World Champions 1983, 1970, 1966

American League Champions 1983, 1979, 1971, 1970, 1969, 1966 American League East Division Champions 2014, 1997, 1983, 1979, 1974, 1973, 1971, 1970, 1969

American League Wild Card 2016, 2012, 1996

Monday, March 13, 2017

Game Stories:

Dylan Bundy hit hard against Twins; Orioles come back to win in 9th The Sun 3/12

David Washington's walk-off two-run homer gives Orioles 7-6 win over Pirates The Sun

3/11

Orioles' Ubaldo Jimenez struggles in 4-0 loss to Red Sox The Sun 3/10

O's overcome Twins' slam, rally in ninth MLB.com 3/12

Washington hits walk-off homer for O's MLB.com 3/11

Tavarez collects 3 hits; Ubaldo strikes out 4 MLB.com 3/10

Columns:

Buck Showalter on Pedro Alvarez outfield transition: 'I'm going to be surprised if he can't

do it' The Sun 3/13

Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy making spring debut today The Sun 3/13

Assessing the Orioles' internal rotation options after Chris Tillman's setback The Sun

3/13

Trey Mancini debuting in outfield Monday against Phillies as Pedro Alvarez signs,

arrives in camp The Sun 3/13

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado earns MVP honors in WBC pool play The Sun

3/13

Orioles catcher Welington Castillo provides Dominican with late-inning heroics in WBC

win over Colombia The Sun 3/12

Shoulder discomfort lingering for Chris Tillman as scheduled bullpen session scrapped

Sunday The Sun 3/12

Orioles notes: Chance Sisco starts behind the plate The Sun 3/12

Manny Machado, Nelson Cruz lead Dominican to 7-5 comeback win over Team USA in

WBC The Sun 3/11

Orioles' Mike Wright turns back to sports psychology books to get his mind right for

2017 The Sun 3/11

Orioles' Adam Jones looking forward to pivotal WBC matchup against Dominican The

Sun 3/11

Schmuck: Orioles share in joy of Adam Jones' walk-off winner for Team USA The Sun

3/11

Slugger Pedro Alvarez to return to Orioles on minor league deal, pending physical The

Sun 3/11

Saturday at the park: Updates on Orioles' J.J. Hardy and Zach Britton; Chris Davis

scratched The Sun 3/11

Orioles' Chris Lee draws praise for Zach Britton-like ability to pitch in strike zone The

Sun 3/11

Orioles' Adam Jones saves Team USA from disastrous fate in World Baseball Classic

opener The Sun 3/11

Orioles hope to get it right with deeper group of lefties The Sun 3/10

Orioles' Chris Tillman has pivotal bullpen scheduled for Saturday The Sun 3/10

Orioles finally, officially announce minor league coaching staffs The Sun 3/10

Manager Kendall back for 7th season with Bowie Baysox The Sun 3/10

Alvarez returns to O's, looks to play outfield MLB.com 3/13

Over back spasms, Hardy plays first spring game MLB.com 3/13

Machado dazzles with leather, adds big hit MLB.com 3/12

Command struggles lead to off day for Bundy MLB.com 3/12

Shoulder discomfort ends Tillman's 'pen session MLB.com 3/12

Schoop, Simmons turn crucial double play MLB.com 3/12

Showalter ecstatic about Jones' big hit MLB.com 3/11

Britton hopes to make spring debut Tuesday MLB.com 3/11

Jones' walk-off hit 3rd in Classic history for U.S. MLB.com 3/10

Ondrusek to get second opinion on elbow MLB.com 3/10

Jimenez works through command issues vs. Sox MLB.com 3/10

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-rail-0313-20170312-story.html

Dylan Bundy hit hard against Twins; Orioles come back to

win in 9th

By Peter Schmuck / The Baltimore Sun

March 12, 2017

Orioles starting pitcher Dylan Bundy has been enjoying an upbeat spring, but he got beat up a

little bit in Sunday's 8-6 win against the Minnesota Twins before 7,160 at breezy Hammond

Stadium.

The Twins wasted little time getting after him. Byron Buxton led off the bottom of the first with

a long homer that bounced on the boardwalk behind left-center field and hit the scoreboard. The

second inning featured three singles before a grand slam by shortstop Jorge Polanco.

"Just got too much of the plate, I guess," Bundy said. "I feel like everything I threw out there

they were swinging at today. [They were] just real comfortable in the box. Fastball command

was just off, didn't have a curveball for strikes, so those two pitches were pretty good for me. Not

being able to get those over the plate exactly where I want them makes it a tough day.

Bundy went three solid innings in his previous start. On Sunday, he ran up his pitch count and

did not come back for the third inning. He allowed five runs on five hits, including two home

runs. He threw 56 pitches, 33 strikes.

"It's disappointing, especially since I went three my last one," he said.

It's just spring training, but Bundy wasn't in the mood for excuses.

"You want better results than that, and I thought I should have better results than that with the

way my pitches felt today. I just wasn't locating very good. I have to work on it."

Orioles take control in ninth: Trailing 6-5 heading into the ninth inning, the Orioles scored

three runs, two on a two-out double by catcher Francisco Pena. Paul Janish and Joey

Rickard also had hits in the inning.

Righthander Stefan Crichton struck out two in a scoreless bottom half of the inning for his

second save of spring.

Craig Gentry on a power trip: Outfield hopeful Craig Gentry had not hit a home run in spring

training since 2013 — until Wednesday, when he hit one at Ed Smith Field. Apparently he

enjoyed the experience, because he launched another one Sunday at Hammond Stadium.

Gentry has hit just four homers in 985 regular season at-bats.

Trey Mancini, who homered in three of the five major league games he appeared in last

September, hit his first of the spring in the second inning. He also singled in his next at-bat. His

2-for-3 day raises his spring batting average to .345.

Santander's moon shot: The wind was blowing out briskly to right field and Rule 5

outfielder Anthony Santander took a big ride on it. He hit a towering fly ball that cleared the

bleachers and the margarita bar behind it. Santander has been burdened this spring by

comparisons to Detroit Tigers star Victor Martinez, but apparently is getting more comfortable as

he works his way back from shoulder surgery.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-david-washington-s-walk-off-two-run-

homer-gives-orioles-7-6-win-over-pirates-20170311-story.html

David Washington's walk-off two-run homer gives Orioles 7-

6 win over Pirates

By Peter Schmuck / The Baltimore Sun

March 11, 2017

The Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates traded bursts of offense over the course of

Saturday’s Grapefruit League exhibition at Ed Smith Stadium, but it took all nine innings to

settle the matter.

Rangy outfielder David Washington came up with one out in the bottom of the ninth and

launched a two-run homer to center field to give the Orioles a 7-6 victory and transform relief

pitcher Oliver Drake from losing pitcher to a winning one before a sellout crowd of 7,487.

Drake had allowed a tiebreaking run in the top of the inning when he walked Pirates third

baseman Gift Ngoepe with one out and allowed a two-out double to shortstop Alen Hanson. He

stood to take the loss until Orioles outfield candidate Craig Gentry singled and Washington

homered for the second time in 14 spring at-bats.

The Orioles jumped out to a quick two-run lead when the first four batters reached base in the

bottom of the first inning. Chris Dickerson led off with a bunt single and Joey Rickard walked

before Hyun Soo Kim and Mark Trumbo followed with back-to-back RBI singles, but the Pirates

didn’t stay down for long.

They scored three runs on four hits off Orioles starter Mike Wright in a second-inning rally that

featured a double by center field prospect Austin Meadows and three straight two-out hits. Right

fielder Eury Perez singled Meadows home, Ngoepe followed with a base hit and Wright moved

both runners up with an errant pickoff throw to second.

Leadoff hitter Adam Frazier put the Pirates ahead 3-2 with a single to right that scored both

runners. He also drove in their fourth run of the game with an RBI groundout in the fifth, but that

two-run lead didn’t last any longer than the Orioles' did a few innings earlier.

The Orioles scored three times in the sixth on an RBI single by Johnny Giavotella and a two-run

home run by Rule 5 draftee Anthony Santander.

Joseph finds his stroke: Reserve catcher Caleb Joseph, who struggled so mightily at the plate

last season, reached base in each of his three plate appearances with a single to center in the

second inning, a walk in the fourth and an opposite-field single in the sixth. Joseph had a slash

line of .174/.216/.197 in 49 regular-season games last season. He currently is hitting .389 with a

1.087 OPS through eight spring games.

O’Day surrenders first run: Reliever Darren O’Day made his fourth one-inning relief

appearance of the spring and allowed his first run, which scored on a leadoff triple by No. 9

hitter Ngoepe and Frazier’s run-scoring groundout to second base. The triple was only the

second hit given up by O’Day in four innings this spring. He has struck out seven batters.

You gotta have Hart: Lefty Donnie Hart struck out two batters in a perfect fourth inning and

now has pitched six times, allowing one run on two hits.

Trumbo’s multihit game: Mark Trumbo drove in the second run of the game and had a pair of

singles in three at-bats. Trumbo was originally in the lineup as the designated hitter, but started at

first base after Chris Davis was scratched with a case of bronchitis.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bs-sp-orioles-rail-0311-20170310-story.html

Orioles' Ubaldo Jimenez struggles in 4-0 loss to Red Sox

By Peter Schmuck / The Baltimore Sun

March 10, 2017

It took Ubaldo Jimenez a little too long to find his rhythm Friday night and the Boston Red

Sox took advantage to score three runs in the first inning of a 4-0 victory at JetBlue Park.

He allowed a long leadoff triple to shortstop Marco Hernandez and an RBI single to Chris

Young before recording his first out of the game. He also walked Hanley Ramirez and gave up

an RBI single and a run-scoring groundout before settling down to retire eight straight batters.

"I didn't have my breaking ball and the sinker was up in the zone," Jimenez said. "They told me I

was rushing and my mechanics were a little bit too fast, but in the second inning I was able to get

it back."

It was the first rough outing of the spring for Jimenez, who allowed a run in two innings in his

spring debut against the New York Yankees and pitched three scoreless innings against the

Tampa Bay Rays last Saturday. He allowed a leadoff single in the fourth and was charged with

four runs (three earned), but said he feels good at the halfway point of spring training.

"I feel really good," he said. "Physically and mentally everything is good. I'm just throwing the

pitches that I need to be ready for the season."

Manager Buck Showalter didn't seem too concerned about the rocky first inning.

"It was just command," he said. "Needed to get the ball where he needed to get it more. He was

good after that. We got that fourth up. That was good for him. He ahead of where he was in the

past this spring."

Jimenez was replaced by left-hander Chris Lee, who delivered a solid three-inning performance.

He allowed just a hit and a walk while striking out four.

Meanwhile, Red Sox starter Kyle Kendrick pitched four scoreless innings and five Red Sox

relievers stifled the Orioles' road lineup to complete the six-hit shutout.

Tavarez on top: Rule 5 outfielder Aneury Tavarez started in center field and was in the leadoff

spot for Friday night's game, and he made the most of the opportunity to show off his leadoff

skills. He singled in each of his first three at-bats and and went from first to third on a groundout

to third base in the third inning. Tavarez raised his Grapefruit League batting average from .222

to .333 and has been the most effective hitter among the players competing for the last outfield

slot, but still appears to be a long shot to make the 25-man Opening Day roster.

Santander continues to struggle: The other Rule 5 guy, Anthony Santander struck out in his first

two at-bats of an 0-for-3 performance as the designated hitter, which left him with 10 strikeouts

in his first 20 Grapefruit League at-bats. Showalter has said how much he likes Santander's

swing, which is nice since he's seeing a lot of them right now. Santander still has not played in

the field because of a shoulder injury.

Brach bounces back: Reliever Brad Brach, who spun out of control during Tuesday's exhibition

against the Dominican Republic World Baseball Classic team, didn't have any trouble shaking

off the four-walk performance. He came on after Lee's strong performance and made quick work

with a perfect seventh inning.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/219036968/orioles-power-up-rally-past-twins-in-ninth/

O's overcome Twins' slam, rally in ninth

By Rhett Bollinger / MLB.com

March 12, 2017

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Jorge Polanco hit a grand slam and Byron Buxton crushed a leadoff

homer for the Twins, but the Orioles had three homers of their own and scored three times in the

ninth in an 8-6 win on Sunday at Hammond Stadium.

The Twins entered the ninth with a one-run lead, but Joey Rickard tied the game with a one-out

RBI single off Drew Rucinski before Francisco Pena hit a go-ahead two-run double off Aaron

Slegers.

The game featured plenty of power, as Baltimore's Trey Mancini hit a solo homer in the

second, Craig Gentry added a two-run shot in the third and Anthony Santander laced a solo blast

in the fifth. All three homers came against Twins right-hander Phil Hughes, who gave up four

runs on six hits and a walk over five innings.

Gentry's two-run knock

"I accomplished what I wanted to and that was to throw a bunch of changeups again," Hughes

said. "It was good. I threw a ton of them. Got some ground balls and swings and misses. Overall,

I was pleased, but obviously people are going to look at results and see the three home runs,

which isn't great. But they came on two changeups and a cutter."

Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy struggled, allowing five runs on five hits, including the

homers from Buxton and Polanco, in two innings. The former top prospect has been working on

incorporating a cutter this spring.

"Just too much of the plate, I guess," Bundy said. "It seemed like everything I threw up there

today they were swinging at. Real comfortable in the box. Fastball command was just off, didn't

have the curveball for strikes. Those two pitches are pretty big for me. So not being able to get

those over the plate exactly where I want them makes it tough to pitch."

Buxton smacked his first homer of the spring with his leadoff blast to deep left to open the

bottom of the first. Polanco's grand slam in the second was his second this spring. Robbie

Grossman also brought home a run with a sacrifice fly in the third.

Buxton's tater opens the scoring

The Orioles made it a one-run game in the sixth on an RBI double from Chance Sisco off

reliever Brandon Kintzler, who is expected to be Minnesota's closer to open the year.

Orioles up next: The Orioles host the Phillies on Monday at 1:05 p.m. ET. Right-hander Kevin

Gausman is scheduled to make his second Grapefruit League start for Baltimore.

Twins up next: With Trevor May not making his scheduled start after being diagnosed with a

torn ulnar collateral ligament, right-hander Justin Haley will make his first start of the spring on

Monday against the Rays at 12:05 p.m. CT on MLB.TV. Haley, a Rule 5 Draft pick, is

competing for the fifth spot in the rotation, but could also make the club as a reliever.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/218871614/david-washington-hits-walk-off-homer-for-os/

Washington hits walk-off homer for O's

By J. Scott Butherus and Rich Dubroff / MLB.com

March 11, 2017

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Minor League infielder David Washington hit a two-run walk-off home run

in the bottom of the ninth to give the Orioles a 7-6 win over the Pirates on Saturday at Ed Smith

Stadium.

Pittsburgh, which had won four straight Grapefruit League games, was led by Adam Frazier,

who drove in three runs. Frazier's two-run single gave the Pirates a 3-2 lead in the second. In the

fifth, Gift Ngoepe tripled to center and scored on Frazier's infield out.

Baltimore Rule 5 Draft choice Anthony Santander, who had struck out 10 times in his first 20 at-

bats, hit his first home run of the spring, a two-run homer in the sixth.

Mike Wright started for the Orioles, and he allowed three runs -- one unearned -- on six hits in 2

2/3 innings.

"The final numbers are what they are, but I feel positively about what I went out there and

executed," Wright said.

Right-hander Clay Holmes started for Pittsburgh and allowed two runs on four hits in 1 2/3

innings.

"[My fastball] was moving a little bit so it was a little harder to command and get a feel for those

things," Holmes said.

Alen Hanson's two-out, ninth-inning double put the Pirates ahead, 6-5, before Washington's

game-winning home run.

Pirates Up Next: The Pirates will host a Minnesota Twins split-squad at LECOM Park in

Bradenton on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. ET. Trevor Williams will get the start for Pittsburgh,

with Steven Brault, Felipe Rivero, Tyler Webb and Casey Sadler scheduled to pitch in relief.

Former Pirate Ryan Vogelsong, who went 3-7 with a 4.81 ERA in 24 appearances with

Pittsburgh last season, will get the start for the Twins as he tries to nail down the fifth starter or

long relief role. The game can be seen on MLB.TV.

Orioles Up Next: The Orioles head to CenturyLink Field in Fort Myers to play the Minnesota

Twins at 1:05 p.m. on Sunday. Right-hander Dylan Bundy, who has allowed one earned run on

two hits in five innings in his first two starts, gets the call. The game can be seen on MLB.TV.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/218810690/kyle-kendrick-leads-red-sox-past-orioles/

Tavarez collects 3 hits; Ubaldo strikes out 4

By Ian Browne and Maureen Mullen / MLB.com

March 10, 2017

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Red Sox came out swinging against veteran right-hander Ubaldo

Jimenez and rode their pitching the rest of the way en route to a 4-0 victory over the Orioles on

Friday night at JetBlue Park.

Chris Young and the Red Sox's No. 4 prospect, according to MLBPipeline.com,Sam Travis both

had RBI singles in a three-run bottom of the first.

Aneury Tavarez, the O's No. 24 prospect, went 3-for-3 from the leadoff spot, accounting for half

of Baltimore's hits.

Kyle Kendrick turned in a second straight strong performance for the Red Sox, firing four

shutout innings. The righty scattered four hits and walked two while also striking out two, and

his Grapefruit League ERA is now 2.08.

"I just want to be aggressive and throw strikes and be around the strike zone and throw strikes

with all my pitches and make sure the ball is moving how it should and how I'm used to it," said

Kendrick.

Joe Kelly continued his strong camp in the Red Sox bullpen with a scoreless fifth inning,

working around a hit and striking out one.

Jimenez, in line to be Baltimore's No. 5 starter, gave up four hits and four runs (three earned) --

three of which came in the first inning -- in three-plus innings. He walked two and struck out

three.

"I didn't have my breaking ball, and the sinker was up in the zone [in the first inning]," Jimenez

said. "They told me I was rushing a little bit, my mechanics were a little bit too fast. Then in the

second, I was able to get it back."

Jimenez fans Travis

Orioles Up Next: Baltimore hosts the Pirates on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. ET on MLB.TV. Right-

hander Mike Wright is scheduled to make his third Grapefruit League start. In five innings this

spring, he has allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits with no walks and four strikeouts.

Red Sox Up Next: Boston will split up on Saturday, with one squad staying home to face the

Rays and the other taking a short bus ride across Fort Myers to play the Twins. Both games start

at 1:05 p.m. ET and can be seen on MLB.TV. Left-hander Chris Sale will pitch at JetBlue Park

in his first home start for his new team, while Henry Owens will face Minnesota on the

road. Dustin Pedroia, Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez will be in the lineup for the home

game. Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley Jr. will start on the road.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-buck-showalter-on-pedro-alvarez-outfield-

transition-i-m-going-to-be-surprised-if-he-can-t-do-it-20170313-story.html

Buck Showalter on Pedro Alvarez outfield transition: 'I'm

going to be surprised if he can't do it'

By Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun

March 13, 2017

Newly-signed and freshly-christened outfielder Pedro Alvarez arrived at Orioles camp Monday

and manager Buck Showalter believes the transition to his new position, which the team

broached with him last year before he hit free agency, will be a good one.

“We talked about it last September, about how it was something we kind of came to the

conclusion for him to get on and continue down a better path, if he could present himself,”

Showalter said Monday. “I’m going to be surprised if he can’t do it. Pretty athletic, kind of fits

his skill set too. He’s got a plus arm, and he’s going to work hard at it. [Vice president of

baseball operations Brady Anderson] had talked to him a lot about it, kind of similar to [Trey]

Mancini. He’s going to work there exclusively, and hopefully we’ll have a feel for it by the time

we get toward the end. We’ll have plenty of time.”

Showalter said Alvarez, who on Monday signed an incentive-laden minor league deal with a

major league camp invitation that will pay him a base of $2 million if he makes the big leagues,

will work exclusively in the outfield, and primarily play right field because of his arm strength.

The 30-year-old Alvarez arrived in camp and had his first workout Monday, and recalled that

conversation with Showalter and other leaders in the organization with an appreciation both for

their wish to fit him back on their roster this season, but for their general care for him and his

career.

“I think the fact it was brought up with me showed a desired to have me around, and I

appreciated that conversation last year,” Alvarez said. “But by the same token too, I know it was

coming from a good place in his heart, looking out for my career. You can never be too versatile,

I guess, for lack of a better term. But that’s how I took that conversation, just a desire to have me

around and at the same time, just looking out for my best interests.”

Alvarez said that like most position players, he has some experience shagging balls in the

outfield during batting practice, but nothing as formal as the work he did this offseason to get a

good feel for the outfield. He singled out first base coach Wayne Kirby and Anerson as people

he’ll lean on for help.

“I’m taking all the help I can get, obviously,” Alvarez said.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity to learn the position as much as possible. Whenever you

try and play a new position, you have to put in a lot of work and the one thing you can’t replicate

is game reps. So I’m looking forward to a game opportunity to go out there and just play.”

The transition could take longer than just the allotted spring training time, but the Orioles don’t

have to add Alvarez to the roster immediately. He’s willing to take as much time to get as many

reps as he can, all in an effort to turn Alvarez into more than just a valuable bench bat.

“You don’t want to come in halfway through spring or whatever time period it is now, but one

thing that’s very helpful is the fact that obviously last year, switching organizations was a big

change for me and going into it, not that I was hesitant, but I didn’t know what to expect,”

Alvarez said. “I couldn’t be happier with the way this organization made the transition for me—

very seamless. And going into this year, I know again it’s not the ideal timing, but there isn’t that

uncertainty in terms of how I’m going to feel coming in here. I’m around a lot of people that are

going to be helpful or pulling for me, and what more could you ask of a group of people that

you’re planning to work with?”

Alvarez has never played the outfield professionally before, and has dealt with defensive issues

before as a corner infielder. However, the Orioles view the signing as a low-risk opportunity to

get Alvarez’s bat back in their organization and see if they can make him a more valuable roster

asset in the process.

No update on Tillman: The Orioles are still formulating their next step with right-hander Chris

Tillman and his sore right shoulder after he wasn’t able to take a scheduled bullpen Sunday due

to discomfort.

“We’re going to sit down about where we are with him at lunch time,” Showalter said. “The

doctors, I know they’ve been talking to him about whether we continue down the path, rest,

injection. There’s a lot of different options there. We’re not sure. Richie [Bancells, head athletic

trainer] told us this morning at our meeting that they’re trying to formulate a plan on what we

want to do going forward.”

Seth Smith cautious with hamstring: Orioles outfielder Seth Smith was back doing some

baseball activities Monday, a new development as he works back from what Showalter is

characterizing as a minor hamstring injury that has kept him out since Wednesday.

“It’s one of those things where he’d be playing during the season, but we’ve got plenty of time,”

Showalter said. “Don’t want it to turn into something. He had it last spring, and it was worse last

spring and he played through it and he went into the season hampering him, so we’re trying to

stay away from that.”

Around the horn: Showalter said shortstop J.J. Hardy (back spasms), playing his

first Grapefruit League game Monday against the Phillies, could be back in the lineup Tuesday if

he’s up for it. … Closer Zach Britton will make his Grapefruit League debut tomorrow. …

Outfielder Chris Dickerson, who was hit with a pitch on a nerve in his arm and lost feeling

Sunday, was “pretty sore” Monday, Showalter said. Dickerson only recently came back from a

foot injury. … Outfielder Craig Gentry is dealing with a groin issue and may not play Monday,

Showalter said. … The Orioles are scheduling a B game against the Pittsburgh Pirates for Friday

morning, with Mike Wright to start and Darren O’Day possibly getting a two-inning stint under

his belt. Starting Wright in that game would allow the Orioles to get looks at left-hander Chris

Lee and right-hander Gabriel Ynoa as starters in Grapefruit League games.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-shortstop-j-j-hardy-making-spring-

debut-today-chris-davis-back-in-camp-after-bout-with-bronc-20170313-story.html

Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy making spring debut today

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun

March 13, 2017

Following a methodical recovery from back spasms that lingered into the opening moments

of spring training, Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy will play in his first Grapefruit League game this

afternoon against the Philadelphia Phillies at Ed Smith Stadium.

Hardy has graduated through every step in his return without any setback, most recently taking

live batting practice and fielding grounders for the past two days, the final hurdles before getting

into live game action.

“It’s been a little bit longer road than I thought it would be, but I’m feeling good and I just need

to get into some baseball form,” Hardy said.

From here on out, Hardy said the focus will be getting baseball ready for the season, which he

said will likely include making road trips as he builds to about 40 to 50 Grapefruit League at

bats.

He will play today and tomorrow against the Tampa Bay Rays, both games at home. Hardy’s

return comes at a time in the Orioles spring schedule when the road travel is its least grueling.

Six of the team’s next seven games will be played in the Sarasota-Bradenton area, the exception

being a Saturday afternoon game against the New York Yankees in Tampa.

“Like basically [be] just like a normal player, so whatever [manager] Buck [Showalter] wants,”

Hardy said. “I could get in there today, play tomorrow and then we’ll see where we’re at after

tomorrow and just kind of play like I’m 100 percent healthy. Just got to get ready for the season

now.”

The Orioles were careful bringing Hardy back slowly in an effort to resolve his back issues

completely before the season starts, especially because he played through the entire 2014 season

with back problems.

Davis returns after bronchitis

Orioles first baseman Chris Davis was back in the clubhouse this morning and was awaiting

word about whether he'd be in today's starting lineup after missing three days with a bout of

bronchitis.

“I feel a little weird today, probably just from getting worn out over the last three or four days,”

Davis said. “But yeah, I feel [better]. Good enough to be here.”

Davis said he didn’t know whether he’d play today against the Phillies.

“I’m sure we’ll leave that to ol’ number 2-6 back there [Showalter],” Davis said about the

possibility of being in today’s starting lineup. “I’m sure he’s working on some witchcraft or

something. Yeah, I’m sure I’ll be in there, probably playing right field and center field, maybe

throw a bullpen, do some blocking drills, lead off every inning and then go back and forth.”

