An assessment of the Orioles midway through spring training

SARASOTA—Though the Orioles still have 20 Grapefruit League games, plus another one in Washington before the end of exhibition games, spring training is at the halfway point.

Oriole pitchers and catcher reported to Sarasota on February 12^th, and they leave the Ed Smith Stadium complex on March 23^rd, just 19 day from now.

Manager Brandon Hyde thinks that spring training has gone well.

“I love the energy that’s in the camp,” Hyde said. “Besides a few minor things, that’s always going to come up, knock on wood, we’re staying as healthy as we can. I think our guys are getting great work in. I think the energy and the effort in the games has been really good. I think our starting pitchers are being built up really well and throwing the ball well. I like where we are today.”

The positives

The five starting pitchers have pitched well. Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez, Dean Kremer, Charlie Morton and Tomoyuki Sugano have combined for a 1.72 ERA in their early appearances.

Cade Povich, who barring an injury to the starting five, probably will begin the season at Triple-A Norfolk, has allowed a hit and a walk in five scoreless innings, striking out seven.

Félix Bautista made his first relief appearance since had Tommy John surgery in October 2023, and struck out two of the three batters he faced, hitting 97 mph with his fastball.

Hyde said he’s going to be careful with his 2023 closer, not pitching him on back-to-back days in the season’s first half and not extending him for more than an inning. He appears to have the bullpen depth he needs to protect Bautista..

“We have a variety of guys. We have [Andrew] Kittredge. I love the way Gregory Soto is throwing the ball, especially the way he threw the last three weeks of the season, and what he’s brought into camp so far. He’s closed in the past. Seranthony [Domínguez] did a nice job for us. It’s probably a mix-and-match at that point, but we’ll see if somebody separates themselves.”

Catcher Adley Rutschman, who had a dismal second half in 2024, looks healthy and strong and is 3-for-8 (.375) with a home run. Outfielder Tyler O’Neill is 2-for-5 (.400) with a home run. First baseman Ryan Mountcastle is 4-for-11 (.364).

The concerns

Kittredge has pitched only once because of a sore left knee. He allowed two hits in a scoreless inning on February 26^th. Hyde said on Monday he’s day-to-day, and while there’s plenty of time to make up the innings, he hasn’t seen him before this spring.

Shortstop Gunnar Henderson hasn’t played since last Thursday because of discomfort on his left side. Third baseman Jordan Westburg has played just one game, on February 22^nd, because of a sore lower back. Westburg could be back on Wednesday, and with nearly three weeks left in the spring, there’s time to make up for lost at-bats.

Centerfielder Cedric Mullins is having his second straight rough spring training. In 2024, he missed time because of a hamstring injury and was just 3-for-27 (.111). So far, he’s just 1-for-13 (.077) in five games.

Ryan O’Hearn is 1-for-12 (.083), and Coby Mayo is 1-for-17 (.059).

The Orioles have played just nine games, and it’s far too early to make judgments, positive and negative, on individual players.

Those who have stood out and those on the fence

Catcher Samuel Basallo, the Orioles’ leading prospect in MLB Pipeline’s new top 30, has drawn raves from inside and outside the camp. The 20-year-old is 3-for-8 with a mammoth home run.

“I don’t think he surprised anybody that’s been around him,” Hyde said. “I’ve been so impressed with his confidence, his maturity on the field and our conversations. I think it’s a special player. He’s fitting in really, really well. The tools are off the charts, but I like the way he goes around his business. Those of us who haven’t been around him, the major league staff, we’re all incredibly impressed by him.

“As big as he is [6 feet 4], how agile he is, how he gets up quickly, his athleticism behind the plate, for that size. Those are usually the things that present the problems behind the plate … He is really athletic. You see it when he’s playing first base. He hasn’t had a lot of time there. He’s got a ton of confidence playing defense. The majority of big catchers, their weakness is the ability to get up quick and move side to side, and I haven’t seen that with him.”

The Orioles have two pitchers on the 40-man roster who could be contending for a spot — right-handers Bryan Baker and Roansy Contreras. Both are out of options.

Baker has retired each of the six hitters he’s faced. Contreras, whom Hyde talked up last Friday as a pitcher who can start and relieve, didn’t help himself on Monday when he allowed four runs on three hits, two home runs and two walks in an inning.

With Henderson and Westburg injured, there’s been additional playing time for non-roster infielders Vimael Machin, Liván Soto and Luis Vázquez, all of whom have big league experience.

Hyde knows Machin from the Chicago Cubs, where he was a minor league infielder. He’s been extremely complimentary of him. He also likes Vázquez.

“I love the way Vázquez plays defense,” Hyde said. “I’m really impressed with his defense. He comes well regarded defensively, and he’s shown really well in camp.”

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.