Good morning, Camden Chatters.
Orioles spring training is in full swing, and it’s glorious. Pitchers and position players are out and about on the Sarasota fields. Reporters are on the scene to cover every batting practice and warmup session and to collect optimistic quotes from various Orioles about the season ahead. As those of us in Maryland and surrounding areas continue to slog through frigid temperatures and piles of snowcrete that won’t be melting anytime soon, it’s heartening to know that it feels like spring somewhere.
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One Oriole making a big first impression at camp is this year’s prize signing, Pete Alonso. The veteran slugger is already socking dingers in BP, running himself ragged in defensive drills, and setting the tone as the vocal leader of the team. He’s fitting in like he’s been an Oriole all his life.
There’s a reason the Orioles were willing to shell out $155 million and shock the baseball world by signing Alonso, and it’s not just because he hits dingers. OK, it’s mostly because he hits dingers. But he’s also considered to be an excellent locker room guy, someone who can be a mentor to younger players and help connect different corners of the clubhouse.
Among the many problems with the sad-sack 2025 Orioles is that they seemed — at least from a distance — to have a severe leadership void. Once things started going south for the Birds early in the season, the team was powerless to overcome its slide, and it was as if a defeatist mentality seemed to permeate into the team’s play. The Orioles wanted to improve but they didn’t know how to get themselves out of their funk, and it felt like there was never a leader to step up and galvanize the team when the going got rough.
That’s where Alonso could be worth his weight in gold. If he can boost morale in the clubhouse and also set an example with his play on the field, he can make everyone around him better. It’s no secret that plenty of young, homegrown Orioles didn’t play up to their potential last season. But this time, they’ve got the Polar Bear on their side. And that could make a real difference.
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Links
The loudest player so far at O’s camp? Pete Alonso, no question – MLB.com
Here’s more from Jake Rill about Alonso’s early impact at camp…including the impact his bat made with a Tyler Wells pitch.
Orioles excited about Bassitt’s addition; Kjerstad’s a full participant in camp – BaltimoreBaseball.com
The Orioles are toying with the idea of a six-man rotation after adding Chris Bassitt. But based on what we’ve seen in the last few years of O’s camp, I’ll be shocked if all six starting pitchers make it through spring training healthy.
Mountcastle happy to be back in Orioles camp and waiting to learn how he’s used with Alonso on roster – School of Roch
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O’Neill geared toward fresh start and better results in 2026 – School of Roch
Roch Kubatko’s got interviews with a couple of Orioles hitters looking for a bounceback. But I must say I don’t care for the new MASN website design at all. The all-caps headlines make me feel like I’m being shouted at.
Jon Meoli: The Orioles have to make fans believe again. Their first workout was a start. – The Baltimore Banner
Day one of workouts is finished and nothing disastrous happened. Things are looking good for the 2026 Orioles!
Orioles birthdays and history
Is today your birthday? Happy birthday! Five former Orioles were born on this day: outfielder Henry Urrutia (39), utility guy Howie Clark (52), right-handers Logan Ondrusek (41) and Todd Williams (55), and the late infielder Jim Brideweser (b. 1927, d. 1989), a member of the inaugural 1954 Orioles.
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On this date in 2019, the Orioles officially parted ways with catcher Caleb Joseph, who signed with the Diamondbacks as a free agent. Joseph had spent his first five MLB seasons with the Birds, where he achieved some memorable highs (homering in five straight games in his rookie year) and also historic lows (going 141 plate appearances without an RBI in 2016). His career lasted just 23 more games after leaving the Birds, 20 with the D’Backs in 2019 and three with the Blue Jays — for whom he is now a TV analyst — in 2020.
Read the full article here