Davis said the illness didn’t compare to a bout with the flu last year that ended up costing him

three games in July and required a trip to the hospital.

“No shot,” Davis said. “That was like … I don’t know what that was all about. Somebody was

mad at me for something, but that was awful. There are very few times when I feel like I can’t at

least get out of bed and shuffle around, but yeah that was probably the worst feeling I ever had.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/orioles-internal-rotation-options-after-chris-tillman-

s-setback-20170312-story.html

Assessing the Orioles' internal rotation options after Chris

Tillman's setback

By Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun

March 13, 2017

Orioles manager Buck Showalter warned earlier this week that any setback that kept his top

starter, Chris Tillman, off the prescribed schedule on his way back from a lingering shoulder

issue would be bad news for his chances of an early April return.

Well, Tillman has now had a setback, not taking his scheduled bullpen after soreness cropped up

during his pre-session catch and long toss routine. Showalter’s tune has changed from

hopefulness that Tillman could come back in April to assurances that he believes Tillman will

come back at all.

But this spring more than most, the Orioles have options they believe can help mitigate that

blow, though few teams have another Tillman waiting in their minor league stocks.

Mike Wright and Tyler Wilson began last year as starters, and a reprisal of that role would

require them to take a step forward in terms of effectiveness in a big league rotation. Left-

handers Chris Lee and Jayson Aquino, meanwhile, have seen their stocks rise in Showater’s eyes

in a dramatic way this spring. And newcomer Gabriel Ynoa is making his first impression a good

one.

With Tillman’s status up in the air, and the Orioles at least starting to consider what life would

look like without him for a while, here’s a rundown of how each of their starting rotation depth

pieces are faring over as the halfway point of spring training nears.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-trey-mancini-debuting-in-outfield-monday-

against-phillies-as-pedro-alvarez-arrives-20170313-story.html

Trey Mancini debuting in outfield Monday against Phillies

as Pedro Alvarez signs, arrives in camp

Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun

March 13, 2017

On the day slugger Pedro Alvarez signed a minor league deal with the Orioles to begin working

as an outfielder in big league camp, another big bat without a clear path to a major league job,

Trey Mancini, is making his game debut as an outfielder.

Mancini is starting in right field and batting sixth in the Orioles’ Grapefruit League game against

the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday at Ed Smith Stadium, marking the first time he’s done so in

a game.

He’s primarily a first baseman defensively, but spent the offseason working on his own in the

outfield and has also done plenty of work on the back fields this spring.

Coincidentally enough, his transition occurred at Vanderbilt University parallel to Alvarez’s,

who worked out at the same facility this offseason. Mancini said that although both were

working toward the same thing — securing a major league job this year — they mostly

overlapped in the batting cages. There wasn’t much crossover time when each was learning the

outfield.

Mancini said they didn’t talk much about their possible new positions, though.

“It was more just about last year and more small talk than anything, not all about baseball,” he

said. “That’s more what our conversations were. He wasn’t sure where he was going to end up,

so he was working and in there every day hitting and getting ready for this year, because

obviously he was going to get signed by somebody.”

Alvarez had a locker in the team’s clubhouse Monday morning, and the deal agreed to this

weekend was signed shortly thereafter.

The former first-round pick slugged 22 home runs with an .826 OPS last year as a platoon

designated hitter for the Orioles, but his lack of a true defensive position meant he remained on

the free agent market into March for a second straight year.

His at-bats from last year will essentially go to outfielder Seth Smith, who will push Mark

Trumbo to a designated hitter role against right-handed pitching. But his signing also creates

another roadblock on Mancini’s path to the roster, one he’s quite used to by now.

However, he’s responding well. He swatted his first home run of the spring Sunday, a mammoth

shot to center field, and now has a team-high 10 hits in 29 at-bats with five extra-base hits.

“It’s just like any other situation, like I’ve been through many times, where you keep your head

down, keep working and keep hitting,” Mancini said. “That really can’t be ignored, I think, no

matter what happens. That’s what I’m trying to do the whole time, and what you have to keep

trying to do.

“It’s more unspoken than anything, but it’s been told to me before. Last year at spring training,

whenever I went from major league to minor league camp, I had a meeting and that was said.

That’s been told to me pretty much the whole time since I was drafted, and I’ve definitely bought

into it and believed in it. I’ve just tried to kind of do my thing and hit and try to help whatever

team I’m on win. That ended up getting me to the majors last year.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-third-baseman-manny-machado-

earns-mvp-honors-in-wbc-pool-play-20170313-story.html

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado earns MVP honors

in WBC pool play

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun

March 13, 2017

Manny Machado’s talents are no secret in Baltimore, and he’s unquestionably one of the major

league’s top young players. But playing in the opening round of his first World Baseball

Classic this weekend, the Orioles third baseman took no time emerging as a star on the

international stage.

This was the first time Machado – a three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner --

played in this kind of international event (he represented Team USA on a Pan American Games

junior national team as a teenager). And on a Dominican team full of experienced veterans, the

24-year-old Machado emerged from this weekend’s Pool C play at Marlins Park with the best

round of any of his teammates.

Over the course of three days here in Miami, the Miami-born Machado – who decided to play for

the Dominican to honor his Dominican heritage -- became the darling of a pro-Dominican crowd

that filled Marlins Park, so much so that after he started an inning-ending double-play in the fifth

inning of the Dominican’s 10-3 11th-inning pool-clinching win over Colombia, he trotted off the

field to the chants of “M-V-P.”

It was a play he’s made look routine in his four-plus seasons manning third base for the Orioles.

With a man on first and the tying run at the plate in the form of Colombia first baseman

Giovanny Urshela, Machado made a diving backhanded stop down the line, quickly got to his

feet and started a 5-4-3 double play.

After pool play at Marlins Park wrapped up on Sunday, Machado was named the MVP of Pool

C.

In those three games, Machado was 5-for-14 -- a .357 batting average -- with three runs scored

and two RBIs. He reached base twice in all three games, serving as the catalyst for the

Dominican offense, hitting from the No. 2 spot.

"It’s unbelievable," Machado said about hearing the M-V-P chants. "You’re playing for your

team, you’re playing games, you’re trying to do everything possible to win some games. I’m just

out there enjoying myself, and the crowd’s definitely helped us to win some games, and they’ve

been supporting us the whole time and it was just an unbelievable weekend."

On Sunday, his third-inning RBI double down the left-field line plated Jonathan Villar from

second base to give the Dominicans a 2-1 lead. Machado scored two batters later on a fielding

error by Colombia shortstop Donovan Solano.

Machado also ended a Colombia rally in the first inning, corralling a wicked in-between hop to

his glove side and throwing to first to strand the bases loaded in a 1-1 game.

And less than 24 hours earlier, Machado’ 435-foot solo homer to left field ignited a Dominican

comeback from down five runs in its 7-5 win over Team USA to take control of the pool.

Both hits were rockets off Machado’s bat. His double Sunday had an exit velocity of 116.5 mph,

and his home run came off the bat at 110 mph.

Machado and his Dominican teammates now go to San Diego for the second round of games,

beginning with a date with undefeated Pool D winner Puerto Rico on Tuesday.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-catcher-welington-castillo-

provides-dominican-with-late-inning-heroics-in-wbc-win-over-colom-20170312-story.html

Orioles catcher Welington Castillo provides Dominican with

late-inning heroics in WBC win over Colombia

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun

March 12, 2017

In a Dominican Republic lineup full of All Stars, new Orioles catcher Welington Castillo can

easily go overlooked, but his play at the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning Sunday

at Marlins Park might have been the biggest play of the tournament so far.

One thing is for sure. It saved the Dominican from an upset loss to Colombia that would have put

a wrench into the baseball hotbed's drive for a second straight World Baseball

Classic championship.

Instead, Castillo’s catch and tag of Colombia pinch runner Oscar Mercado – a play that sent the

Dominican’s final pool play game into extra innings, where the Dominican ultimately

prevailed 10-3 after 11th inning– will be one they will talk about in the Dominican for years.

The highlight of his baseball career? “I think so,” Castillo said. “I hope there are more coming,

too.”

For three games in Miami this weekend, Castillo was a workhorse behind the plate, catching

every single inning – 29 frames in four days – contributing with his bat and making two crucial

late-inning defensive plays in the Dominican’s pool-play finale against Colombia.

No play was bigger than in the bottom of the ninth. Colombia orchestrated a late-inning

comeback – much like the one the Dominicans laid on Team USA on Saturday night – and it had

the game-winning run just 90 feet away at third base with one out in the ninth.

Colombia first baseman Reynaldo Rodriguez rocketed a line drive to left. But the ball was right

to Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista, and he uncorked an accurate throw that hopped twice, once

right in front of Castillo, who went up to baseline to catch the ball, secured it in hit mitt with his

right hand as he made contact with Mercado sliding to his left side.

Castillo emerged from the play pulling the ball out of his glove to show to home plate umpire

Dan Iassogna, who called Mercado out, prompting an argument at home plate that resulted in

two Colombia ejections. Meanwhile, Castillo celebrated from his knees, pumping his arm

multiple times in elation.

“It’s a do or die [situation],” Castillo said. “If I don’t make that play, they’re going to win. That’s

why it’s one of those plays where you’ve got to go for it and not just let them win. … I went for

the ball and I didn’t care about the runner. I just went down the line to get the throw. …

Everything happens so fast that you can’t worry about too many things. You’ve just got to go for

the ball and that’s what I did.

“I was in a good position,” Castillo added. “The hardest part was the contact. I didn’t know if he

was going to go on top of me or if he was going to slide. You never know what the runner is

going to do. You just have to for the ball and try to hold it and hope he doesn’t hit you hard and

you go down and the ball comes out. That’s all that matters. … I think he tagged me. He slid

right into me, so I just held the ball up.”

The Dominican Republic won its 11th straight WBC game on Sunday, claiming Pool C in Miami

by winning all three games. They now advance to the tournament’s second round, which begins

Tuesday at PETCO Park in San Diego.

Castillo also contributed with his bat. Once new WBC rules placed baserunners at second and

third to open the 11th inning, the Dominican Republic needed just one big hit, and in a lineup

full of All-Star bats, it was Castillo who came through in the clutch.

With the bases loaded with out in the inning – Colombia walked Gregory Polanco with first base

open to face Castillo – the new Orioles catcher laced a two-run single into left-center field,

sparking a seven-run inning.

“I just set my mind that they’re not going to pitch to Polanco, so I just prepared mentally and told

myself to just not try to do too much,” Castillo said. “I got a good pitch and hit it hard to the

middle, so I just got a good pitch, and thank God I did a good job.”

Castillo ended pool play with five RBIs in the three games here in Miami. He hit a two-run

homer in the Dominican’s win over Canada on Thursday and hit an RBI double in its 7-5

comeback win over Team USA on Saturday night. He was 0-for-3 with a walk Sunday before

stepping to the plate in the 11th.

Castillo also squashed a potential Colombia rally in the seventh, throwing out center fielder Tito

Polo, who was attempting to steal second base.

Castillo’s performance offered Orioles third baseman Manny Machado – who had his own

starring moments this weekend playing for the Dominican – a glimpse of what an addition

Castillo could be.

“I’m looking forward to having him in Baltimore,” Machado said. “He’s doing an incredible job

with our pitching staff and our team. It’s been fun watching him play finally in some meaningful

games and I’m looking forward to him having a good year.”

In the days leading up to his departure from Orioles camp for the World Baseball Classic,

Castillo admitted how torn he was about leaving his new team for an extended amount of time.

He gave his word he’d play for the Dominican Republic back in November. That was before he

knew he would be non-tendered, become a free-agent, sign with the Orioles and have to learn the

ins and outs of a new team and pitching staff.

“[There’s] not going to be any doubt,” Castillo said about honoring his commitment to play for

the Dominican. “It’s not because of the way we played or [the way] I’ve been playing. I made

the decision way before I got to the Baltimore Orioles and I’m always open to representing my

country.”

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-shoulder-discomfort-lingering-for-chris-

tillman-as-scheduled-bullpen-session-scrapped-sunday-20170312-story.html

Shoulder discomfort lingering for Chris Tillman as

scheduled bullpen session scrapped Sunday

By Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun

March 12, 2017

Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman was forced to abandoned a plan to throw what was seen as a

pivotal bullpen session Sunday after shoulder discomfort cropped up just 10 warm-up throws

into a game of catch.

His deliberate path toward an early-April return appears to have taken a wrong turn, and the

Orioles will almost certainly be without him for the beginning of the season — if not for much

longer.

The recurring shoulder soreness, which manager Buck Showalter said is the same issue that cost

Tillman three weeks last August, re-emerged when the star right-hander began his throwing

program in December.

“We think we’ve got a pretty good feel for what the issue is, structurally,” Showalter said. “I’m

still very confident he’ll pitch for us at some point this year. We’ll see what the next few days

bring. Just the start of the season is in jeopardy — doubtful. That’s a better word than jeopardy.”

Tillman, an All Star in 2013, has started 30 or more games in each of the past four seasons. Last

year he went 16-6 with a 3.77 ERA. It was the third time in four years he finished with an ERA

below 3.80.

