The Orioles started the day with a 7-9 record in the Grapefruit league. That means the team has won seven games and lost nine. It really doesn’t mean anything else.
It’s always fun to watch the Orioles win, but spring performance shouldn’t be used as a measuring stick for future success. Baltimore cant prove in March that it will still be playing in October. That being said, we’ve learned a few things about the team over the first 16 games.
Mayo will get his shot
The Pete Alonso deal immediately became the story of the offseason
when Baltimore inked the first baseman to a five year, $155-million deal. Eventually, everyone started to wonder how Alonso, Ryan Mountcastle and Coby Mayo would all fit on the Opening Day roster. At the time, the general consensus was that they wouldn’t. Many anticipated a deal that would send Mountcastle or Mayo away in a modest deal, but that never materialized.
Things changed when Jackson Holliday broke his hamate bone and Jordan Westburg suffered a partial UCL tear. Suddenly, the Orioles had a full-time role for utility man Blaze Alexander and another spot open at second or third. Baltimore shifted Mayo’s full attention to first base last season, but the 24-year-old hitting prospect has experience at the hot corner in the major and minor leagues.
The O’s quickly moved Mayo back to third base. He’s made some mistakes in the field, but he’s also showed some ability to tread water at the position. The organization was always going to tolerate a below-average glove if his bat justified a place in the lineup. Now, with Westburg sidelined for an extended period, Baltimore will give Mayo another chance to prove he belongs.
Tyler Wells will come out of the ‘pen
Baltimore made an effort to improve the rotation by acquiring Shane Baz and resigning Zach Eflin. The team never signed a true frontline starter, but it eventually added Chris Bassitt to complement a healthy Trevor Rogers and Kyle Bradish. The moves left Dean Kremer, Tyler Wells, Cade Povich and others on the outside looking in of a five-man rotation.
Unfortunately, pitchers get hurt all the time. There’s still some uncertainty with the rotation, but the Birds have made one thing clear—Wells will begin the year in the bullpen. New skipper Craig Albernaz confirmed last week that Wells will be used as a reliever at the start of the season.
The 6-foot-8 righty made four starts (2-1, 2.91 ERA) last September after missing a majority of the season rehabbing from a UCL revision procedure. Wells made at least 20 starts in 2022 and 2023 after making 44 relief appearances during his rookie year. Unfortunately, the guy made only 7 appearances over the last two seasons.
Wells could probably hang in the rotation, but the bullpen desperately needs credible pitchers. Wells will have the chance to emerge as a swingman, a high-leverage reliever, or even a starter if things go wrong later in the season.
The Orioles will not carry a third catcher
Adley Rutschman made his first and second career trips to the injured list with a pair of oblique strains. The Birds went through a series of catchers before top prospect Samuel Basallo made his MLB debut in September. The 21-year-old will carry rookie eligibility into the season, but there’s no doubt that Basallo will make the Opening Day roster. The Orioles made a sizable commitment to the backstop in the shape of an eight year, $67-million deal at the end of last year.
Basallo spent time at catcher, designated hitter, and first base last season. First base is definitely covered, but Basallo and Rutschman both figure to spend time at DH. With the potential to have both in the lineup, some wondered if Baltimore would carry a third catcher. Baltimore inked Sam Huff to a minor-league deal, and Huff has made a positive impact in camp. A third catcher would provide extra rest to both backstops and provide some injury insurance if both players began the game in the lineup.
Still, Baltimore’s current plan to carry Alonso, Mountcastle and Mayo likely eliminates the ability to carry a third catcher on the roster (the team can only carry 13 position players). Baltimore could always use Taylor Ward as an emergency catcher, or they could forfeit the DH for one game before recalling a taxi squad catcher in the event of an injury.
