An early look ahead to Orioles’ spring training

Spring training is about seven weeks away, and the Orioles are likely to make several more additions and alterations to their roster. However, it’s never too early to speculate about what we’re likely to see in Sarasota and ask some pertinent questions.

How many starting pitchers will we see? President of baseball operations Mike Elias likes to see potential starters in spring training. Besides the newly acquired Shane Baz, and holdovers Kyle Bradish, Dean Kremer, Trevor Rogers and Tyler Wells, Cade Povich and Brandon Young will get starter’s innings.

The Orioles will most likely add another starter to the rotation between now and February.

Perhaps some of the pitchers likely to start the season in Triple-A Norfolk — Nestor German, Trey Gibson, Levi Wells and Cameron Weston — will be invited and get an opportunity to pitch in a few games.

Will we see Heston Kjerstad? Kjerstad has been overlooked in the mock rosters and roundups in recent weeks. He didn’t play for Triple-A Norfolk after July 25^th, and while he remains on the 40-man roster, nothing has been said about him after Elias’ answer to a question about him on September 29^th.

“Heston has been working with our doctors and other doctors on a medical condition,” Elias said. “He’s responded favorably to some treatment and some different treatments that they’ve done recently and he’s in a good spot right now and pointed in the right direction. We’re going to see him in spring training, and I’m really looking forward to that, because we missed the real Heston Kjerstad this year.

“He’s in a good spot right now and pointing in a good direction. We’re expecting to see him in spring training. We missed the real Heston Kjerstad this season.”

The Orioles have added two outfielders — Taylor Ward and Leody Taveras — from outside the organization, and Reed Trimble was elevated to the 40-man roster.

Kjerstad needs a big spring training to put himself back into the Orioles’ plans.

Will the Orioles try Coby Mayo in the outfield? Now that Pete Alonso has signed as a free agent, it seems unlikely that Mayo will receive much playing time at first base, a position he worked diligently to master last season.

“He had, I think, a very successful stretch run last year, he looked really good and is in a really good spot,” Elias said. “And there is still a lot of playing time available for him on a team that has Pete Alonso now. We have first base reps, we have designated hitter reps, as you mentioned, and the exploration of other positions — whether it’s third or something in the corner outfield — has been something we’ve always talked about with him. So the path remains open for him.”

It will be interesting to see if Mayo gets playing time in left and right field. His original position was third base, but with a healthy Jordan Westburg, Mayo isn’t likely to get time there. Designated hitter seems to be the most likely spot.

How many Orioles will play in the World Baseball Classic? As of now, Gunnar Henderson is slated to play for Team USA and Dean Kremer will pitch for Team Israel.

Alonso was asked about playing in the WBC on Foul Territory on Monday and said he hadn’t been asked but enjoyed his experience in 2023 and would be happy to do it again.

“I’d love to do it. It’s a sick tournament,” he said. “It’s a great event. I think it’s phenomenal for the sport.”

How many non-roster players will be in camp? The Orioles usually bring a large number. Last year, they had 30, and 12 ended up playing for the Orioles last season.

Some of those who are likely to be invited are outfielder Enrique Bradfield Jr., who was on hand in 2025, infielder Luis Vázquez, who played 32 games for the Orioles last season, first baseman/outfielder Ryan Noda, and Albert Suárez, who was invited in 2024.

Suárez impressed the Orioles in spring training 2024 and pitched in 32 games. He pitched in only five games for the Orioles in 2025, wasn’t offered a major league contract, but signed a minor league contract last week.

Catcher Maverick Handley, a non-roster invitee the last two years, played in 16 games for the Orioles last season. He’s expected to be in major league camp again.

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