When the injury sidelined Tillman last year, he described it as right shoulder bursitis, which is

inflammation of the fluid sack in the shoulder joint. Tillman described it at the time as mostly

discomfort between his outings, not while he was throwing.

He rested for three weeks before returning for the stretch run, and hoped a few months off in

October and November would eliminate the issue entirely. He ultimately got a platelet-rich

plasma (PRP) injection in December in hopes of speeding up the recovery.

That meant Tillman came into camp on a rehab track. Only in the last few weeks did he begin to

ramp up his throwing activities. Still, it was clear from the beginning of spring training that he

would not make a fourth straight Opening Day start.

He has already had two bullpen sessions -- the first going better than the second -- and a third

was scheduled for Saturday but pushed back to Sunday. Showalter said Tillman was “not feeling

completely normal” during and after the second bullpen session, and the team changed

antibiotics he was taking to alleviate the possible side effect of joint soreness that could come

with it.

Today’s aborted session shows it could be more than the medicine.

“Started to play catch, long-toss to start to get ready to go to the mound, and after about 10

throws they shut it down," Showalter said. "He’s still got some discomfort there.”

With head athletic trainer Richie Bancells in Fort Myers with the club for a day game against

the Minnesota Twins, Showalter said Dr. Leigh Ann Curl, the Ravens’ team surgeon and the

Orioles' assistant physician, was at the team facility in Sarasota checking out Tillman’s shoulder.

Curl was already in town and did not come specifically to see Tillman.

“They’ll get their heads together,” Showalter said before Sunday’s game in Fort Myers. “We’ll

see. I’d like to think that medication had something to do with it, but it’s just kind of the same

spot. We’ll see.”

However, Showalter said a few hours later that there wasn’t much conversation between Tillman

and the medical staff during the day —only when he relayed his issue on the field.

“They didn’t really spend a lot of time talking to Chris, other than on the field," Showalter said.

"After, they kind of convened about what the next move might be if it continues down this path.”

If the medical staff decides Tillman needs another opinion, a lot more than just the start of the

season could be in jeopardy for Tillman, who is one year from free agency.

"It’s the same thing he missed time with last year," Showalter said. "He could start back from

scratch. We think we know what we’re dealing with physically. If that is still the same, there

hasn’t been some change in that, he should be able to pitch at some point — just not quite as

quick as we had hoped. The worst-case scenario for me — well, not worst — but he kind of

starts over from scratch and stays down here in extended spring. It looks like he’s got a chance to

be left here with [minor league medical coordinator] Dave Walker, but I’m hoping something

changes in the next week. He may try it again, I don’t know, or we may get back and he’s headed

for a second opinion. This is a big year for him."

Before this, the hope for Tillman was he’d continue to rest and rehabilitate his shoulder for the

first few weeks of spring training before escalating to a game on March 17. That would have put

him in line to maybe miss the first week or so of the regular season.

The Orioles don’t need a fifth starter until April 15 (coincidentally Tillman's 29th birthday), so

the rotation could be manipulated. But now attention turns to who might be able to open the

season in Tillman’s spot in the rotation.

Right-handers Mike Wright and Tyler Wilson are in the equation, though impressive springs

from left-handers Chris Lee and Jayson Aquino have elevated each of their stocks in Showalter’s

eyes. Right-hander Gabriel Ynoa, who was acquired last month from the New York Mets, is also

in that mix.

If they go the outside route, free agent starters still on the market include Doug Fister, Colby

Lewis, Edwin Jackson.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-notes-0313-20170312-story.html

Orioles notes: Chance Sisco starts behind the plate

By Jon Meoli and Peter Schmuck / The Baltimore Sun

March 12, 2017

Orioles top prospect Chance Sisco got his first start of the spring behind the plate in Fort Myers,

but didn't see much added significance in the assignment of catching Dylan Bundy and getting

five innings of work behind the plate in a Grapefruit League game.

"I'm just ready to play," Sisco said. "It's another game. Obviously, I'm starting, but it's just

another game. I go at it with that mindset. It's just more innings and another opportunity to

improve behind the dish and get some at-bats."

Sisco grounded out and struck out in his first two at-bats, but drove in outfielder Aneury

Tavarez with an opposite-field double in his third and final trip to the plate. He now has two hits

in eight at-bats.

The Twins stole three bases off Sisco over his five innings of work.

"He caught the ball well," manager Buck Showalter said. "We didn't give him much help with

the running game. Not too good, didn't have much chance on them. I don't know [if he was]

nervous, but maybe a little anxiety. We wanted to get him a start."

Earlier in camp, the Orioles tried to get catcher Welington Castillo familiar with their pitching

staff and ready for the World Baseball Classic as quickly as possible, so he caught more than a

typical starter might.

But since then, it has been Caleb Joseph as the top catcher with Sisco, Francisco Pena,

and Audry Perez rotating in as the deputy. Sisco was the only one of that trio with a Grapefruit

League hit until Pena's tie-breaking two-run double in the ninth inning on Sunday.

Washington trying to beat odds: Non-roster invitee David Washington has scant opportunity to

make an impression — especially with the pending return of Pedro Alvarez, who joins Chris

Davis, Mark Trumbo, and the rest of the Orioles' power-hitting first base/outfield options.

With his two-run, walk-off home run in Saturday's 7-6 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates,

Washington did make an impression on manager Buck Showalter. Then Washington took

advantage of his only at-bat against the Twins on Sunday, lining a long double to center field in

the eighth inning.

"I'll tell you, he's put some good swings on the balls in probably the last week," Showalter said.

"A really good young man to be around, too. He works hard. A pleasure to have in camp. He's

well-thought-of by the coaches. He really works hard, and I think it's his first big league camp.

He's really making good use of his time with the impressions, a big strong young guy."

Washington now has three hits in 15 Grapefruit League at-bats this spring, all for extra bases. He

came to camp with a reputation of being a slugger with contact issues — he now has seven

strikeouts in 14 at-bats — but he knows hitters with that profile often pan out for the Orioles.

"It's encouraging, for sure," Washington said. "I try not to think too much about all the stuff like

that. I try to just play my game, be the best baseball player I can be, and let everything go how it

goes."

With all those sluggers around him, Washington knows camp is an opportunity to see how hitters

who in the past have been challenged by the same issues have crafted successful major league

careers. He has a locker next to Trumbo, which he said is a "good spot" for observing.

"I try to talk to, I wouldn't necessarily pick anyone out in particular," Washington said. "There's a

lot of guys, not just one guy here who can hit for power. I try to take little bits and pieces from

anybody I can. I try to do more watching, try to watch how guys work, how they try to do, how

they take their at-bats and try to learn that."

Britton, Hardy ready: Zach Britton threw a batting practice session that broke a bat in so many

pieces that Showalter and Trumbo jokingly tried to use the tiny shards as toothpicks. It was a

sign that Britton is ready to go after slow-playing the first month of spring training with an

oblique strain.

"He looked very good," Showalter said. "That was very encouraging.

J.J. Hardy also was in the group taking BP from Britton and — according to Showalter — also

appeared to be ready for the final step in his rehab from a long bout with lower back soreness.

Both could show up in a Grapefruit League game this week.

The broken-bat victim was minor leaguer Tucker Nathans, who will have a story to tell his

buddies back at Twin Lakes Park.

"I put my arm around Tucker and I said 'Tuck, don't worry about it. There are a lot of broken bats

around the league from Zach. Consider it a badge of honor,'" Showalter said. "'Get some of those

pieces and take them along with you.'"

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-manny-machado-nelson-cruz-lead-

domincan-to-7-5-comeback-win-over-team-usa-in-wbc-20170311-story.html

Manny Machado, Nelson Cruz lead Dominican to 7-5

comeback win over Team USA in WBC

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun

March 11, 2017

Reliving the moment was a blur for Orioles third baseman Manny Machado -- the swing, the trot

out of the batter’s box and watching his home run soar into the South Florida night. And then

there was that crowd, a convincingly pro-Dominican throng that cheered every Dominican hit,

and every Team USA out Saturday night.

In some ways, Machado said, it was that crowd that kept the Dominican Republic within reach as

it fell into a five-run hole to Team USA with 12 outs left in their pivotal World Baseball Classic

pool-play game Saturday night at Marlins Park.

Down but not out, Machado provided the spark the Dominicans needed in the sixth inning, when

he launched an 0-1 fastball from Washington Nationals right-hander Tanner Roark an estimated

435 feet just shy of the left-field concourse, sending the crowd into a frenzy and propelling the

Dominican Republic to seven unanswered runs in their 7-5 comeback win over a shell-shocked

Team USA.

“I had no idea what I was doing running the bases,” said Machado, who was playing just a 10-

minute drive from where he grew up in Hialeah. “We knew we were down and we needed

something. … At that point, it was all about scoring runs. We didn’t care about anything else.

We just wanted to go out there and start scoring runs, start doing what we knew we could do.”

Nelson Cruz delivered the decisive blow, hitting a three-run homer off lockdown left-hander

Andrew Miller in the eighth inning to claim the lead.

Team USA was outmanned – a pro-Dominican sellout crowd of 37,446 (the largest to watch

baseball in the five-year history of Marlins Park) was loud throughout, no swatch of the ballpark

absent of fans waving the Dominican flag, blowing horns and beating drums.

The crowd exulted every Dominican accomplishment, no matter how minor, and were no louder

than when Cruz took Miller deep – they were teammates briefly with the Orioles as part of the

2014 division-winning team. Cruz lined an 0-2 slider inside the left-field flag pole, a blast that

made Marlins Park erupt.

As Cruz rounded the bases, his Dominican teammates hopped over the dugout railing, jumped

onto the field and mobbed him after reaching home plate. Machado greeted his good friend with

the custom handshake they created while teammates in Baltimore.

But Cruz said it was Machado’s homer that changed the momentum of the game.

“I think after he hit the homer, not only the crowd, but we as players, we got pumped up, too,”

Cruz said. “We needed something to break the ice and that’s what we needed to get it going.”

Orioles connections were all over, including new catcher Welington Castillo, who also

contributed to the Dominican comeback, lacing an RBI double in the seventh inning that cut the

USA lead to 5-3.

Before the game, Orioles center fielder Adam Jones, who was the hero of Team USA’s

tournament-opening walk-off win Friday, emerged from the his team’s dugout Saturday and saw

Machado taking ground balls at shortstop, wearing the uniform of the Dominican Republic. The

two quickly met each other’s gaze and offered each other a quick salute before resuming their

pregame routines.

“That’s my boy and obviously we grind 162 together,” Jones said of Machado. “But right now

for about two weeks, we’re against each other in the [spirit] of friendly competition and that’s

what this game it about.”

Team USA was six outs away from clinching a trip to the second round, but instead experienced

a rare implosion by Miller, who was Team USA manager Jim Leyland’s top bullpen weapon.

After allowing Cruz’s blast, Miller immediately yielded another home run, this one to center

fielder Starling Marte, which gave the Dominicans a 7-5 lead.

“It’s almost Game Over,” Cruz said about when Miller comes into the game. “To be able to

come back against that bullpen, it’s remarkable. Definitely the confidence we have right now is

pretty high.”

Before the game, Jones said Team USA’s goal was to take the crowd out of the game early by

jumping on top quickly.

“You see the pride, you can hear the bongos and all the noise that’s going on right now,” Jones

said. "And it’s going to be like this for nine innings. What we need to do is take that early lead

and hopefully quiet them down.”

Jones – whose game-winning walk-off single with two outs in the 10th on Friday saved Team

USA from a wobbly tournament opener against upstart Colombia – was in the middle of the

action again Saturday.

With Ian Kinsler on first after a two-out single in the third, Jones rocketed an 0-2 fastball from

Dominican starter Edinson Volquez into the right-center-field gap, a ball that initially seemed

destined to fall but hung in the air.

Cruz caught Jones’ drive, but the ball popped out of his glove when his arm collided with

Marte’s arm, sending the ball to the warning track.

Kinsler scored and Jones landed on third, where he encountered Machado for the only time

during the game. Jones then scored on Christian Yelich’s bloop single to left. Team USA went

up 3-0 on Brandon Crawford’s two-out RBI single in the fourth that chased Volquez from the

game.

Team USA added two more to go up 5-0 in the sixth, on Marlins right fielder Giancarlo

Stanton’s RBI double into the left-center gap off former Orioles farmhand Jumbo Diaz and an

RBI double by Crawford.

The win gave the Dominican its 10th straight WBC win and put them in control of winning Pool

C with a win over Colombia Sunday. The USA can advance without a tiebreaker with a win over

Canada and a Dominican win over Colombia.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-spring-training-0312-20170311-

story.html

Orioles' Mike Wright turns back to sports psychology books

to get his mind right for 2017

By Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun

March 11, 2017

Mike Wright's year-end mental inventory of an uncomfortable and unsatisfying 2016 season

made him realize he has been in such a place before, and knew just how to fix it.

Armed with the wisdom of well-worn books from his college coach and father, plus a sinker he

hopes will completely change his profile on the mound, Wright hopes whatever role 2017 holds

for him will be one he fills more satisfactorily for the Orioles. And more importantly, for

himself.

