SARASOTA–What’s happening?—After Tuesday’s offday, the first of two this spring for the Orioles, Grayson Rodriguez will start against the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers on Wednesday at 1:05 p.m.

Rodriguez, who will be opposed by Minnesota’s Pablo López, pitched a hitless 1 2/3 innings, striking out two and hitting a batter in his first spring outing.

Third baseman Jordan Westburg, who hasn’t played since February 22^nd because of a sore lower back, is improving, manager Brandon Hyde said Monday. “Is going through full baseball activity today, so doing everything with the team,” Hyde said. “Full batting practice and progressing. He’s going to play [Wednesday] or the next day, more than likely.”

Hyde said that shortstop Gunnar Henderson, who left last Thursday’s game with right side discomfort, is also improving. “A lot better. Turning the corner,” Hyde said. “He’s feeling a lot better. He’s going to be rehabbing and doing stuff in the training room today, but we’re really encouraged. This is the best he’s felt.”

Hyde said reliever Andrew Kittredge is dealing with left knee soreness. Kittredge was supposed to pitch in Saturday’s game but didn’t. “He does feel better today,” Hyde said. “Treatment today. Offday tomorrow, then we’re going to see how he feels after the off day.”

Catcher Gary Sánchez was out because of illness.

Right-hander Chayce McDermott, who hasn’t pitched this spring because of a right lat strain, had his first day of catch play this spring.

Zach Eflin will face Paul Skenes on Thursday when the Orioles’ play the Pittsburgh Pirates at 6:05 in the first night game of the spring.

What’s happened? Félix Bautista pitched for the first time since August 25^th, 2023, and retired each of the three hitters he faced in the fifth inning in the Orioles’ 6-6 tie with the Boston Red Sox before 7,161 at Ed Smith Stadium on Monday. He struck out two.

“That’s the highlight of the camp so far,” Hyde said. “Feeling great. Another box checked for him. It was great to see him out there.”

Bautista had Tommy John surgery in October 2023. In his first game of the spring, he struck out Trayce Thompson and Nate Eaton. David Hamilton grounded out to third.

“It’s something I thought about every day,” Bautista said through a translator. “It’s something that kept me going through my rehab process.”

Bautista walked off the mound at the end of the inning and hugged catcher Adley Rutschman, a common sight in 2023 when Bautista had 33 saves, went 8-2 and pitched to a 1.48 ERA. He said he missed everything about the game.

“Warming up in the bullpen, trotting to the mound, getting into the game, hearing the fans,” Bautista said. “And having Adley catch me, and I missed [the hugs], too.”

Fans cheered and stood as Bautista left the mound.

“It was very exciting. I missed my fans. I missed hearing them every time I stepped on to the field,” he said. “It was very gratifying going out there today and hear them once again.”

“Credit to the crowd for recognizing how awesome a moment that was for him personally,” Hyde said. “He hasn’t  pitched in a game in a long time. He looked great out there.” 

Hyde is going to be careful with Bautista.

“I’m going to be as careful as I possibly can,” Hyde said. “I don’t see him going back-to-back days. I don’t see him going [more than one inning]. I’m going to have to be careful about getting him up and sitting him down. All those types of things are going to play a factor, especially the first half.”

Charlie Morton started and allowed one hit in two scoreless innings. He threw 22 pitches, five in the first inning, and struck out one. He’s thrown three shutout innings, giving up two hits.

“I felt like I got some things accomplished,” Morton said. “I think we were shooting for 40 pitches, if I could get to it. I guess you don’t want to get to 40 pitches in two innings. I feel like my arm is starting to move a little bit better every outing. I feel a little bit more timed up, looser. I was pleased with that one.”

Morton isn’t results-oriented this early in spring.

“I’m preparing myself to pitch in the regular season,” he said. “I’m preparing to pitch for my next start. I could be wrong. I’m preparing to have success, but at the same time when I start to actually judge myself, being honest, it’s probably a few starts in: ‘How’s the ball coming out? How’s my stuff?’ Just the raw stuff, and then, ‘Does it pass the eye test with hitters?’”

Tomoyuki Sugano pitched two innings, allowing a run on two hits, walking one and striking out two. He threw 36 pitches, and, through a translator, called his performance: ‘So-so.”

“I had some command issues, command misses, but otherwise I had good communication with Rutsch. That was a huge improvement from the last outing.”

Rutschman’s end-of-inning interactions with pitchers are familiar to Sugano’s time in Japan.

“Those types of communications between the catcher and the pitchers happen very often in Japan, so I really like how Rutsch came to me, and I know what he’s thinking,” he said. “Overall, I just like that.”

Rutschman homered in the first inning.

Roansy Contreras allowed four runs on two-run home runs by Abraham Toro and Nathan Hickey in the seventh. Minor league reliever Yaqui Rivera gave up a two-run home run to Nick Sogard in the eighth. 

What’s up with? Luis Vázquez was purchased by the Orioles from the Chicago Cubs on January 31^st, and though he was taken off the roster four days later after Ramón Laureano was signed, he’s gotten a chance to play. Especially with injuries to Henderson and Westburg.

“I don’t think injuries are great for anyone,” Vázquez said through a translator, “but at the same time, it does bring opportunities. I’m just trying to make the best of those opportunities with what’s on the table and try to make it count.”

On Monday, he started at shortstop and was 0-for-2 and a sacrifice fly.

“I think the Orioles know who I am after they traded for me, but I’m still here trying to make the team and help the team win and contribute any way I can,” Vázquez said.

He was 1-for-12 (.083) with and RBI for the Cubs last season and played second, shortstop and third base.

What’s what? Tony Clark, the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, visited the Orioles on Monday, and while he appreciates the Orioles’ raising their payroll under new owner David Rubenstein, he’s wary of the owner’s wish for a salary cap.

“You know that there was a period of time here when the payroll wasn’t perhaps what it could have been or should have been,” Clark said. “I can appreciate the adjustments that have been made, and they’ve got an outstanding club in the clubhouse. They’ve made additions to the club that should undoubtedly be helpful in putting them in the best position to being the last team standing.

“We are also hopeful that all 29 teams function in the same capacity, but the desire for a salary cap is not a new one. The sky has been falling in our industry for decades and yet our industry has continued to move forward in a way that all involved have benefited …I t’s not something that’s new. It’s not something that’s surprising. We’ll work with our players and deal with it at the bargaining table.”

What’s the word? “I want him to walk off that mound feeling good. That’s all I care about.”-Hyde on his goal for Bautista.

What’s the number? 97 mph. Bautista’s fastball topped out at 97. “God willing, when Opening Day comes around, I’ll be 99-100 miles per hour if everything seems to go all right,” he said.

What’s the record? 4-4-1. The Orioles are off on Tuesday and will play the Minnesota Twins at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers at 1:05 p.m. on Wednesday.