Happy Monday, Camden Chatters! And may I be the first to officially welcome you to baseball season! Now that football season has finally come to a close, it’s time for baseball to take center stage. That’s a little less true this year than usual because the Olympics are also in full swing. But it’s also a little truer than usual because of the World Baseball Classic. Regardless, baseball is on its way.
Today is the reporting day for WBC pitchers and catchers to report to spring training. That’s a relatively small number of major leaguers, but we can still expect to see some spring pics coming across social media. And for me, there is nothing quite like those first pics of players stretching on green grass with a blue sky above them. It gets old after a few days, but it’s a spring ritual I look forward to.
The Orioles have been quiet for some time now. It felt inevitable they’d sign another pitcher and maybe they still will. But for me, I think it’s time to start looking at the team as though this is the team we’ll see on Opening Day. I’m tired of waiting. And considering we are less than two weeks from the first spring training game, I think it’s a reasonable stance to take.
So what does that mean? For one thing, it means we’re probably looking at Tyler Wells as the fifth starter until Zach Eflin is ready. If you don’t like that option, then maybe you can pin your hopes on Albert Suárez, Cade Povich, or Brandon Young. I sure don’t want to rely on any of those guys. Maybe once everyone has reported to Sarasota, we’ll hear more about the expected timeline for Eflin. Just keep your fingers crossed that the start of spring training won’t reveal any injuries to Kyle Bradish, Trevor Rogers, Shane Baz, or Dean Kremer.
The 2026 bullpen is now missing Kade Strowd, who was traded to the Diamondbacks last week. Without him, the bullpen looks pretty thin after Ryan Helsley and Andrew Kittridge. You’re looking at significant time for Keegan Akin, who does not inspire confidence. Deitrich Enns, who has no track record of success, is also higher up on the depth chart than I’d like to see. Ditto Rico Garcia.
I guess we just wait and see.
Links
How the clock at Oriole Park at Camden Yards became timeless – The Baltimore Banner
Andy Kostka looks back at how the iconic scoreboard clock came to be. It’s pretty interesting.
Quick Q&A with new Orioles upper level pitching coordinator Thomas Eshelman – MASN Sports
Roch Kubtako catches up with the former Orioles pitcher and current Orioles staffer
Checking on the many Oriole connections in the World Baseball Classic – Baltimore Baseball
If you’re looking for every Orioles connection to the WBC, Rich Dubroff has you covered. Vance Worley is pitching for Great Britain. Bet you haven’t thought about him in a while.
Birthdays and History
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! You have seven Orioles birthday buddies, which is quite a few. Vidal Bruján, who played for the Orioles in 2025, turns 28 years old today. Do you not remember Vidal’s time with the Orioles last year? Let me refresh your memory. The Orioles claimed him off waivers from the Cubs on August 3rd. On August 6th, he entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning. He singled in the eighth inning. Two days later, the Orioles lost him on waivers to Atlanta.
Also born on this day in history is local boy Bruce Zimmermann (31), who spent last year in the Brewers farm system. He made one start for the big league team; it did not go well. Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero turns 51 years old today. Vlad Sr. spent 2011 with the Orioles. That season didn’t contribute much to his Hall of Fame case.
Other former Orioles born on February 9th are Napoleón Calzado (49), Doug Linton (61), Erv Palica (b. 1928, d. 1982), and Vic Wertz (b. 1925, d. 1983).
On this day in 2010, the Orioles signed two relief pitchers: Mark Hendrickson and Will Ohman. Hendrickson was on his second year as an Oriole. He made 56 relief appearances, which sounds impressive until you note his 5.26 ERA. Ohman had a decent year and was traded at the deadline to the Marlins for Rick van den Hurk.
In 2012, the Orioles signed Nick Johnson to a one-year deal. Some morons (it’s me) thought Johnson would be a better choice at first base than Chris Davis. Johnson appeared in 38 games with an OPS+ of 94. Davis hit 33 home runs.