"It's stretched all the way back to college," Wright said. "My freshman and sophomore year, I

was terrible. … Good games here, bad games there. And then, my junior fall, my head coach

gave me a book and I read it, and my dad also gave me another book. I read that, and it really

calmed me down and helped me really focus pitch to pitch. I won a starting rotation [spot] in

college, and the rest was history and got me here. It's a beautiful thing, and obviously, you have

to revisit those things."

The parallels are striking. Armed with the same fiery fastball and a personality to match it, his

early years at East Carolina were inconsistent. Wright was two years into his college career with

a 7.22 ERA as a reliever and spot starter with little draft interest brewing for the following year.

The next season, he was the Friday night starter with a 2.79 ERA and the Orioles took him in the

third round.

He enters this spring with a 5.88 lifetime big league ERA, and is on the periphery of the major

league rotation. So the 27-year-old drew on what changed his career six summers ago.

His coach at East Carolina, Billy Godwin, had just finished reading renowned sports

psychologist Harvey Dorfman's book, "The Mental Game of Baseball," and saw that the

tantalizing right-hander in his care could benefit from the practices within.

"Previous to that, he would make pitches, and you would go, 'Wow,'" Godwin said. "Then, all of

a sudden he'd give up a flare and it could unravel quickly on him. The wheels could come off

quickly on him. … My experience tells me that was simply, really, the mental side."

Dorfman worked personally with Cy Young Award winners Greg Maddux and Roy Halladay,

and 2014 American League Cy Young winner Corey Kluber swears by the book. Godwin has

reason to believe the copy Wright returned to this winter is his own, considering he doesn't

believe it was returned.

Wright's father, Dennis, got him another of Dorfman's books, "The Mental ABC's of Pitching."

Both texts focus on alleviating stress-causing distractions during the competition itself, and

promote skills to stay focused amid those. More recently, new Orioles bullpen coach Alan Mills

recommended Wright read "Thinking Body, Dancing Mind: Taosports for Extraordinary

Performance in Athletics, Business, and Life," in which sports psychologist and T'ai Chi master

Chungliang Al Huang relates stories of success from all walks of life with examples of relaxation

and performance related to each.

Just because Wright has renewed his connection with the books doesn't mean he ever lost touch

with them, but now he hopes the lessons permeate every facet of his life.

"I know where it's gotten me," Wright said. "I know when I started reading the books, I became

better. It's not like I wasn't reading last year. It's just a different focus while reading, really

putting it into perspective of, how did you feel last year when you were giving ups six runs in

two innings? How do you feel? Then forget about that and think about the positives."

He applies it to everything from his pregame catches and bullpens between starts to pitcher

fielding practice, but what counts is when the Orioles call on him in game action.

At times last year, Wright's mentality on the mound, and between his starts, could be a detriment.

His passion, in the moment, seemed to take him out of games, and it didn't end there.

"I wouldn't necessarily say it stayed with me," he said, "Just my all-around approach, even when

I had a good game, it was just hard when you're not playing for yourself anymore and playing to

have fun and playing for your teammates. You're playing for acceptance from whoever, and

making sure that you're doing the right things, you're saying the right things when people ask you

questions, and things like that."

Still, he sees his competitive fire (and even the occasional emotional reaction) as big of a weapon

as any of his pitches. Taking it away would be like taking away a curveball someone loves to use

on the mound, and "that's a terrible way to feel," Wright said.

But to extend the best pitch analogy further, his success on the mound this year could stem from

the fact that a different one of his offerings might assume that title. Late last year, Wright felt his

two-seam fastball sinking more than ever before. He has been taking advice from pitching coach

Roger McDowell on the pitch and rolling with it all spring long, though manager Buck

Showalter said he's sometimes caught in between as the transition progresses.

"He's just trying to get consistent in what he's trying to be," Showalter said. "That's something

Roger has been talking to him about. Who are you, and how can you do this best? I'm hoping

that he continues to throw that hard sinker on the outer half and keep getting ground balls."

A good two-seam fastball could help Wright against left-handed batters, who collectively had a

.990 OPS off him last season, and that could be the decider that keeps him as a starting pitcher

long term. Showalter said it could be the "separator" for Wright.

"That's absolutely the plan, to throw that sinker and keep the thing on the ground because they

don't leave the park," Wright said.

He knows you still have to locate, but even the best pitch can get hit. Wright knows that, too, and

is prepared to flush it to get back to the mantra Godwin often reminds him of: next pitch.

His new mental clarity was tested Saturday in his third start this spring. Wright continued to use

his sinker to good effect, but everything found patches of grass. Two bloops scored a run. A

pickoff attempt slid out of his hand for an error. A scorched two-run single went off first

baseman Mark Trumbo's glove.

Wright walked off the mound with two outs in the third inning having allowed three runs (two

earned) on six hits and a walk. This spring, he has allowed four earned runs in 7 2/3 innings. And

once his most trying start of the Grapefruit League calendar ended, he could tell where things

improved from his new outlook.

"One thing you definitely have to avoid is, 'Here we go again,'" Wright said. "If you start saying

here we go again, you're already thinking negatively about what's happening in the future instead

of, 'All right, that's fine. I threw the pitch I wanted. He did not hit it well. It's just one of those

things that happened, and what can I do on this next pitch now to get me back in the dugout?'"

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-walk-off-game-winner-in-team-usa-s-wbc-

opener-a-hit-for-adam-jones-but-orioles-center-fielder-lookin-20170311-story.html

Orioles' Adam Jones looking forward to pivotal WBC

matchup against Dominican

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun

March 11, 2017

Orioles center fielder Adam Jones didn’t have much time to revel in his game-winning heroics

Friday night. His two-out, 10th-inning single that gave Team USA a 3-2 victory over Colombia

at Marlins Park in its World Baseball Classic opener was memorable, but in his eyes, it's already

old news.

“It was fun, not just for me, but for everybody,” Jones said. “Family, friends, people watching at

home. I got so many text messages that I couldn’t even respond to everybody.”

Jones was focused on a new task, Saturday’s sold-out contest against the defending-champion

Dominican Republic – the highlight of the tournament’s pool-play opening round.

After taking batting practice, Jones leaned against the bat rack in the Team USA dugout, taking

in the noises above him as a pro-Dominican crowd began to assemble. Fans wrapped themselves

in the Dominican flag as the sounds of drums and horns filled the seating bowl.

“You see the pride, you can hear the bongos and all the noise that’s going on right now,” Jones

said. "And it’s going to be like this for nine innings. What we need to do is take that early lead

and hopefully quiet them down.”

Moments earlier, Jones emerged from the dugout and caught the sight of Orioles third baseman

Manny Machado, who was taking grounders at shortstop during the Dominican Republic’s

batting practice session.

They smiled and gave each other a captain’s salute, before Machado disappeared into the

Dominican dugout and Jones began playing catch with Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew

McCutchen.

“That’s my boy and obviously we grind 162 together, but right now for about two weeks, we’re

against each other in the part of friendly competition and that’s what this game it about,” Jones

said. “First and foremost I’m glad he’s representing his family and his grandparents, his mother

and father, playing for their heritage. I know he’s born here in Miami on American soil, but he

has deep Dominican roots and I’m glad he’s showing honor and homage to it.”

The winner of tonight’s game will take control of Pool C with their second win of the

tournament, ultimately forcing the loser to win its final pool game Sunday in order to advance to

the second round. The Dominican faces Colombia, which beat Canada 4-1 earlier Saturday,

while the USA faces 0-2 Canada on Sunday night in the final game at Marlins Park.

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story.html

Schmuck: Orioles share in joy of Adam Jones' walk-off

winner for Team USA

By Peter Schmuck / The Baltimore Sun

March 11, 2017

Everybody in Baltimore knows that Adam Jones is the man. Now the rest of the baseball world

knows it, too.

Jones wasted no time parlaying the pride that goes with starring on Team USA in the World

Baseball Classic into a heroic offensive performance Friday night in a game that could easily

have gone in a very different direction.

Nobody in the Orioles clubhouse was surprised when Jones delivered his second run-scoring hit

of the game in a 10-inning walk-off victory over Colombia. His Orioles teammates followed the

USA's WBC opener in any way they could — on television, of course, but also on Buck

Showalter's iPad, Brad Brach's phone and whatever device was handy to the players on the team

bus back from Fort Myers after Friday night's exhibition loss to the Boston Red Sox.

"I just had a feeling he was going to end it right there," Brach said. "I saw the highlight of his

double earlier where he scored the run and he was yelling in the dugout and stuff like that. He

was fired up, so I was glad to see he was able to do that."

It isn't easy to get into an offensive groove this early in spring training, which might explain why

that game was hitless on both sides into the fifth inning and Jones had two of only six hits for

Team USA. But everyone in camp has been marveling for the past month at the terrific shape

that Jones was in when he showed up for spring training and the way he has been swinging the

bat from the get-go.

Jones opened the Grapefruit League exhibition season two weeks ago with two doubles and a

home run in his first six at-bats.

"This time of year, to come up in a clutch situation like that and be able to do a good job is

tough, but it's something we expected from Adam," closer Zach Britton said. "It was fun to

watch him do that. I know he was excited to play for the USA team, so you couldn't ask for

anything better for him to come up in that situation and get a hit."

Jones clearly enjoyed every minute of it, even the ice-cold beverage cooler that was dumped ion

him during his postgame television interview. His teammates — the ones who didn't join him on

one of the WBC rosters — also enjoyed the opportunity to live vicariously through him as he

experienced what might be a once-in-a-lifetime magic moment.

"That was awesome," reliever Donnie Hart said. "I kind of had a feeling that was going to

happen, because he had three really good at-bats before that. We were kind of sitting there

watching and I think I saw the pitcher grip a changeup in his glove right before he was going to

throw that last pitch and I'm like, 'Man, I don't know if that's going to be the one.' And, sure

enough, he squared it up and put it in the gap. It was cool to see him do it."

Jones had three great at-bats, starting with a long line drive to center field that could easily have

been another hit and continuing with the RBI double that sparked Team USA's sixth-inning

comeback.

"He's swinging the bat really well right now," Hart said. "He was swinging it well here for us

before he left. It was exciting to see him get the job done and represent us at the same time. I

couldn't have been any happier. I think I woke the neighbors up when I saw that ball land."

Showalter was in his car headed back from the Red Sox game, keeping track of the game on his

iPad. If anything was revelatory about Jones' dramatic hit or Showalter bearing witness to it, it

was probably that the old-school manager actually owns an iPad.

"It's just a great moment in his career," Showalter said. "It means a lot to him. He was adamant

about how proud he was to get a chance to do this. Growing up, a chance to be picked as one of

the best players in America and play center field for that team … it's special."

There could be no argument about that from anyone.

"It was nice," catcher Caleb Joseph said. "It was nice for him to come through — for him, for us

and for the USA. It was nice for everybody."

The Orioles sent a lot of players to the WBC, but there were still more who would love to have

gone. Britton also was invited to join Team USA this year, but he and his wife were brand-new

parents when he got the invitation and decided it wasn't a good time for him to split his baseball

focus with so much else on his plate. Turned out, his oblique injury made it all academic.

Britton said the answer might be different if he's invited the next time or — even better — to

play in the Olympics if Major League Baseball can find a practical way for its stars to take a

break during the summer to take part.

"I'm hoping that they somehow figure it out to where guys can actually play in it," Britton said.

"I think that is something that I definitely want to do."

In the meantime, Jones' teammates are going to be watching his every move and — when they

get a chance — keep reminding critical fans and demanding baseball insiders to stop taking their

on-field leader for granted. One of them employed a little sarcasm to make that point.

"Didn't anybody criticize his defense?"

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on-minor-league-deal-pending-physical-20170311-story.html

Slugger Pedro Alvarez to return to Orioles on minor league

deal, pending physical

By Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun

March 11, 2017

Another long offseason without a home for slugger Pedro Alvarez ended Saturday with an

agreement to rejoin the Orioles, though this year it’s on a minor league deal.

According to an industry source, the agreement is pending medical review.

Alvarez, who hit .249/.322/.504 with 22 home runs last season with the Orioles as a platoon

designated hitter, will rejoin an organization that benefited greatly from his bat in 2016 but

doesn’t have an immediate fit for him this year.

Perhaps because of that, Alvarez has agreed to try to work out as an outfielder in an effort to

make himself more versatile for the club. Alvarez was on the major league roster all season last

year, but seldom played the field and at times hamstrung the team because of his lack of a

position.

Last year, the Orioles and Alvarez came to an agreement on March 7, bringing the slugger who

was nontendered by the Pittsburgh Pirates into a crowded corner infield mix. His arrival last year

forced Mark Trumbo into an everyday right field role, with Chris Davis at first base and Manny

Machado at third base.

Alvarez made a base salary of $5.75 million, and of the available $1.25 million in incentives, he

earned $200,000 for making over 350 plate appearances.

His agreement this year is full of performance incentives and worth a base salary of $2 million if

he makes the majors.

This year, however, the landscape has changed. The Orioles don’t immediately have a spot for

him on the 40-man roster, and the addition of outfielder Seth Smith as a regular along with

Trumbo’s return means there’s no real need for a player whose only role is to serve as designated

hitter against right-handed pitching.

