play for Team Canada in the World Baseball Classic on Sunday, was 2-for-2 with a walk and an RBI double. “Made some tweaks this offseason to finetune the swing a little bit,” O’Neill said. “A lot of good effort in the offseason with my training program. Physically, I feel really good. Mechanically, I feel good in the box. I feel better than last year.” O”Neill is thrilled playing for Team Canada, and he adjusted his training program accordingly. “I feel if we started playing those games tomorrow, I’d be ready to rock,” he said. “You’ve just got to trust the buildup in Sarasota.” Vance Honeycutt hit his second home run of the spring in the seventh inning. What’s up with Jeisson Cabrera? Cabrera is a 27-year-old right-hander signed as a minor league free agent after pitching in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization since 2018. “I’m learning a lot from guys who have big league experience,” Cabrera said through a team translator. “Paying attention to all the details and the way that the veterans go about their business.” Last season, Cabrera was 4-1 with a 3.71 ERA with two saves in 36 games for Double-A Tulsa, and now he’s in his second organization. “It was a little difficult knowing that I was in their farm system, but at the end of the day, you play for all 30 teams in a way, and you never know which you’ll end up with and will give you the opportunity to play.” In his first outing, Cabrera relieved German in the ninth, recorded two outs, one strikeout and walked two. What’s what? Rogers has pitched well against two American League East opponents. Admittedly, the Yankees and Rays haven’t played their best players, but he’s done what’s asked. What’s the word? “That was a tough loss for us, man. Hard-fought battle all the way to the end. Americans played great. Canadians played great. It came down to one shot. I’d really like to see a 5-on-5 in the future. That’s all that was missing to that game. What a great game, nonetheless.”-O’Neill, a Canadian and hockey fan on looking for revenge in the WBC. What’s the number? 2. Honeycutt, the Orioles’ No. 1 draft choice in 2024, struck out 178 times and hit five home runs in 101 games for High-A Aberdeen last year. He’s homered twice in two at-bats this spring. “Baseball’s a hard game. Development is messy. It’s not linear,” Albernaz said. “For him to come out and hit homers, we like home runs. The kid can play, and hopefully this gives him a confidence boost.” What’s the record? 3-2-1 The Orioles host the Detroit Tigers at 1:05 p.m. on Thursday at Ed Smith Stadium. Dean Kremer will make his final start before the World Baseball Classic against Keider Montero. Kevin Brown and Roch Kubatko have the call on MASN. Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com
SARASOTA—What’s happening? In his final start before Opening Day, Trevor Rogers allowed two runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings and Samuel Basallo hit two long home runs in the Orioles’ 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates before 5,734 at Ed Smith Stadium on Thursday night.
Rogers, who threw 82 pitches, struck out seven without walking a batter. He’s set to start on March 26th against the Minnesota Twins at Oriole Park.
“It was a great camp for Trevor,” manager Craig Albernaz said.
Basallo homered in the first and hit a two-run homer in the third. Jhonkensy Noel hit a two-run home run against former Oriole left-hander Gregory Soto in the second.
The third annual Spring Breakout game between the top prospects of the Orioles and Boston Red Sox will be played on Friday night at 6:05.
Trey Gibson, the team’s No. 5 prospect and last season’s organizational minor league pitcher of the year, will start for the Orioles.
“I’m super grateful for the opportunity,” Gibson said. “I think it shows a lot that the guys in the front office and the coaching staff, they “believe in me and trust in me for this.”
Gibson has been with the major league team throughout spring training.
“It’s been amazing. A ton of great experiences with these guys in the clubhouse, definitely learned a lot. It’s been special being in this clubhouse with these guys and all the experience they have.”
Gibson has allowed five runs on six hits in 9 2/3 innings for a 4.66 ERA and is feeling closer to the major leagues.
“One hundred percent, being in the big league clubhouse with all these guys, it definitely feels like it.”
What happened? Rogers, who had a delayed start to last season because of a knee injury, was pleased to make each of five starts, including one against Team Netherlands.
“People don’t realize how huge that is.”
Rogers will rest six days and start against the Twins, who’ve yet to name their starter.
“Now, I’ve got two extra days to recover to get going for the games that matter,” Rogers said. “I’m ready. Spins were a big point of emphasis this outing and really pleased with how both of my spins played today. A lot of weak contact out in front, a lot of swings-and-misses.”
Basallo said Rogers looks the part of an Opening Day starter.
“I think every time he steps up to the mound he looks incredible. I think he looks just as good as last year, if not better,” he said through a team translator.
Basallo has a .375 average and 1.225 OPS in Grapefruit League games.
“Feeling ready, feeling confident,” Basallo said. “That was one of the biggest things that I lacked last year Coming into this season, I feel really confident, ready to go.”
The 21-year-old switch-hitter hit both of his home runs left-handed.
“I’m pretty big, so any time I put the ball in play, I think I hit it pretty hard,” said the 6-foor-4 Basallo. “It’s not that I’m trying to go up there and hit like a crazy chicken and go crazy in the batter’s box. Just trying to stay focused in my approach and put up a good at-bat.”
Keegan Akin, Ryan Helsley, Grant Wolfram and Jackson Kowar combined for 3 2/3 scoreless innings with six strikeouts and a walk. The Orioles struck out 13.
What happened against the Yankees? Gunnar Henderson returned from the World Baseball Classic and was 1-for-3 as the Orioles lost to the New York Yankees, 5-4, on Thursday afternoon before 8,682 at George M. Steinbrenner Field in the other split-squad game.
Coby Mayo had a two-run home run against Max Fried.
Dean Kremer, in his first start since pitching for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic, allowed one run on two hits in 4 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out eight.
“He looked great. There was a stretch there in a couple of innings where he got into a lot of three-ball counts,” Albernaz said. “He did a great job of limiting the damage and being efficient after that.”
What’s up with Jackson Kowar? The 29-year-old right-hander is in competition for one of the final bullpen spots and pitched the ninth inning, allowing a hit and a walk with one strikeout. Kowar has a 1.80 ERA.
He’s been thinking about whether he’ll come north with the team.
“I think we would all be lying if we said no, but I do think for most of the guys in here, we’ve all been through it,” Kowar said. “We’re all aware of the situation. There are a certain amount of spots, and that’s going to be it. I think as you get older, you’re able to separate that, separate the work … You get used to it.”
Kowar is pleased with how his spring has gone.
“I think I can certainly clean up some things,” he said. “It’s also still spring and the sample size is somewhat limited, be in the zone slightly more. My first-pitch strikes are really high.
“I think putting guys away and getting a little more chase-and-miss. I’ve been a little too big with misses on two strikes. Stuff’s coming out great, body feels great and I feel really happy with the way I’ve competed.”
What’s what? Usually, regular players are used in the home half of a split-squad, but the Orioles used nearly all their regulars against Max Fried and the Yankees at Tampa.
What’s the word? “Availability is the best ability. That’s something I try to preach on. If I can take the ball every five to six days, that’s huge.”–Rogers on being able to pitch throughout the spring.
What’s the number? 20/2. Including the game against Team Netherlands, Rogers struck out 20 batters this spring while walking just two.
What’s the record? 10-12-3. The Orioles will play the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field at Tampa at 6:35 p.m. Zach Eflin will start against Luis Gil. Eflin has thrown just two Grapefruit League innings.
Brett Hollander will broadcast the game on WBAL/98 Rock.
Oriole prospects will play Red Sox prospects in the Spring Breakout game at 6:05 p.m. at Ed Smith Stadium. Trey Gibson will start for the Oriole prospects.
Ben Wagner and Ryan Ripken will call Spring Breakout on MASN.
Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com
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