FORT MYERS, Fla. -- With 11 big league seasons under his belt, Chris Bassitt knows his preferred way to to build up during Spring Training. The 37-year-old right-hander takes care of his endurance work before reporting to camp, isn’t a big fan of throwing live batting practice and doesn’t show too much of his vast arsenal when pitching against divisional opponents.
In those senses, Bassitt believed Sunday was another step in the right direction in his first camp with the Orioles.
During an 8-7 Grapefruit League win over the American League East-rival Red Sox at JetBlue Park, Bassitt donned an O’s uniform in a game for the first time since signing a one-year, $18.5 million deal 16 days ago. He allowed two earned runs on two hits and two walks without recording a strikeout over two-plus innings in a 40-pitch outing.
The only one of those numbers that mattered to Bassitt? The 40.
“It’s just building pitch count right now. Facing an interdivision team, you’re not going to game plan for them and throw a specific way,” Bassitt said. “Today was just all about throwing a bunch of heaters, different types of heaters, and just building arm strength within the heaters.”
That was quite obvious. Bassitt threw a whopping 23 sinkers (57.5% of his pitches) and 77.5% of his offerings were a type of fastball (sinker, four-seam or cutter). He didn’t use all eight of his pitch types, though he mixed in some splitters (four), curveballs (four) and sweepers (one).
Bassitt wanted to sit at around 90-91 mph all day and not overcomplicate a spring outing.
“Just to kind of remind my arm that we’re going,” Bassitt said with a smile.
It’s all part of the overall plan for Bassitt, who proved he can still pitch at a high level in 2025, when he recorded a 3.96 ERA in 32 games (31 starts) for the AL champion Blue Jays.
“Everyone’s different. For me, I’ve always tried to come into spring with the endurance side, so to speak, checked,” Bassitt said. “To me, I feel like a lot of people have the power coming into spring, and then, they try to increase their endurance as they go. And I just think that’s where a lot of injuries and stuff happen.”
Baltimore manager Craig Albernaz is a former Minor League catcher who spent plenty of time in big league camps while in the Rays’ system (2006-13), so he’s seen pitchers handle Spring Training in various ways. He expected Bassitt to be dialed in as soon as he reported to camp.
“For a guy that has as much experience and veteran status, over nine years [of service time] in the big leagues, he knows what he likes to get ready for the season,” Albernaz said. “So yeah, that doesn’t surprise me at all.”
Basallo returns
Three days after exiting a game vs. the Tigers with right side abdominal discomfort, Samuel Basallo returned to the Orioles’ lineup and started at catcher. The 21-year-old appeared to be feeling just fine, as he went 2-for-2 with a double, two RBIs, two runs scored and a walk.
Basallo (MLB Pipeline’s No. 8 overall prospect) grimaced in pain when he sustained the injury during a play on which he dove across the batter’s box to tag a runner. But the O’s were fortunate when the youngster checked out fine, and he was at the next day's workout.
Through five Grapefruit games, Basallo is 4-for-10 with a 1.138 OPS. He’s expected to contend for the AL Rookie of the Year Award after getting a 31-game taste of the Majors last season.
Electric Enrique
Enrique Bradfield Jr. has 80-grade speed and 70-grade defense, both of which have been showcased in the Minors by the 2023 first-round Draft pick. The 24-year-old outfield prospect has also shown off the tools in big league camp the past two years -- and he did so again Sunday.
First, Bradfield made an impressive tumbling catch in right during the second to rob Kristian Campbell of potential extra bases. Then, in the fifth, he legged out a bunt single and scrambled to third on a throwing error by right-hander Justin Slaten.
The sprawling grab came with a funny story as well.
“[Center fielder Colton] Cowser moved me in right before that pitch. So he looked over, he was like, 'Oh, that's my bad.' I'm like, 'What, are you trying to sabotage me over here?'" Bradfield joked. “He set me up for a good one."