Because there’s so much time before he can opt out of his contract for the first time, the team

views it as something of a test run to see if he can hold his own in the outfield or fill a need in the

major league lineup elsewhere.

As it stands now, he’d be competing in camp for a 25-man roster spot with fellow nonroster

players such as outfielders Craig Gentry, Michael Bourn and Chris Dickerson, plus

infielders Chris Johnson, Johnny Giavotella and Robert Andino.

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updates-20170311-story.html

Saturday at the park: Updates on Orioles' J.J. Hardy and

Zach Britton; Chris Davis scratched

By Peter Schmuck / The Baltimore Sun

March 11, 2017

Both J.J. Hardy (back) and Zach Britton (oblique) are clearly impatient to get out and compete

after spending a month of spring training in total rehabilitation mode.

Britton has reached the point where he will either throw one more bullpen session or make his

next appearance on the mound in an exhibition game. Hardy is able to do every baseball activity

and said he's very close to getting into the Orioles' Grapefruit League lineup.

They each speculated that Tuesday's home game against the Tampa Bay Rays might be the day.

"I threw a bullpen yesterday and I think live BP tomorrow and then the schedule has a game

Tuesday," Britton said. "... I feel good after yesterday and I'm itching to get in a game.

"I definitely feel like I've been ready for the last few days to get in the game, so I'll throw live BP

and maybe J.J. will get in there and that'll be fun and then Tuesday."

Hardy said basically the same thing. He's been hitting and taking ground balls and said his back

has felt "completely normal" for a while now.

The Orioles can only hope that Chris Tillman says the same thing about his right shoulder. He's

scheduled to throw a full-mound bullpen session Saturday and manager Buck Showalter said

Friday that it's an important day to gauge Tillman's progress.

Bleier to stay: Left-hander Richard Bleier, who told Showalter earlier in the week that he had

decided not to join the Israel team for the second round of the World Baseball Classic, said

Saturday that he made the decision in consultation with his wife, agent and the team.

"I just decided that I wasn't going to go," he said, "just because I think it would be better for me

to pitch here, ultimately. ... On the Orioles' side, they said, 'Do whatever you want. If you want to

go, go.' I think it just came down to it was really short notice. It was like a Tuesday when they

asked me and I would have to have left by Thursday and just decided that I didn't want to rush

into things."

"I was definitely torn. I know I need to be here. But just seeing the games on TV, it would have

been a lot of fun to be there and be a part of it."

Davis scratched: First baseman Chris Davis, who has been dealing with a case of bronchitis,

was originally in today's lineup, but was scratched and sent home.

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britton-like-ability-to-pitch-in-strike-zone-20170310-story.html

Orioles' Chris Lee draws praise for Zach Britton-like ability

to pitch in strike zone

By Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun

March 11, 2017

Perhaps knowing what a comparison to the game’s greatest closer would

mean, Orioles manager Buck Showalter held back after invoking the name of closer Zach

Britton when describing what has worked so well during left-hander Chris Lee’s second major

league spring training.

Lee, who tossed three scoreless innings in Friday’s 4-0 loss to the Boston Red Sox, has now

gone eight innings over three outings this spring, and of the 24 outs he has recorded, 13 have

been groundouts. Eight others have been strikeouts. Showalter owes that to something few

pitchers have, but Britton has made a living with over his three seasons as closer and Lee is

showing signs of as well.

“Just been able to pitch in the strike zone,” Showalter said after the game. “Not necessarily

command, but not many guys can pitch in the strike zone with their fastball. He’s got some

pretty impressive movement. Late life. I’ll tell you, [pitching coach] Roger [McDowell] and him

and [bullpen coach] Alan [Mills], it’s been good that Alan had him some last year [at Double-A

Bowie]. The changeup and slider are a little better than he’s carried in the past, but it’s fun to

watch.

“Tempo is very much like Wade Miley. If anything, he’s got to slow down a little bit, but he’s

got a good, fast arm, a lot of sink. Roger will talk about, you know, you’re not going to find

many guys who are going to pitch in the strike zone. It’s like Zach. I’m not trying to throw that

together with Zach, but it’s a very similar approach. Interesting.”

Lee, who the team acquired in 2015 for international signing bonus slots from the Houston

Astros, has always been a heavy ground-ball pitcher. He cleaned up his delivery a bit once he

came to the Orioles and made it to Bowie late that season.

He was added to the 40-man roster ahead of the 2016 season, and went 5-0 with a 2.98 ERA in

eight appearances (seven starts) with the Baysox before a strained lat in his left shoulder area

ultimately shut him down for the season.

Because of the injury, Lee missed an almost assured opportunity to make his major league debut,

as the team was desperate for left-handed pitching and called up several starters in long relief to

provide innings. Lee isn’t lamenting the missed opportunity, but is eager to make up for it.

“It was a little hard to watch, but God has a plan,” Lee said. “It’s a missed opportunity, but it

doesn’t mean I’m not going to get another chance this year or the year after that. It’s just staying

the course and keeping on moving forward. The main part is just staying healthy.”

He’s doing that with the same sinker/cutter mix that has carried him this far, allowing himself to

pitch to contact in a way that has impressed Showalter and gotten him results in the Grapefruit

League.

“I threw a lot of cutter-sliders, two-seams, just trying to get quick easy outs and be as efficient as

I can, and get as many hitters I can in the amount of pitches I have,” Lee said. “I’m trying to get

the most work in out of the stretch and windup as I can to get things going before the season

starts.”

“I think I’ve come out with the same ambition and drive to come out there and throw strikes.

This offseason, I didn’t sit on my butt the whole time. I worked hard to try and come back

healthy and take this opportunity by storm and keep working hard every day until you get the

opportunity to get to the big leagues and get part of the club and be part of a championship.”

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disastrous-fate-in-world-baseball-classic-opener-20170310-story.html

Orioles' Adam Jones saves Team USA from disastrous fate in

World Baseball Classic opener

By Eduardo A. Encina / The Baltimore Sun

March 11, 2017

Orioles outfielder Adam Jones was the hero of Team USA’s walk-off 3-2 victory over upset-

minded Colombia in Friday’s World Baseball Classic Pool C opener for both teams at Marlins

Park. And as much as his game-winning RBI single with two outs in the 10th inning avoided a

disastrous opener for the U.S., it might've been Jones’ other RBI that proved to be more

important.

The format of Pool C doesn’t favor the loser of Friday’s game between the U.S. and Colombia

because both teams must play on three straight days – unlike the Dominican Republic and

Canada, which opened play Thursday and had a day off before resuming Saturday. And opening

pool play with a loss put that team on the brink of elimination.

Taking into account how USA manager Jim Leyland had to use six relievers in Friday’s game, a

Team USA loss would've been a gut punch going into Saturday’s game against the defending-

champion Dominican Republic in a game that would've been a must-win to emerge from pool

play.

But Jones saved the day for Team USA, and after the game, he said it was one of the highlights

of his baseball career.

“Obviously I had a lot of good moments with the Orioles playing against Major League

Baseball teams,” Jones said. “But this one, playing against countries, obviously everything is

individualized from country to country, this ranks up there pretty high. The group of guys we

have -- I tip my cap to Team Colombia; they played their tails off. [Jose] Quintana and their

defense, they completely I think just impressed everybody and hopefully that country. The

baseball in that country continues to grow and grow and grow, because they've got a bright

future as a country with baseball.”

Colombia jumped out early, hitting three straight two-out doubles off Orioles reliever Mychal

Givens, a flurry that had to send a shock through the USA dugout, especially as the left-handed

Quintana of the Chicago White Sox didn’t allow a hit until two outs in the sixth inning.

But then the USA showed life with back-to-back singles by Brandon Crawford and Ian Kinsler,

the first hit chasing Quintana from the game as he neared his pitch count.

That’s when Jones gave the United States hope, lacing an RBI double down the left-field line off

Colombia reliever William Cuevas. As he pulled into second base having driven in the USA’s

first run, an exubarant Jones yelled into his dugout.

Jones was robbed of a hit in his first at-bat, scorching a line drive to center field that Colombia

center fielder Tito Polo made a great diving play on. He had a chance to put Team USA up in the

eighth with runners at the corners with one out tied at two, but he struck out swinging through a

cut fastball from Cuevas.

In Jones’ game-winning at-bat, he battled from down 0-2, fouling off two fastballs before

looping a splitter into shallow center field, turning the corner at first before being mobbed by his

teammates.

After the game, Jones was doused with a cooler of ice water by teammate Chris Archer.

“I’m used to getting pies,” Jones said on the MLB Network telecast. “I’ve never gotten that one

before.”

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story.html

Orioles hope to get it right with deeper group of lefties

By Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun

March 10, 2017

When the Orioles summoned left-handed reliever Donnie Hart from Double-A Bowie at the All-

Star break last year, he was the latest solution to a problem that frustrated the team all season.

The offseason departure of left-handed starter Wei-Yin Chen meant the rotation was full of right-

handers. Injuries and ineffectiveness meant the likes of Brian Matusz and T.J. McFarland weren't

counted on for long, and at times, Zach Britton was the only left-hander in the clubhouse — and

he specialized in saves, not seventh-inning situational work.

The Orioles cycled through minor leaguers and trolled the waiver wire for left-handed depth, but

it was a problem that didn't really go away.

This year, however, the club believes its yearlong plan to rebuild its depleted stock of southpaws

will bear fruit, with Richard Bleier and Vidal Nuno providing length after being acquired early

this spring, starting pitching prospects Jayson Aquino and Chris Lee having another year of

development behind them, plus a full year of Hart in the big league bullpen ahead.

"You can see some of these left-handers look like they're going to be able to help the team this

year," executive vice president Dan Duquette said. "We seem to have more of them, but they're

more skilled. They have the pitches to get the hitters out, it looks like, and they're all at the age

where they should be able to contribute to the club, not just for this year, but for the next couple

of years."

Hart, who became a relied-upon member of the bullpen as a rookie, said it has been impressive

to see how the organization has amassed left-handed talent. Though it wasn't always so

bare. Trades had sapped the system of left-handed prospects like Steven Brault and Josh Hader in

previous years, leaving a dearth in the high minors.

Hart wasn't on the 40-man roster last spring, but of the nine left-handers that pitched last year for

the Orioles, five of them — McFarland, Matusz, Ariel Miranda, Ashur Tolliver and Brian

Duensing — are no longer in the organization. Wade Miley remains in the rotation after a strong

stretch run, but only Duensing, who signed a $2 million deal with the Chicago Cubs, moved up

once they moved out.

In their place is a group of pitchers that deserve far more optimism than their predecessors.

"I think we're in pretty good shape now," manager Buck Showalter said.

The cast of lefties was assembled in typical Orioles fashion. Nuno was acquired for minor league

righty Ryan Moseley, while Bleier was designated for assignment despite a 1.96 ERA in 23

appearances for the New York Yankees last year. The Orioles brought him in a week into camp,

for a player to be named.

Lee was acquired in 2015 from the Houston Astros for international signing slot money and

likely would have made the majors last year if not for a shoulder injury. Aquino, acquired last

April from the St. Louis Cardinals for cash, honed his breaking pitches a year ago and has

increased his standing in the organization plenty since.

Most important to the organization is that all of them can not only get lefties out, but can defend

themselves against right-handed hitters and thus provide long-relief help that the team covets in a

division with so many left-handed-hitting stars.

"Lee, Richard, and Nuno, they're all guys that can go long, too," Hart said. "That's hard to come

by nowadays, because people hang onto lefties that can do that, throw multiple innings and also

be good at getting those middle-of-the-order left-handers out. That's always a plus to have those

guys around, because if you're in a pinch, those guys can eat up innings, too.

"You watch Chris Lee start, Chris Lee gets more ground balls than probably anybody. I've

watched Richard pitch a couple times, too. Richard can cut the ball in on righties and sink it as

well. Nuno has established himself for really four or five years' time now. It's good. It's hard to

get those guys because organizations hold on to them, especially left-handers who can go the

distance for you like that."

Both Lee and Bleier use a cutter to defend themselves against right-handed hitters, with Bleier's

a late-season addition last year that entirely transformed his arsenal. Aquino's breaking ball gives

him a pitch that breaks away from their bats.

Everyone in that group entered Friday having a good spring, too. Aquino has seven strikeouts in

seven innings, with one run allowed on three hits over three outings. Bleier struggled in his first

outing, allowing a run on three hits and a walk in two innings, but has struck out three in two,

one-inning appearances since. Nuno left to pitch in relief for Mexico in the World Baseball

Classic after a pair of two-inning scoreless outings during which he struck out one and allowed

one hit in each. And Lee has allowed two runs on four hits with four strikeouts in five innings

entering Friday's scheduled appearance.

"The pitchers we brought in, we didn't bring them in to be left-handed specialists," Duquette

said. "They've been able to effectively neutralize left-handed hitters over the course of their

careers, but they also have pitches to get out right-handers. We're not sitting there holding our

breath when we bring him if the manager pinch-hits and brings in a right-handed hitter. … There

seems to be better pitchers, and more of the better pitchers, from the left-hand side this time

around."

Lee looks around the clubhouse and sees just that. From Miley and Hart — who has allowed a

run on two hits in five innings over five appearances this spring — on down the depth chart,

there's no room for any of them to falter.

"We've got a lot of talented lefties here," Lee said. "Everyone's working hard. We've got Wade,

who's a good guy who's always teaching us something. I'd say we have really stepped up at

getting lefties. It's nice to be a part of it. Everyone is throwing well this spring, so we want to

keep it going. We're trying to be better than each other."

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-chris-tillman-has-pivotal-bullpen-

scheduled-for-saturday-buck-showalter-said-20170310-story.html

Orioles' Chris Tillman has pivotal bullpen scheduled for

Saturday

By Jon Meoli / The Baltimore Sun

March 10, 2017

Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman has a bullpen session scheduled for Saturday that

manager Buck Showalter believes will be pivotal to the team’s top starter remaining on track to

return from his shoulder injury in early April.

“Basically, If you look at his schedule, he can’t really miss one,” Showalter said of the carefully

orchestrated path that would have Tillman, who hasn’t pitched in a game all spring after shoulder

discomfort from a season ago cropped up again, return in time for the first trip through the

rotation in April.

“If he does something tomorrow that alters his schedule, then everything kind of changes. So, I

guess you could say tomorrow is one that would put him back into the flow with everybody else.

If he misses it, we’ll really kind of find out where he really is on this. With all the throwing he’s

had off the full mound, if he’s going to have an issue, I think it’s going to happen tomorrow.”

Tillman has had two full-mound sessions so far, the most recent came Wednesday alongside

closer Zach Britton (side soreness). Showalter said both of those were high-intensity and went

well, and Britton had another bullpen session Friday. If Britton’s next throw day doesn’t come in

a game, Showalter said there would only be one more side session left.

For Tillman, however, the plan was to get him into a simulated game on March 14 before he

returned to Grapefruit League action on March 17.

Last year, he dealt with shoulder bursitis in August, but came back for September and started the

team’s wild-card game in Toronto. Even if there’s no setbacks in his recovery, Tillman will not

start on Opening Day this season for the first time in four years.

Around the horn

Left-hander Richard Bleier probably won’t leave the team to pitch for Israel in the World

Baseball Classic, according to Showalter, but the decision is up to him. … Chris Davis is dealing

with bronchitis and probably won’t be in the lineup for a day or two. … Mike Wright will face

the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday at Ed Smith Stadium. Kevin Gausman will start Sunday when

the Orioles return to Fort Myers to face the Minnesota Twins.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/blog/bal-orioles-finally-officially-announce-minor-

league-coaching-staffs-20170310-story.html

Orioles finally, officially announce minor league coaching

staffs

By Peter Schmuck / The Baltimore Sun

March 10, 2017

The Orioles finally released their complete minor league coaching roster, which will include

former Orioles left-hander Mark Hendrickson as the pitching coach at short-season Aberdeen

and former O's prospect Buck Britton as a field coach at Delmarva.

Most of the managers have been in camp with the major league club since the start of spring

camp at the Ed Smith Stadium complex. Ron Johnson remains at Norfolk, Gary Kendall at

Bowie, Keith Bodie at Frederick, Ryan Minor at Delmarva, Kevin Bradshaw at Aberdeen and

Carlos Tosca, the only newcomer, will manage the rookie league Gulf Coast team.

The pitching hierarchy changed slightly because of the promotion of Alan Mills to the major

league staff. The pitching coaches at the three levels below Mills -- Kennie Steenstra, Blaine

Beatty and Justin Lord -- all moved up a level, opening the job for Hendrickson with the

Ironbirds. Mike Griffin remains the pitching coach at Triple-A Norfolk.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/ph-ac-cs-baysox-release0311-20170310-story.html

Manager Kendall back for 7th season with Bowie Baysox

The Baltimore Sun

March 10, 2017

The Bowie Baysox and the Baltimore Orioles announced Friday the Baysox coaching staff for

the 2017 season. Baltimore native Gary Kendall returns for his seventh season as manager and he

will be joined by a pair of familiar faces in pitching coach Kennie Steenstra and hitting coach

Butch Davis.

Kendall, the longest-tenured and winningest manager in franchise history, returns for a seventh

season with the team. As he begins his 18th season in the Orioles organization, Kendall holds a

431-420 record in six seasons with Bowie and led the club to its first and only Eastern League

Championship during the 2015 season. Prior to joining the Baysox, Kendall spent three seasons

managing the Short Season Aberdeen IronBirds.

Steenstra returns for a second stint with the Baysox after spending the past four seasons as

Frederick Keys pitching coach. Now in his 13th season with the Orioles organization, he

previously served as Baysox pitching coach from 2010-12.

Davis returns for his fourth stint as Baysox hitting coach after spending the previous two seasons

as Minnesota Twins first base coach. He has also served as Baysox hitting coach in 2000, from

2003-05 and from 2013-14 and he joins

Kendall as the only other coach to be with the team during seven different seasons.

Rounding out the Baysox coaching staff is athletic trainer Pat Wesley and strength coach Pat

Armstrong.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/219184926/pedro-alvarez-returns-to-orioles-to-play-of/

Alvarez returns to O's, looks to play outfield

By Rich Dubroff / MLB.com

March 13, 2017

SARASOTA, Fla. -- After passing his physical, Pedro Alvarez is back with the Orioles at a new

position. Alvarez, who was a first and third baseman with the Pittsburgh Pirates, and a

designated hitter with the Orioles last year, is now trying his hand at the outfield.

Alvarez's contract is a Minor League deal, and he needs to prove himself at a position he's never

played.

"Looking forward to the opportunity to get to learn the position as best as possible," Alvarez

said. "Obviously, whenever you try playing a new position you've got to put in a lot of work.

And the one thing you can't replicate is game reps, so just looking forward to getting the

opportunity to go out there and just play."

"All I know is the more reps you can get in, as quickly as possible, the quicker that can happen."

Manager Buck Showalter suggested a conversion to the outfield last September, and it's an idea

that Alvarez embraced.

"I think that the fact that it was brought up to me showed a desire to have me around, and I

appreciated that conversation last year, and in the same token, it was coming from a good place

in his heart, looking out for my career," Alvarez said.

"You can never be too versatile for lack of a better term. That's how I took that conversation, a

desire to have me around, and at the same time just looking out for my best interests."

Showalter is confident Alvarez can pull this position switch off.

"I'm going to be surprised if he can't do it," Showalter said. "Pretty athletic. Kind of fits his skill

set, too. He's got a plus arm, and he's going to work hard at it.

"He's going to work there exclusively. Hopefully we'll have a feel for it by the time we get

towards the end. We've got plenty of time."

Alvarez enjoyed his time with the Orioles, and hoped he could return.

"The desire definitely was there," he said. "I had a very good experience last year with this whole

organization and in terms of a fit, I felt right at home when I came here last year. So the desire

was definitely there and it was just a matter of the things lining up and aligning the way they did

at the end."

The outfield is something that Alvarez has always had in mind, he admitted.

"As players you're always working on stuff," he said. "Obviously, you work on the position you

play, but you're always messing around in other places. For as long as I can remember I would

come out here for early BP and shag balls."

"It's something that's always kind of been in the back of my mind. It wasn't until toward the end

of the year last year that I started to be more practical about it and really sticking to it."

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/219023328/manny-machado-makes-big-plays-for-dr-in-

wbc/

Over back spasms, Hardy plays first spring game

By Rich Dubroff / MLB.com

March 13, 2017

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Orioles shortstop J.J. Hardy was in the lineup for the first time this spring.

Hardy had been suffering from back spasms.

"It's been a little bit longer road than I thought it would be," Hardy said. "Feeling good. Now, I

just need to get into some baseball form."

Hardy isn't sure of his schedule, saying he would leave that up to manager Buck Showalter. He

anticipates playing today and tomorrow. The Orioles are home both days. They're also home

Thursday night and play at nearby Bradenton Wednesday and Friday.

Hardy normally doesn't make many Spring Training road trips, but he'll likely make some to

catch up for missed time.

"If I get in there today and play tomorrow, and then we'll see where we're at after tomorrow, and

play like I'm 100 percent healthy. Just got to get ready for the season now," Hardy said.

First baseman Chris Davis, who has missed three days with bronchitis, says he's ready to return,

but isn't in the lineup today.

"I feel a little weird today, probably from getting worn out for the last three or four days. I feel

[good] enough to be here," Davis said.

"I'm sure I'll be in there probably playing right field and center field, maybe throw a bullpen, do

some blocking drills, lead off every inning, and then go back and forth to Twin Lakes [Minor

League complex] and get some extra, extra [at-bat's]," Davis jokes.

Davis, who missed three games because of flu last July, said the bronchitis was bad, but not as

bad as flu.

"I had it bad enough not to be here for three days," Davis said. "I came in a couple days, and I

talked with our docs and our trainers. They thought it was best I not be here."

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/219023328/manny-machado-makes-big-plays-for-dr-in-

wbc/

Machado dazzles with leather, adds big hit

By Joe Trezza / MLB.com

March 12, 2017

Manny Machado continued his assault on the Pool C Most Valuable Player Award Sunday,

accounting for runs on both sides of the ball early for the Dominican Republic in its thrilling 10-

3, 11-inning win over Colombia at Marlins Park.

Machado is one of the best two-way players in all of baseball, and he showed why against

Colombia. He gave the Dominicans a 2-1 lead with an RBI double in the third, scored a run and

saved several others with a series of difficult plays at third base, all in the first few innings.

"To me, it's not a surprise, the job that Manny Machado did, because he's one of the best baseball

players," Dominican manager Tony Pena said after his team capped a 3-0 run through Pool C to

advance to the second round in San Diego. "Nothing that Machado has done surprises me. That

young man prepared very well, because last year he was saying, 'I'm going to go to play in the

Classic, and he's here and he's doing everything.'"

The Orioles' third baseman seemed to make a highlight-reel play defensively every inning.

It started with the bases loaded and two outs in the first inning and the score tied 1-1 when

Machado had to back up on a chopper off the bat of Mauricio Ramos. Machado gloved the ball,

fell to his knees, spun, and somehow still had time to complete the play with a long, strong throw

across the diamond. All in style, as usual.

Another time, Machado ranged into foul ground to make a backhanded pick behind the third-

base bag and made a strong jump-throw to first. It would have been a highlight-reel play, but

Dominican first baseman Carlos Santana dropped the throw.

Then in the fifth, Machado started a pretty double play, diving to his left to stab a hot shot off the

bat of Giovanny Urshela. Machado spun and sprang to his feet in an instant before unleashing a

strong throw to second.

If that wasn't enough, Machado drove in the go-ahead run with his double in the third before

scoring an insurance run when Jose Bautista reached on an error a few batters later.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/219110808/orioles-dylan-bundy-struggles-with-command/

Command struggles lead to off day for Bundy

By Maureen Mullen / MLB.com

March 12, 2017

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Right-hander Dylan Bundy had a rough outing against the Twins on

Sunday in his third Grapefruit League start. But the Orioles came back with three runs in the

ninth inning to beat the Twins, 8-6.

Bundy went two innings, giving up five runs on five hits and a walk with one strikeout. He threw

56 pitches, 33 for strikes. Of the five hits he allowed, two were home runs, accounting for all of

the runs he allowed.

Bundy gave up a leadoff home run to Byron Buxton, his first of the spring. Then, with two outs

in the second and the bases loaded -- on singles by ByungHo Park, Robbie Grossman and Danny

Santana -- Jorge Polanco crushed a grand slam.

"Just too much of the plate, I guess," Bundy said. "It seemed like everything I threw up there

today they were swinging at. Real comfortable in the box. Fastball command was just off, didn't

have the curveball for strikes. Those two pitches are pretty big for me. So not being able to get

those over the plate exactly where I want them makes it tough to pitch."

There was a steady wind blowing out for most of the game. There were 25 combined hits in the

game, including five home runs.

"A tough day to pitch," said Orioles manager Buck Showalter. "He feels good physically. Just a

real hitter-friendly day. He got close to his pitch count, though, so that was good. Unfortunately,

it was in two innings."

For Bundy, it was a disappointing step back after he got to three innings in his last outing against

the Tigers when he didn't allow a run.

"Absolutely, it's disappointing especially after I went three in my last one," Bundy said. "But I

did get the pitch count up today. I don't know what it was. But I'm sure it was up there. I threw

more sliders today. Felt great. Other than that, I feel good."

Bundy was hesitant to chalk up the outing to just an off day in Spring Training.

"I guess you could say that, [but] you're not comfortable saying that," he said. "You want better

results than that. And I thought I should have better results than that with the way my pitches felt

today. Just wasn't' locating like I should and I have to work on it."

Mancini's monster home run

This and that

• Center fielder Chris Dickerson left the game after getting hit on the left elbow by a pitch from

Twins starter Phil Hughes. Showalter said he hopes it is no more than a one-day issue for

Dickerson.

• Trey Mancini went 2-for-3 with his first home run of the spring.

• Zach Stewart pitched two scoreless innings with one hit allowed.

• Seth Smith, who has been dealing with a hamstring issue, worked out Sunday and is feeling

better, Showalter said. Chris Davis remains sidelined with bronchitis.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/219049620/orioles-chris-tillman-has-shoulder-discomfort/

Shoulder discomfort ends Tillman's 'pen session

By Maureen Mullen / MLB.com

March 12, 2017

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Right-hander Chris Tillman was supposed to throw a bullpen session on

Sunday morning at Ed Smith Stadium, but he had to cut it short after just 10 warm-up throws

because of discomfort in his right shoulder. The session had originally been scheduled for

Saturday, and it was pushed back to Sunday.

Manager Buck Showalter stayed in Sarasota to watch Tillman's session before joining the team

in Fort Myers to play the Twins.

"[Tillman] started to play catch, long toss and stuff, to get ready to go to the mound, and after

about 10 throws, we shut it down," Showalter said. "[He's] still got some discomfort in there."

Tillman had a bullpen session on Thursday that did not go well. The Orioles had hoped an

antibiotic he was taking was the reason. He received a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection in his

right shoulder in December, and he has yet to pitch this spring because of shoulder soreness.

"It's discouraging for Chris, I know," Showalter said. "His being one of our five starters at the

start of the season is in jeopardy."

The Orioles are trying to decide what the next step will be.

"We'll get our arms around what the next step is by the time we get back tonight," Showalter

said. "We'll see what direction Chris goes. I know it's a big year for Chris on a lot of fronts."

Tillman had been Baltimore's Opening Day starter for the past three seasons. The Orioles had

already acknowledged he wouldn't do so this season, but they had hoped he would be ready by

the time they need a fifth starter on April 15.

The Orioles have several in-house options to take Tillman's spot in the rotation, including right-

handers Mike Wright, Tyler Wilson and Gabriel Ynoa and lefties Jayson Aquino and Chris Lee.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/219015960/jonathan-schoop-andrelton-simmons-turn-dp/

Schoop, Simmons turn crucial double play

By Cash Kruth / MLB.com

March 12, 2017

The Netherlands' double-play duo of second baseman Jonathan Schoop and shortstop Andrelton

Simmons made a big-time play in the 10th inning of Sunday's 11-inning, 8-6 loss to Japan to

strand the bases loaded.

If the play had occurred in Major League Baseball or later in the World Baseball Classic's

semifinals or finals, it might not have counted.

With one out and the scored tied at 6 in the top of the 10th, Schoop fielded a chopper off the bat

of Norichika Aoki and flipped to Simmons, who was covering second. Simmons made the turn

and fired to first baseman Curt Smith, where first-base umpire Larry Vanover called Aoki out.

Aoki immediately pointed to the bag, as did the first-base coach, claiming Simmons' throw

pulled Smith off the bag.

The call stood, despite replay showing the throw did, in fact, pull Smith off the bag.

Instant replay challenges cannot be requested until the final four teams meet at Dodger Stadium.

Only home runs may be reviewed until then.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/218892962/buck-showalter-ecstatic-about-adam-jones-hit/

Showalter ecstatic about Jones' big hit

By Rich Dubroff / MLB.com

March 11, 2017

SARASOTA, Fla. -- One of Orioles center fielder Adam Jones' biggest fans is his manager,

Buck Showalter, and it was no surprise that Showalter was glued to the action on Friday night

when Jones delivered a game-winning hit for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic.

Showalter watched Jones' big hit against Colombia on the way home from the Orioles' game

against Boston in Fort Myers.

"I was able to pull up the replay of it. That was cool. I watched it about five, six times,"

Showalter said.

"It's just a great moment in his career. It means a lot to him. You can tell. He was adamant what

an honor and how proud he was to get a chance to do this. Growing up, be picked as one of the

best players in America and play center field for that team, it's special."

It's Jones' second time with Team USA. He also played in 2013.

Showalter and Jones exchanged postgame text messages. "How proud we were of him, how cool.

He said it was a special moment," Showalter said.

"There was some pretty good pitching against him."

Jones and Team USA play the Dominican Republic at 6:30 p.m. ET Saturday. He'll get a chance

to face his Orioles teammate, third baseman Manny Machado.

Orioles left-handed reliever Richard Bleier wanted to join Jones and Machado in the Classic but

decided that though he wanted to play for Team Israel, trying to make the Orioles was much

more important.

Team Israel plays Cuba in Tokyo at 10 p.m. ET Saturday in the first game of the second round.

"I decided that I wasn't going to because I think it would be better for me to pitch here

ultimately," Bleier said.

Bleier declined an invitation to play for Team Israel in the first round, and after it won all three

games, had to make a quick decision on whether to leave for Asia for the second round.

"I talked to my agent, my wife and the front office and management. On the Orioles side, they

said, 'Do whatever you want.' I think it just came down to really short notice. It was Tuesday

when they asked me, and I would have had to leave Thursday," Bleier said. "I decided I kind of

didn't want to rush into things."

Bleier is enjoying watching Team Israel. "The team's really impressive. They beat the

Netherlands. It really is kind of impressive so far," Bleier said.

It was a hard decision, Bleier admits. "I was definitely torn. I need to be here. Just seeing the

games on TV, it would have been a lot of fun to be there and be a part of it.

One of the left-handers Bleier is competing against, Vidal Nuno, left on Sunday to pitch for

Team Mexico.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/218869964/os-zach-britton-expected-to-pitch-tuesday/

Britton hopes to make spring debut Tuesday

By Rich Dubroff / MLB.com

March 11, 2017

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Orioles closer Zach Britton expects to make his spring debut on Tuesday

against Tampa Bay.

Britton, whose first appearance has been delayed because of discomfort in his left oblique,

expects to be ready for the Orioles' April 3 opener.

"I threw a bullpen yesterday, and I'll throw live BP tomorrow, and then the schedule is [a]

game," Britton said Saturday.

"I feel good after yesterday, so I'm itching to get into a game. I think that's what [manager Buck

Showalter] wanted. He didn't want to get me back too soon, so definitely I feel like I've been

ready for the last few days to get into a game."

Britton, who converted all 47 of his save opportunities a year ago, is hoping that shortstop J.J.

Hardy -- who hasn't played this spring because of back spasms -- will play on Tuesday as well.

"It seems like it's been a long Spring Training already. I haven't gotten into games and [I've been]

watching all of them. At this point, I'm like, 'I want to get ready for the season,' and I feel like the

sooner I get into games, the faster spring goes. I'm kind of tired of being in the training room,"

Britton said.

Opening Day will be 20 days after Britton is scheduled to pitch for the first time. He says it's

enough time to get ready.

"I think so," Britton said. "I think last year I threw [eight] innings. I think the way we've got it

mapped out, I'll be right around eight, nine innings, including a two-inning Minor League game

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/218838988/adam-jones-hits-walk-off-single-vs-colombia/

Jones' walk-off hit 3rd in Classic history for U.S.

By Daniel Kramer / MLB.com

March 10, 2017

At the end of a dramatic back-and-forth duel, it was the Orioles' Adam Jones -- the five-time All-

Star and seasoned World Baseball Classic veteran -- who lifted Team USA to a 3-2, 10-inning

victory over Colombia in Friday's Pool C thriller at Marlins Park in Miami.

Friday's walk-off was one of just three in World Baseball Classic history for Team USA. In

2009, David Wright lined a low-and-away fastball into the right-field corner to score two against

Puerto Rico in the Pool 2 qualifier. In 2006, Alex Rodriguez hit a bases-loaded single with two

outs in a 4-3 win over Japan.

With two out, and after fouling off two 0-2 pitches, Jones lifted a hanging changeup into the gap

in left-center, scoring Christian Yelich from third and capping a 2-for-5, two-RBI night.

"Any win, I think no matter when you win, you win on a walk-off, it's big. But I think the

situation, the magnitude, it's a little bit bigger," Jones told MLB Network postgame.

Jones, who started in center field and batted second, also began a rally that ended a scoreless

drought in the sixth inning by lacing a two-out double deep down the left-field line that sent

home Brandon Crawford, who two batters prior had ended a no-hit bid by Colombia starter Jose

Quintana after 63 pitches, two shy of the first-round limit for WBC 2017.

"We kept fighting. This whole team kept fighting," Jones said. "That's the thing we're going to

do. We're going to grind this whole thing out and keep fighting."

Friday's win was particularly significant, in large part because Team USA was so heavily

favored, and because games against defending Classic champion Dominican Republic and

Canada loom on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

"I want to tip my cap to Team Colombia. They played their hearts out," Jones said. "We just kept

fighting, kept fighting and kept fighting. I think this was a great baseball game, [with] fighting

from both sides."

Jones' last walk-off hit came on Aug. 7, 2012, to end a 14-inning marathon against the Mariners

that was five minutes shy of five hours. It was one of 29 wins the Orioles won that season by one

run, which, against just nine losses in such games for a .763 win percentage, set an MLB record

(which was since broken by the 2016 Rangers).

Along with Giancarlo Stanton, Jones was the only position player from the '13 Team USA roster

in the starting lineup on Friday.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/218811886/orioles-logan-ondrusek-getting-second-

opinion/

Ondrusek to get second opinion on elbow

By Maureen Mullen / MLB.com

March 10, 2017

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Right-hander Logan Ondrusek is scheduled to see Dr. James Andrews to

get a second opinion on his right elbow.

Ondrusek, 32, experienced discomfort in his right elbow facing the Tigers on Monday. He has

pitched two innings this spring, giving up two runs, two hits and a walk. He is scheduled to see

Andrews during the week of March 20.

"I'm kind of waiting to see until I get a second opinion as far as what we're going to do and

everything like that," Ondrusek said. "It's not the outcome I wanted, but until I talk to Andrews

and see what he has to say. … I don't think it's going to change a whole lot. But it's one of those

things, we're just going to wait and see and go from there.

Ondrusek, a 13th-round pick of the Reds in 2005, made seven appearances for the O's last season

with an ERA of 9.95.

"I've done this for so long that you get soreness, and you're sore one day, and it's not there the

next day," Ondrusek said. "It's just one of those things where over time and seasons, nobody in

here is going to come in every day and be 100 percent. But this is one of those things where it's

one pitch, and it's kind of like, 'What the heck was that?' You don't think anything of it.

"This one was just, afterward, I felt fine. I didn't think anything was going on and woke up in the

middle of the night, and it was hurting a little bit and had to get it checked out. Could it have

been something before? I don't know. It's just hard to say."

Ondrusek re-signed with the Orioles in November, agreeing to a one-year deal for $650,000 with

a team option for $1.5 million in 2018.

His contract status is a consideration in possibly having surgery.

"If I had a five-year deal, it's a big deal, but it's not as big of a deal, because then you still have

the certainty of, 'Oh, I've got five years,'" Ondrusek said. "When you're fighting for spots and

doing things like that, obviously, you want to make sure you're taking the right steps and the

right process to get back as healthy and as quick as you can. Sometimes, it's a little thing.

Sometimes it's a big thing. It's just a matter of what everyone says and come up with the best

plan and the best outcome."

Worth noting

• Shortstop J.J. Hardy, who has been sidelined with a back ailment, took ground balls and batting

practice on Friday for the first time this spring. He said he's close to a return and could appear in

his first Grapefruit League game early next week.

• Zach Britton threw a bullpen session on Friday. Manager Buck Showalter said he's getting

close to possibly making an appearance in a game.

• Chris Tillman is scheduled for a bullpen session on Saturday. The outing should help the

Orioles decide if Tillman will be able to pitch by April 15, which is the first time the O's will

need a fifth starter.

• Chris Davis was not available for the game against the Red Sox on Friday night, sidelined with

bronchitis.

http://m.orioles.mlb.com/news/article/218823642/ubaldo-jimenez-struggles-early-vs-red-sox/

Jimenez works through command issues vs. Sox

By Maureen Mullen / MLB.com

March 10, 2017

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- It was a busy start to the game for Ubaldo Jimenez on Friday night. Eight

Red Sox batters faced Jimenez in the first inning and three scored, leading to a 4-0 Orioles loss.

Jimenez allowed three hits and a walk in the first inning. Four of the first five Red Sox hitters he

faced reached base, including a leadoff triple to Marco Hernandezand RBI singles from Chris

Young and Sam Travis.

Jimenez rebounded over the next two innings, retiring the side in order in each frame. He struck

out Ramirez and Travis to end the third. Jimenez threw 57 pitches -- 36 strikes -- with 31 coming

in the first inning.

Looking to get a fourth "up and down," Jimenez came back to face one batter and gave up a

single to Swihart, which ended his night.

"That's the point in trying to get into the fourth inning," Jimenez said. "It doesn't matter if I only

face one hitter but warming up in between innings, it's going to help."

Swihart eventually scored an unearned run charged to Jimenez to end the fourth. Making his

third Grapefruit League start, Jimenez went three-plus innings, giving up four runs (three earned)

on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts.

"I feel good," Jimenez said. "I feel really good. Physically, mentally, everything's good. I'm just

throwing the pitches that I need in order to be ready for the season."

Orioles manager Buck Showalter was satisfied with what he saw from Jimenez.

"He was good after [the first inning]," Showalter said. "He was able to get that fourth up. That

was good for him. He's kind of ahead of the curve [compared] to where he was in the past in the

spring. … It looked like he was 91, 92. That's a break from the past. He's had a little trouble

finding his way at the start [in past years]."